FirePro W2100 vs HD Graphics 520

FirePro W2100

2014Core: 630 MHzBoost: 680 MHz
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VS

HD Graphics 520

2015Core: 300 MHzBoost: 900 MHz
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FirePro W2100 vs HD Graphics 520 Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

FirePro W2100 vs HD Graphics 520: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

FirePro W2100

2014

Why buy it

  • 100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (2 GB vs Unknown).
  • HD Graphics 520 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so FirePro W2100 is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

  • 2014 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 39% HIGHER MSRP
    $139 MSRPvs$100 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 6.1 vs 8.6 G3D/$ ($139 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
  • 73.3% higher power demand at 26W vs 15W.

HD Graphics 520

2015

Why buy it

  • Costs $39 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $139 MSRP).
  • Delivers 40.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 8.6 vs 6.1 G3D/$ ($100 MSRP vs $139 MSRP).
  • Draws 15W instead of 26W, a 11W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 2 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2015 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
HD Graphics 520 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 1.2% in PassMark G3D (861 vs 851), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
FirePro W2100 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 2 GB vs Unknown of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
HD Graphics 520 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $39 cheaper on MSRP at $100 vs $139, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 40.6% (8.6 vs 6.1), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. If you are mainly targeting 1080p, HD Graphics 520 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, FirePro W2100 has the stronger long-term case.

FirePro W2100 vs HD Graphics 520 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

AMD

FirePro W2100

The FirePro W2100 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in August 12 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 630 MHz to 680 MHz. It has 320 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 26W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 851 points.

Intel

HD Graphics 520

The HD Graphics 520 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in September 1 2015. It features the Generation 9.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 14 nm+ process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 861 points.

Graphics Performance

The FirePro W2100 scores 851 and the HD Graphics 520 reaches 861 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FirePro W2100 is built on GCN 1.0 while the HD Graphics 520 uses Generation 9.0, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm+. Shader units: 320 (FirePro W2100) vs 192 (HD Graphics 520). Raw compute: 0.4352 TFLOPS (FirePro W2100) vs 0.3456 TFLOPS (HD Graphics 520). Boost clocks: 680 MHz vs 900 MHz.

FeatureFirePro W2100HD Graphics 520
G3D Mark Score
851
861+1%
Architecture
GCN 1.0
Generation 9.0
Process Node
28 nm
14 nm+
Shading Units
320+67%
192
Compute (TFLOPS)
0.4352 TFLOPS+26%
0.3456 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
680 MHz
900 MHz+32%
ROPs
8+167%
3
TMUs
20
24+20%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureFirePro W2100HD Graphics 520
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
Standard
Standard
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The FirePro W2100 has 2 GB of VRAM, while the HD Graphics 520 carries 0 MB. FirePro W2100 gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the FirePro W2100 and System on the HD Graphics 520.

FeatureFirePro W2100HD Graphics 520
VRAM Capacity
2 GB
Shared System RAM
Memory Type
GDDR5
Shared
Bus Width
64-bit
System
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The FirePro W2100 draws 26W versus the HD Graphics 520's 15W — a 53.7% difference. The HD Graphics 520 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FirePro W2100) vs 1W (HD Graphics 520). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Integrated.

FeatureFirePro W2100HD Graphics 520
TDP
26W
15W-42%
Recommended PSU
350W
1W-100%
Power Connector
PCIe-powered
Integrated
Length
168mm
Height
69mm
Slots
1
Temp (Load)
65°C
Perf/Watt
32.7
57.4+76%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the FirePro W2100 came in at $139, while the HD Graphics 520 launched at $100. On MSRP, HD Graphics 520 was 28.1% cheaper ($39 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 6.1 (FirePro W2100) vs 8.6 (HD Graphics 520) — the HD Graphics 520 offers 41% better value. The newer card here is HD Graphics 520 (2015 vs 2014).

FeatureFirePro W2100HD Graphics 520
MSRP
$139
$100-28%
Performance per Dollar
6.1
8.6+41%
Codename
Oland
Skylake GT2
Release
August 12 2014
September 1 2015
Ranking
#910
#929

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