AMD FirePro W8000
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD FirePro W8000 Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD FirePro W8000 GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
FirePro W8000 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the FirePro W8000's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The FirePro W8000 by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's FirePro W8000 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The FirePro W8000's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
FirePro W8000 by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the FirePro W8000, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
FirePro W8000 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD FirePro W8000 against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
GCN 1.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD FirePro W8000 is built on AMD's GCN 1.0 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the FirePro W8000 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD FirePro W8000 determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the FirePro W8000 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
FirePro W8000 by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD FirePro W8000 are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
AMD API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the AMD FirePro W8000. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
FirePro W8000 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD FirePro W8000 is manufactured by AMD as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the FirePro W8000 by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About AMD FirePro W8000
The AMD FirePro W8000 is a workstation GPU from 2012, built on the Tahiti chip with GCN 1.0 architecture. It features 1,792 shading units, 112 texture units, 32 ROPs, and 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 3.226 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 176.0 GB/s of memory bandwidth. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 24,518 places it in the 68th percentile of all GPUs, and it launched with an MSRP of 1,599 USD. Despite being end-of-life, its raw compute performance remains surprisingly close to much newer cards, as the benchmark data shows.
Who Should Consider It
The FirePro W8000 is a compute-first card. Its OpenCL score of 24,518 is within 1% of several modern GPUs, including the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 (0% delta), the GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile (-0.3%), the Intel Arc A350M (-0.5%), and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (-0.9%). That means for OpenCL-based workloads—such as rendering, simulation, or scientific computing—this 2012 card can keep pace with hardware released a decade later. If your work relies on raw compute throughput rather than modern feature sets, the W8000 remains a viable option.
For gaming, the picture is different. The 4 GB frame buffer and 176.0 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for 1080p at medium to high settings in titles that fit within that memory limit. However, the card lacks hardware ray tracing and tensor cores, and its DirectX 12 support is limited to feature level 11_1. Modern games that require full DirectX 12 Ultimate features will not run optimally. For esports or older titles, the W8000 can still deliver playable frame rates, but for current AAA releases, you would need to lower resolution and settings significantly. The card's 28.80 GPixel/s pixel fill rate and 100.8 GTexel/s texture rate are competitive for its era, but they do not match the geometry and shading demands of contemporary engines.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The FirePro W8000 has no dedicated ray tracing cores and no tensor cores. Its GCN 1.0 architecture predates hardware-accelerated ray tracing, so any ray-traced effects must be computed via shader-based methods, which are inefficient and slow. This makes the card unsuitable for ray-traced gaming or professional workloads that rely on RT acceleration. Similarly, the absence of tensor cores means no dedicated AI or machine learning acceleration; any such tasks would run on the general-purpose shaders.
On the API front, the card supports DirectX 12 (feature level 11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The DirectX 12 support is partial—feature level 11_1 means it lacks certain modern features like mesh shaders and variable rate shading. OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.170 are more complete, which is beneficial for workstation applications that use these APIs. The card also provides four DisplayPort 1.2 outputs and one SDI output, making it suitable for multi-display professional setups. The 4 GB GDDR5 memory, while modest by today's standards, is sufficient for many compute tasks that do not require large datasets.
Benchmark Performance
The FirePro W8000's Geekbench OpenCL score of 24,518 is its sole benchmark result, and it sits at the 68th percentile of all GPUs. This means it outperforms roughly two-thirds of the GPUs in the database, a strong showing for a card from 2012. When compared to its nearest rivals, the differences are minimal:
- Against the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 (score 24,519), the W8000 is exactly 0% behind—the two are effectively identical in OpenCL compute.
- Against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile (score 24,592), the W8000 trails by 0.3%.
- Against the Intel Arc A350M (score 24,647), the W8000 is 0.5% slower.
- Against the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (score 24,731), the W8000 lags by 0.9%.
