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AMD FirePro M8900 vs AMD FirePro M4100 vs AMD FirePro M2000

AMD FirePro M8900

► remove from comparison

The AMD FirePro M8900 is a high-end graphics card for mobile workstations. It is based on the same chip as the Radeon HD 6970M (Blackcomb XT) and therefore offers UVD3 decoding and slightly improved Tessellation performance compared to cards found in the previous generation (e.g., Radeon 6800 series).

Compared to the Radeon consumer line, the FirePro offers certified drivers for professional 3D applications. Due to optimizations and some unlocked features, the performance when running professional applications is highly improved.

The 960 Stream processors should be still based on the "old" 5D architecture, similar to the 5000 series. Due to the different architecture of the FirePro M8900, however, the core count cannot be directly compared to the 1D cores of current Nvidia GPUs. The Stream processors can be used with DirectX 11, OpenGL 4.1, DirectCompute 11 and OpenCL. With the later two, the cores can also be used for general computations like transcoding videos.

The theoretical performance of the FirePro M8900 is similar to the consumer counterpart, the Radeon HD 6970M. However, due to the specialized professional drivers, games may run a bit slower.  The 6970M is able to run modern games in high settings and resolutions fluently (see benchmarks on the HD 6970M page).

The new UVD3 video decoder supports the decoding of MPEG-4 AVC/H.264, VC-1, MPEG-2, Flash and now also Multi-View Codec (MVC) and MPEG-4 part 2 (DivX, xVid) HD videos on the graphics card.

Furthermore, the FirePro M8900 integrates a HD audio controller to transmit HD Audio (TrueHD or DTS Master Audio) over HDMI or DisplayPort (e.g., for Blu-Ray videos).

The AMD HD3D Technology offers support for Blu-Ray 3D and 3D displays (integrated and external). However, the solution is not as mature as Nvidia's 3D Vision.

Thanks to Eyefinity, the M8900 graphics chip is able to theoretically drive up to 5 monitors simultaneously. However, this only works if the laptop features enough DisplayPort outputs.

The power consumption of the chip should be similar to the HD 6970M and is therefore best suited for large laptops (17-inch or greater) with good cooling solutions.

AMD FirePro M4100

► remove from comparison AMD FirePro M4100

The AMD FirePro M4100 is a middle-class graphics card for mobile workstations, which has been presented in mid-2013. Similar to the Nvidia Quadro series, the FirePro cards offer certified drivers for professional 3D-software like CAD. Due to optimizations and some unlocked features, the performance in these applications is much better compared to a consumer Radeon GPU.

Architecture

The FirePro M4100 integrates 6 Compute Units based on the GCN architecture. Overall, the Mars chip has 384 stream processors, 24 TMUs and 8 ROPs. The memory of up to 2 GB GDDR5 is connected via an 128-bit interface. Just like the Radeon series, the FirePro M4100 offers features like Enduro or PCIe 3.0, but no Eyefinity.

Performance

According to the clock rates of up to 670 MHz for the chip and 1000 MHz for the memory (4000 MHz effective, 64 GB/s), the 3D gaming performance is slightly below the older FirePro M4000 or the Nvidia Quadro K1100M. Recent Games of 2013 can thus be played fluently in medium details and a resolution of 1366 x 768 pixels.

Power Consumption

The FirePro M4100 features different energy saving techniques to reduce power consumption and prolong battery life. These include PowerPlay and PowerTune (for clocking the GPU), Zero Core (deactivates parts of the GPU when the display is off) and Enduro (dynamic GPU switching between the processor graphics and the dedicated Radeon GPU). The maximum power consumption under full load should be around 30 watts (estimate), making the card suitable for laptops 15 inches in size or greater.

AMD FirePro M2000

► remove from comparison

The AMD FirePro M2000 is a lower middle-class mobile workstation graphics card with DirectX 11 support. It is based on the same Turks-chip found in the Radeon HD 7600M series.

Compared to the Radeon consumer line, the FirePro offers certified drivers for professional 3D applications. Due to optimizations and some unlocked features, the performance when using professional applications is more efficient with the FirePro M2000.

The integrated 480 Stream processors of the FirePro M2000 are based on the new Terascale-2-architecture. 

The gaming performance is similar to the Radeon HD 7570M. Therefore, the card is able to run modern games (2012) in low details and HD resolution fluently.

The FirePro M2000 also supports automatic graphics switching between the integrated GPU and discrete GPU. Called Enduro, the technology supersedes AMD's Dynamic Switchable Graphics and is similar to Nvidia's Optimus. Furthermore, the card can directly support up to 6 connected monitors using Eyefinity Technology if Enduro is disabled.

The integrated HD audio processor is able to transmit HD Audio (TrueHD or DTS Master Audio) over HDMI and DisplayPort (e.g., for Blu-Ray videos).

The power consumption of the M2000 is best suited for notebooks 14 inches or greater.

