FirePro W7170M vs GRID K520
FirePro W7170M
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GRID K520
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The FirePro W7170M is positioned at rank 22 and the GRID K520 is on rank 350, so the FirePro W7170M offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FirePro W7170M
Performance Per Dollar GRID K520
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The FirePro W7170M is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.5% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (4 GB vs 2 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GRID K520.
| Insight | FirePro W7170M | GRID K520 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.5%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / Kepler (2012−2018)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | Standard Size (267mm) |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the FirePro W7170M remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of FirePro W7170M and GRID K520
FirePro W7170M
The FirePro W7170M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 2 2015. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 723 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,605 points.
GRID K520
The GRID K520 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 23 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 745 MHz. It has 1536 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,516 points. Launch price was $3,599.
Graphics Performance
The FirePro W7170M scores 3,605 and the GRID K520 reaches 3,516 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FirePro W7170M is built on GCN 3.0 while the GRID K520 uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,048 (FirePro W7170M) vs 1,536 (GRID K520). Raw compute: 2.961 TFLOPS (FirePro W7170M) vs 2.289 TFLOPS ×2 (GRID K520).
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | GRID K520 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,605+3% | 3,516 |
| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | Kepler |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 2048+33% | 1536 ×2 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.961 TFLOPS+29% | 2.289 TFLOPS ×2 |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 ×2 |
| TMUs | 128 | 128 ×2 |
| L1 Cache | 512 KB+300% | 128 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | GRID K520 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The FirePro W7170M comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GRID K520 has 2 GB. The FirePro W7170M offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | GRID K520 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB+100% | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (FirePro W7170M) vs 12 (11_0) (GRID K520). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 0.
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | GRID K520 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 | 12 (11_0) |
| Vulkan | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 3 | 0 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCE 3.1 (FirePro W7170M) vs NVENC 1 (GRID K520). Decoder: UVD 6.0 vs NVDEC 1. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,HEVC (FirePro W7170M) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GRID K520).
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | GRID K520 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 3.1 | NVENC 1 |
| Decoder | UVD 6.0 | NVDEC 1 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,HEVC | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 |
Power & Dimensions
The FirePro W7170M draws 100W versus the GRID K520's 225W — a 76.9% difference. The FirePro W7170M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FirePro W7170M) vs 350W (GRID K520). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 0mm vs 267mm, occupying 1 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 75°C.
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | GRID K520 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W-56% | 225W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 0mm | 267mm |
| Height | 0mm | 111mm |
| Slots | 1-50% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 85°C | 75°C-12% |
| Perf/Watt | 36.0+131% | 15.6 |
Value Analysis
The FirePro W7170M is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2013).
| Feature | FirePro W7170M | GRID K520 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | — | $3599 |
| Avg Price (30d) | — | $50 |
| Codename | Amethyst | GK104 |
| Release | October 2 2015 | July 23 2013 |
| Ranking | #533 | #540 |
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