These deltas are all within one percentage point, meaning the W8000 delivers compute performance on par with a 2019 desktop card (RX 5700 XT) and a 2023 mobile GPU (RTX 5060 Mobile). The practical implication is that for OpenCL-based workloads, the age of the architecture matters little; the raw number of shader units and memory bandwidth still produce competitive throughput. However, the W8000's 3.226 TFLOPS FP32 figure is a hard ceiling, and newer cards achieve similar scores with better power efficiency and additional features.
FAQ
Q: Does the FirePro W8000 support hardware ray tracing?
A: No. The card has no dedicated ray tracing cores (RT cores are null in its specifications). Ray-traced effects would have to be computed via shaders, which is not practical for real-time workloads.
Q: What is the memory configuration of the W8000?
A: It has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus, with a memory clock of 1375 MHz (5.5 Gbps effective) and a bandwidth of 176.0 GB/s.
Q: Which display outputs does it provide?
A: The card offers four DisplayPort 1.2 outputs and one SDI output, allowing for multi-monitor professional setups.
Q: What power supply is recommended?
A: The suggested PSU is 550 W, and the card requires two 6-pin power connectors. Its TDP is 225 W.
Q: Is the card still in production?
A: No, its production status is listed as end-of-life. It was released on 2012-06-13 and has been succeeded by Radeon Pro Polaris.
Q: What API versions does it support?
A: It supports DirectX 12 (feature level 11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170.
How It Compares
NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 – The W8000 matches the RTX 5000's OpenCL score exactly (24,518 vs. 24,519, a 0% delta). However, the RTX 5000 includes dedicated ray tracing and tensor cores, which the W8000 lacks. In pure compute, they are equals, but the RTX 5000 offers a much broader feature set for professional workloads.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile – The RTX 5060 Mobile scores 24,592, just 0.3% higher than the W8000. This is a mobile GPU, so its performance is achieved within a much lower power envelope. The W8000's 225 W TDP is far higher, but its compute output is nearly identical, making the older card surprisingly efficient in raw throughput per watt.
Intel Arc A350M – The Arc A350M scores 24,647, a 0.5% lead over the W8000. This Intel GPU is a budget mobile part, yet it edges out the W8000 in OpenCL. The W8000 still holds its own, but the A350M brings modern features like hardware ray tracing and AV1 encoding that the W8000 cannot match.
AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT – The RX 5700 XT scores 24,731, 0.9% ahead of the W8000. This is the largest gap among the nearest rivals, but it remains under 1%. The RX 5700 XT is a desktop gaming card with more modern architecture and higher memory bandwidth, yet the W8000's compute score is almost identical, demonstrating the longevity of its GCN design for OpenCL workloads.
Power and Cooling
The FirePro W8000 has a TDP of 225 W, which is modest for a dual-slot workstation card. It requires two 6-pin power connectors and a recommended 550 W power supply. The card measures 279 mm in length and 111 mm in height, so it will fit in most mid-tower cases, but you should verify clearance. The dual-slot cooler is designed for sustained compute loads, and the 225 W TDP means it will not place excessive strain on a quality 550 W PSU. For a card from 2012, its power draw is reasonable given the compute performance it delivers; however, modern GPUs with similar OpenCL scores typically consume less power. The PCIe 3.0 x16 interface is fully compatible with current motherboards, though you may need to ensure your system's BIOS supports legacy boot if using it as a primary display adapter.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the AMD FirePro W8000 are below.
Benchmark Scores
geekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how AMD FirePro W8000 handles parallel computing tasks like video encoding and scientific simulations.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performersgeekbench_vulkanSource
Geekbench Vulkan tests GPU compute using the modern low-overhead Vulkan API. This shows how AMD FirePro W8000 performs with next-generation graphics and compute workloads. Vulkan offers better CPU efficiency than older APIs like OpenGL.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
Popular AMD FirePro W8000 Comparisons
See how the FirePro W8000 stacks up against similar graphics cards from the same generation and competing brands.
Compare with Other GPUs
Select another GPU to compare specifications and benchmarks side-by-side.
Browse GPUs