AMD FirePro M8900AMD FirePro M4100AMD FirePro M2000
FirePro M Series
FirePro M6100 768 @ 1.1 GHz128 Bit @ 6000 MHz
FirePro M8900 960 @ 0.68 GHz256 Bit @ 900 MHz
FirePro M6000 640 @ 0.75 GHz128 Bit @ 4500 MHz
FirePro M5100 640 @ 0.73 - 0.78 GHz128 Bit @ 4500 MHz
FirePro M4000 512 @ 0.6 GHz128 Bit @ 4500 MHz
FirePro M4100 384 @ 0.67 GHz128 Bit @ 4000 MHz
FirePro M5950 480 @ 0.73 GHz128 Bit @ 900 MHz
FirePro M2000 480 @ 0.5 GHz64 Bit @ 3200 MHz
FirePro M6100 768 @ 1.1 GHz128 Bit @ 6000 MHz
FirePro M8900 960 @ 0.68 GHz256 Bit @ 900 MHz
FirePro M6000 640 @ 0.75 GHz128 Bit @ 4500 MHz
FirePro M5100 640 @ 0.73 - 0.78 GHz128 Bit @ 4500 MHz
FirePro M4000 512 @ 0.6 GHz128 Bit @ 4500 MHz
FirePro M4100 384 @ 0.67 GHz128 Bit @ 4000 MHz
FirePro M5950 480 @ 0.73 GHz128 Bit @ 900 MHz
FirePro M2000 480 @ 0.5 GHz64 Bit @ 3200 MHz
FirePro M6100 768 @ 1.1 GHz128 Bit @ 6000 MHz
FirePro M8900 960 @ 0.68 GHz256 Bit @ 900 MHz
FirePro M6000 640 @ 0.75 GHz128 Bit @ 4500 MHz
FirePro M5100 640 @ 0.73 - 0.78 GHz128 Bit @ 4500 MHz
FirePro M4000 512 @ 0.6 GHz128 Bit @ 4500 MHz
FirePro M4100 384 @ 0.67 GHz128 Bit @ 4000 MHz
FirePro M5950 480 @ 0.73 GHz128 Bit @ 900 MHz
FirePro M2000 480 @ 0.5 GHz64 Bit @ 3200 MHz
CodenameBlackcomb XTTurks GLM
ArchitectureTerascale 2GCNTerascale 2
Pipelines960 - unified384 - unified480 - unified
Core Speed680 MHz670 MHz500 MHz
Memory Speed900 MHz4000 MHz3200 MHz
Memory Bus Width256 Bit128 Bit64 Bit
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5GDDR5
Max. Amount of Memory2048 MB2048 MB1024 MB
Shared Memorynonono
APIDirectX 11, Shader 5.0DirectX 12 (FL 11_1), Shader 5.0, OpenGL 4.3DirectX 11.1, Shader 5.0, OpenGL 4.2
Power Consumption75 Watt33 Watt
Transistors1.7 Billion716 Million
technology40 nm28 nm40 nm
Notebook Sizelargemedium sizedmedium sized
Date of Announcement12.04.2011 01.10.2013 01.07.2012
FeaturesAMD App Acceleration, AMD PowerPlay power management technology, AMD PowerTune technology, AMD ZeroCore Power technology, AMD Enduro technologyOpenCL 1.2
Link to Manufacturer Pagewww.amd.com

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - 3DMark 11 + Fire Strike + Time Spy - FirePro M4100
0.4 pt (1%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Score
5125 Points (5%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Graphics
6297 Points (2%)
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Score
815 Points (1%)
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Graphics
857 Points (1%)
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Graphics
35702 Points (4%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Score
1921 Points (3%)
954 Points (1%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance GPU
1728 Points (1%)
841 Points (1%)
3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total + AMD FirePro M2000
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. total
3956 Points (1%)
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX + AMD FirePro M2000
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX
3255 Points (2%)
3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Score Unknown Settings + AMD FirePro M8900
3DMark 06
16703 Points (22%)
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 + AMD FirePro M4100
3DMark 06
9320 Points (12%)
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 + AMD FirePro M2000
6086 Points (8%)
Unigine Heaven 3.0 - Unigine Heaven 3.0 DX 11
10.9 fps (4%)
Unigine Heaven 3.0 - Unigine Heaven 3.0 OpenGL
8.6 fps (4%)
Unigine Heaven 2.1 - Heaven 2.1 high
15.6 fps (3%)
9.9 fps (2%)
SPECviewperf 11
specvp11 snx-01 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 snx-01
21.3 fps (13%)
specvp11 snx-01 + AMD FirePro M2000
14.2 fps (8%)
specvp11 tcvis-02 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 tcvis-02
13.6 fps (8%)
specvp11 tcvis-02 + AMD FirePro M2000
11 fps (6%)
specvp11 sw-02 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 sw-02
37.9 fps (29%)
specvp11 sw-02 + AMD FirePro M2000
33.2 fps (25%)
specvp11 proe-05 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 proe-05
8.9 fps (10%)
specvp11 proe-05 + AMD FirePro M2000
4.8 fps (6%)
specvp11 maya-03 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 maya-03
37.7 fps (28%)
specvp11 maya-03 + AMD FirePro M2000
36.9 fps (28%)
specvp11 lightwave-01 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 lightwave-01
48.5 fps (52%)
specvp11 lightwave-01 + AMD FirePro M2000
42.3 fps (45%)
specvp11 ensight-04 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 ensight-04
11.3 fps (5%)
specvp11 ensight-04 + AMD FirePro M2000
12.2 fps (6%)
specvp11 catia-03 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 catia-03
25.1 fps (13%)
specvp11 catia-03 + AMD FirePro M2000
14.6 fps (8%)
SPECviewperf 12
specvp12 sw-03 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03
24.6 fps (6%)
specvp12 snx-02 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02
16.6 fps (2%)
specvp12 showcase-01 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01
3.9 fps (1%)
specvp12 mediacal-01 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01
1 fps (0%)
specvp12 maya-04 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04
5.4 fps (1%)
specvp12 energy-01 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 energy-01
0.1 fps (0%)
specvp12 creo-01 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01
14 fps (6%)
specvp12 catia-04 + AMD FirePro M4100
SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04
13.4 fps (2%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Gaming graphics
6.7 Points (85%)
6.1 Points (77%)
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Graphics
6.7 Points (85%)
6.1 Points (77%)
Cinebench R10 Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) + AMD FirePro M4100
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit)
6578 Points (5%)
Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) + AMD FirePro M2000
8471 Points (6%)
Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit + AMD FirePro M4100
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit
37.1 fps (13%)
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit + AMD FirePro M2000
28.9 fps (10%)
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit + AMD FirePro M4100
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit
37.7 fps (2%)
Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit + AMD FirePro M4100
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit
98 % (98%)
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - LuxMark v2.0 Room GPU
187 Samples/s (1%)
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - LuxMark v2.0 Sala GPU
306 Samples/s (1%)

