AMD FireStream 9170

Benchmark Performance

The AMD FireStream 9170 presents a unique profile in the database, holding a 50th percentile position among all GPUs tracked. With an average benchmark score of zero across all recorded tests, the data suggests this card was rarely subjected to standardized performance suites, or that its results were not aggregated into the comparative set. This absence of direct numerical scores means performance must be inferred from its architectural specifications and its placement relative to the broader market.

The core compute capability is anchored by 320 shading units operating under the TeraScale architecture. This configuration yields a peak FP32 throughput of 497.3 GFLOPS, a figure that situates the card firmly in the professional compute segment of its era. The pixel rate of 12.43 GPixel/s and texture rate of 12.43 GTexel/s are identical, indicating a balanced rasterization pipeline for a 16 ROP and 16 TMU design. These figures suggest that the FireStream 9170 was engineered for parallel compute workloads rather than raw gaming frame rates, which is consistent with its FireStream branding.

The absence of nearestRivals data in the record is notable. Without direct competitor scores and delta percentages, the analysis must rely on the internal consistency of the specifications. The 50th percentile ranking implies that half of all GPUs in the historical database outperform it and half underperform it, which is a reasonable midpoint for a 2007-era professional card. The 12.43 GTexel/s texture fill rate, for instance, would have been competitive with high-end consumer parts of its generation, but the FP32 compute emphasis suggests a different optimization target.

When examining the raw throughput numbers, the 497.3 GFLOPS figure becomes the key differentiator. This level of compute performance, paired with 2 GB of memory, points to a device intended for scientific simulation, financial modeling, or early general-purpose GPU computing. The benchmark data shows no sustained test results, so the practical real-world performance envelope remains unquantified in this record. The 50th percentile rank, however, provides a useful anchor: this is not a flagship part, nor is it a low-end offering. It sits in the middle of the historical performance distribution, which aligns with its role as a workstation-oriented product rather than a gaming enthusiast card.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The FireStream 9170 does not incorporate dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores in its hardware design. The architecture relies entirely on the 320 shading units for all rendering and compute tasks, with no specialized acceleration blocks for RT or AI workloads. This is a critical distinction from modern GPUs, but it was typical for the 2007 timeframe when this card launched. The absence of these cores means any ray-traced effects would need to be computed via shader-based methods, which is significantly less efficient than dedicated hardware.

The API support reflects the card's era. DirectX 10.1 with shader model 10_1 is the peak graphics API, which introduces features like improved texture sampling and more flexible shadow rendering compared to DirectX 10.0. OpenGL support extends to version 3.3 in full, with partial implementation of version 4.0. The partial OpenGL 4.0 support is noteworthy, as it indicates some compatibility with modern compute shaders and tessellation, but not the complete feature set. No Vulkan support is listed, which is expected given the card's production status as end-of-life and its 2007 release date.

The feature set is therefore defined by what it lacks relative to modern standards: no hardware ray tracing, no tensor-based AI acceleration, and no Vulkan path. The DirectX 10.1 and OpenGL 3.3 (full) / 4.0 (partial) support means the card can handle legacy DirectX 10 games and some OpenGL applications, but it cannot run titles requiring DirectX 11 or 12 features. For compute workloads, the OpenGL 4.0 partial support offers a limited path to general-purpose GPU computing, but the primary interface for that would have been through vendor-specific compute APIs rather than graphics APIs.

The 10_1 shader model in DirectX is a modest evolution over 10_0, adding capabilities like integer operations in shaders and better texture array handling. This makes the card marginally more capable for compute-oriented shaders than its DirectX 10-only contemporaries. The absence of Vulkan is a significant limitation for modern application compatibility, but for a card of this vintage, it is entirely expected.

Memory Subsystem

The memory configuration is substantial for the card's era. The FireStream 9170 is equipped with 2 GB of GDDR3 memory across a 256-bit bus interface. The memory clock runs at 802 MHz, with an effective data rate of 1604 Mbps. This combination produces a memory bandwidth of 51.33 GB/s. The 256-bit bus width is a critical factor here, as it provides a balanced pathway for the memory controller to feed the 320 shading units.

The 2 GB capacity is particularly noteworthy. In 2007, most consumer GPUs shipped with 256 MB or 512 MB, with high-end parts reaching 1 GB. The 2 GB allocation on the FireStream 9170 signals a clear intent for large dataset processing in professional applications. Scientific computing, seismic analysis, or medical imaging workloads often require storing substantial data on-card to avoid PCIe transfers, and the 2 GB VRAM would have been a significant advantage in those scenarios.

The 51.33 GB/s bandwidth, however, is not exceptionally high even for its time. The 256-bit bus and 1604 Mbps effective memory speed produce a respectable but not class-leading figure. For compute workloads that are memory-bound, this bandwidth could become a limiting factor, particularly when processing large matrices or arrays that exceed the L2 cache capacity. The pixel rate of 12.43 GPixel/s and texture rate of 12.43 GTexel/s are both closely tied to memory bandwidth, and at 51.33 GB/s, the card can sustain these fill rates without memory starvation in most scenarios.

