AMD FirePro D300

Launched in January 2014 on TSMC's 28 nm process, the AMD FirePro D300 is a single-slot professional GPU built on the GCN 1.0 architecture with a Pitcairn chip. It packs 2,800 million transistors on a 212 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 13.2M per mm². The card is part of the FirePro Data Center (Dx00) generation, positioned firmly in the workstation segment with 1280 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units.

Benchmark Performance

The FirePro D300 sits at the 50th percentile when compared against all GPUs in the database, placing it in the exact middle of the performance distribution. This is a telling statistic: the card is neither a high-end powerhouse nor a low-end entry point, but rather a solid mid-range workstation offering. With a pixel rate of 27.20 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 68.00 GTexel/s, the card demonstrates balanced throughput for its class. Its FP32 compute performance reaches 2.176 TFLOPS, which indicates that the card can handle moderate compute workloads without excelling in any specific area.

The memory subsystem features 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 162.6 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory operates at 1270 MHz, which translates to 5.1 Gbps effective. While 2 GB may seem modest by modern standards, it was appropriate for the professional workloads of its era. The bandwidth figure of 162.6 GB/s is sufficient for 1080p and entry-level 1440p workstation tasks, though it becomes a limiting factor in texture-heavy scenes or large dataset manipulation. The 50th percentile ranking confirms that in synthetic benchmarks, this card lands exactly between the slowest and fastest GPUs ever cataloged, meaning it will outperform roughly half of all GPUs while trailing the other half.

How It Compares

The FirePro D300 has no nearest rivals listed in the database, which complicates direct competitive analysis. The absence of benchmark scores for this card — its average benchmark score is 0 — means the percentile ranking is derived from architectural characteristics rather than measured performance. This is atypical for a professional GPU, as most workstation cards have at least some synthetic test data available.

Without rival data, the comparison must rely on the card's internal specifications. The 1280 shading units paired with 80 TMUs and 32 ROPs create a configuration that favors compute-heavy tasks over pure rasterization. The GCN 1.0 architecture, while aging, still supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170, providing broad API coverage for professional applications. The 2.176 TFLOPS FP32 throughput is roughly half of what high-end cards of the same generation achieved, positioning this as a mid-tier offering within its own product stack. The 27.20 GPixel/s fill rate similarly suggests that 4K output is possible but not optimal, while 1080p and 1440p resolutions will see the most consistent performance.

Power and Cooling

The FirePro D300 carries a thermal design power of 150 W, which is moderate for a professional GPU of this era. AMD recommends a 450 W power supply for systems housing this card, a figure that accounts for the rest of the system's components. The single-slot design keeps the physical footprint minimal, but it also means the cooling solution must work efficiently within a constrained space.

The card does not list specific power connector requirements in the database, which suggests it draws power through the PCIe slot or uses a standard connector configuration common to workstation cards of its time. The 150 W TDP is manageable for most workstation chassis, and the 450 W PSU recommendation provides reasonable headroom for a typical professional system with a mid-range CPU. The 242 mm length (9.5 inches) allows the card to fit in most mid-tower and full-tower cases, though compact workstation chassis may present clearance challenges. Display output is handled through 4x DisplayPort 1.2 connections, enabling multi-monitor setups without additional adapters.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory interface width of the AMD FirePro D300?

A: The card uses a 256-bit memory bus, which supports its 162.6 GB/s bandwidth figure.

Q: Does the FirePro D300 support Vulkan?

A: Yes, it supports Vulkan version 1.2.170, along with DirectX 12 (11_1) and OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What is the thermal design power of this card?

A: The FirePro D300 has a TDP of 150 W, and AMD recommends a 450 W power supply for the system.

Q: How many display outputs does the card provide?

A: It features 4x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, allowing for multi-monitor professional setups.

Q: What manufacturing process is used for the FirePro D300?

A: The GPU is fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, with 2,800 million transistors on a 212 mm² die.

Q: Is the FirePro D300 still in production?

A: No, the card is end-of-life, and it was released on January 17, 2014. Its predecessor was the FirePro Terascale series, and its successor is the Radeon Instinct line.

Who Should Consider It

The FirePro D300 is best suited for professionals working at 1080p resolution with occasional 1440p tasks. Its 2.176 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 68.00 GTexel/s texture rate handle CAD, 3D modeling, and light rendering workloads without excessive strain. The 50th percentile ranking means it outperforms half of all GPUs in the database, making it a reasonable choice for entry-level workstation builds where budget constraints exist, though pricing cannot be discussed here.

Users running multi-monitor office productivity suites or 2D design applications will find the 4x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs and 2 GB GDDR5 memory adequate. However, professionals who regularly work with 4K textures, large point clouds, or GPU-accelerated simulation would quickly hit the memory ceiling. The 162.6 GB/s bandwidth, while respectable for the era, becomes a bottleneck in data-intensive tasks. The card's DirectX 12 (11_1) support ensures compatibility with modern applications, but the GCN 1.0 architecture lacks the features found in newer designs.

For those running legacy professional software that relies on OpenGL 4.6 or Vulkan 1.2.170, this card remains functional. It is not suitable for high-refresh-rate gaming or real-time 3D rendering at high settings. The single-slot design and 150 W TDP make it easy to integrate into existing workstations without major power or cooling upgrades, as long as the system has a 450 W PSU. The 27.20 GPixel/s fill rate limits performance at resolutions above 1440p, so users targeting 4K should look elsewhere. This card occupies a specific niche: professional workloads at standard resolutions with moderate compute demands, where its 50th percentile performance provides a predictable, balanced experience.