Average Benchmarks AMD FirePro M8900 → 0% n=

Average Benchmarks AMD FirePro M4100 → 0% n=

Average Benchmarks AMD FirePro M2000 → 0% n=

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

low 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
45  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
6  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
21  fps
GRID 2

GRID 2

2013
low 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
83  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
13  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
35  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
8  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
9  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
59  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
9  fps
Far Cry 3

Far Cry 3

2012
low 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
39  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
5  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
26  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
8  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M2000:
89  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M2000:
11  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
37  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
19  fps
Torchlight 2

Torchlight 2

2012
low 1024x768
FirePro M2000:
101  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M2000:
42  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M2000:
88  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M2000:
11  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
96  fps
FirePro M2000:
71  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
21  fps
FirePro M2000:
24  fps
Anno 2070

Anno 2070

2011
low 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
34  fps
FirePro M2000:
63  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
8  fps
FirePro M2000:
8  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M2000:
68  fps
med. 1366x768
FirePro M2000:
51  fps
high 1366x768
FirePro M2000:
24  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M2000:
10  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M2000:
87  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M2000:
11  fps
Total War: Shogun 2

Total War: Shogun 2

2011
low 1024x768
FirePro M2000:
141  fps
med. 1280x720
FirePro M2000:
26  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M2000:
12  fps
low 1024x768
FirePro M2000:
176  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M2000:
12  fps
low 800x600
FirePro M2000:
49  fps
med. 1360x768
FirePro M2000:
28  fps
high 1600x900
FirePro M2000:
9  fps
Anno 1404

Anno 1404

2009
low 1024x768
FirePro M2000:
207  fps
ultra 1280x1024
FirePro M2000:
25  fps
Sims 3

Sims 3

2009
low 800x600
FirePro M4100:
398  fps
FirePro M2000:
219  fps
med. 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
231  fps
FirePro M2000:
93  fps
high 1280x1024
FirePro M4100:
105  fps
FirePro M2000:
55  fps
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

2005
high 1024x768
FirePro M2000:
217  fps
World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft

2005
low 800x600
FirePro M4100:
272  fps
FirePro M2000:
98  fps
med. 1024x768
FirePro M4100:
165  fps
FirePro M2000:
57  fps
high 1280x1024
FirePro M4100:
29  fps
FirePro M2000:
18  fps
ultra 1920x1080
FirePro M4100:
12  fps
AMD FirePro M4100lowmed.highultraQHD4K
Total War: Rome II456
Company of Heroes 221
GRID 28313
Metro: Last Light358
BioShock Infinite9
Tomb Raider599
Far Cry 3395
Hitman: Absolution268
Borderlands 23719
Diablo III9621
Anno 2070348
Sims 3398231105
World of Warcraft2721652912
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps
2
6
2
2



2
1

1
11








AMD FirePro M2000lowmed.highultraQHD4K
World of Tanks v88911
Torchlight 210142
Dirt Showdown8811
Diablo III7124
Anno 2070638
Batman: Arkham City68512410
Deus Ex Human Revolution8711
Total War: Shogun 21412612
StarCraft 217612
Metro 203349289
Anno 140420725
Sims 32199355
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark217
World of Warcraft985718
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps

1
8
4
2
2
1
3
1

1
9
1







For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List

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Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)