For high-resolution rendering, the 2 GB capacity is more than sufficient for 1080p and even 1440p framebuffers with multisampling. The bandwidth, while not massive, is adequate for the shading throughput available. The data indicates a memory subsystem that prioritizes capacity over raw speed, which aligns perfectly with the compute-oriented positioning of the FireStream brand.

FAQ

Q: Does the AMD FireStream 9170 support hardware ray tracing?

A: No. The card has no ray tracing cores in its hardware design. It relies entirely on its 320 shading units for all rendering and compute tasks, with no dedicated RT acceleration.

Q: What generation of DirectX does the FireStream 9170 support?

A: The card supports DirectX 10.1 with shader model 10_1. It does not support DirectX 11 or later versions, which limits it to games and applications from approximately 2007-2009.

Q: How much memory does the FireStream 9170 have and what type is it?

A: It has 2 GB of GDDR3 memory on a 256-bit bus, with a memory bandwidth of 51.33 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 802 MHz with 1604 Mbps effective data rate.

Q: What is the FP32 compute performance of this card?

A: The FireStream 9170 delivers 497.3 GFLOPS of FP32 compute throughput, derived from its 320 shading units operating under the TeraScale architecture.

Q: Is the FireStream 9170 compatible with Vulkan?

A: No. The card has no Vulkan support listed. Its OpenGL support extends to version 3.3 in full and 4.0 partially, which limits modern API compatibility.

Q: What is the production status of the FireStream 9170?

A: The card is marked as end-of-life in the database. It was released on November 7, 2007, and has been discontinued, with no successor listed in the FireStream line.

Who Should Consider It

The FireStream 9170 is a historical compute card, and its suitability depends entirely on the workload context. Given its 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs and its FP32 throughput of 497.3 GFLOPS, this card is not a candidate for modern gaming. The DirectX 10.1 API support caps it at legacy titles from the late 2000s, and the absence of Vulkan eliminates virtually all contemporary game engines.

For compute-oriented users, the 2 GB memory capacity is the standout feature. Anyone working with datasets that fit within 2 GB and requiring moderate FP32 compute could find this card usable for legacy scientific or financial applications. The 51.33 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for many workloads, though memory-bound tasks will see diminishing returns. The OpenGL 3.3 full support offers a path for older OpenGL compute applications, but the partial 4.0 support creates compatibility risks.

The card's 16 ROPs and 16 TMUs limit its usefulness in high-resolution rendering. At 1080p, the 12.43 GPixel/s pixel rate is adequate for simple DirectX 10 scenes, but modern resolutions and effects would overwhelm the fixed-function units. The 12.43 GTexel/s texture rate similarly caps texture-heavy workloads. For users seeking to run a legacy Windows XP or Vista system with period-appropriate software, the FireStream 9170 would provide a functional experience, but it offers no advantages over consumer cards of the same generation.

The 55 nm process node and 666 million transistor count place it in a specific power and thermal envelope that is manageable for modern systems. The card's dual-slot design and 105 W TDP are modest by today's standards, meaning it can fit into most desktop cases without special cooling considerations. However, the lack of modern display outputs (2x DVI and 1x S-Video only) means it cannot drive current high-resolution monitors without adapters.

Power and Cooling

The FireStream 9170 has a thermal design power of 105 W, which is a modest figure for a card of its era and capability. This TDP aligns with the 55 nm TSMC process node and the 666 million transistor count. The card requires a single 6-pin power connector, and AMD recommends a 300 W power supply for the system. This PSU recommendation is conservative, reflecting the card's power draw and the typical system configuration of its time.

The cooling solution is a dual-slot design, which allows for a larger heatsink and fan assembly compared to single-slot cards. The physical dimensions are 241 mm in length (9.5 inches) and 111 mm in height (4.4 inches), making it a full-length card that will fit in most mid-tower or full-tower cases. The dual-slot footprint means it will occupy the expansion slot adjacent to its PCIe slot, which is a common consideration for workstation builds.

The 105 W TDP is noteworthy because it is lower than many high-end consumer GPUs of the same generation, which often exceeded 150 W. This lower power draw is a direct benefit of the compute-optimized architecture, which prioritizes efficiency in FP32 operations over raw rasterization performance. The 300 W PSU recommendation provides ample headroom for a typical workstation CPU and a modest number of drives.

The PCIe 2.0 x16 bus interface is the data pathway for the card, and it provides sufficient bandwidth for the card's compute and rendering needs. The power delivery through the single 6-pin connector is adequate for the 105 W TDP, and the card does not require additional auxiliary power connections. This makes the FireStream 9170 relatively easy to integrate into legacy systems, provided they have a compatible PCIe 2.0 slot and a 300 W or higher power supply.