FirePro W7170M vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

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 W7170M vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

FirePro W7170M vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5): 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 W7170M

2015

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: GCN 3.0 (2014−2019) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌2015 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 23.3 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
❌233.3% higher power demand at 100W vs 30W.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

2015

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 23.3 vs 0 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 100W, a 70W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2015 hardware with 2 GB 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?

FirePro W7170M is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 3% in PassMark G3D (3,605 vs 3,500), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

FirePro W7170M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 4 GB vs 2 GB of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, FirePro W7170M has the stronger long-term case.

FirePro W7170M vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) Technical Specifications

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

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.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is manufactured by an unknown manufacturer. It was released in October 1 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 954 MHz to 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,500 points.

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Graphics Performance

The FirePro W7170M scores 3,605 and the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) reaches 3,500 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FirePro W7170M is built on GCN 3.0 while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) uses Maxwell, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,048 (FirePro W7170M) vs 384 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)).

Feature	FirePro W7170M	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
G3D Mark Score	3,605+3%	3,500
Architecture	GCN 3.0	Maxwell
Process Node	28 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2048+433%	384

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	FirePro W7170M	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	Standard

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The FirePro W7170M has 4 GB of VRAM, while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) carries 2 GB. FirePro W7170M 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 W7170M and 128-bit on the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5).

Feature	FirePro W7170M	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
VRAM Capacity	4 GB+100%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	64-bit	128-bit+100%

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (FirePro W7170M) vs 12 (11_0) (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.5. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 2.

Feature	FirePro W7170M	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
DirectX	12	12 (11_0)
Vulkan	1.2+9%	1.1
OpenGL	4.6+2%	4.5
Max Displays	3+50%	2

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Media & Encoding

Decoder: UVD 6.0 vs NVDEC 1st Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,HEVC (FirePro W7170M) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)).

Feature	FirePro W7170M	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
Encoder	VCE 3.1	—
Decoder	UVD 6.0	NVDEC 1st Gen
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,HEVC	H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1

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Power & Dimensions

The FirePro W7170M draws 100W versus the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)'s 30W — a 107.7% difference. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FirePro W7170M) vs 350W (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs PCIe-powered. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 75.

Feature	FirePro W7170M	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
TDP	100W	30W-70%
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	PCIe-powered
Length	0mm	—
Height	0mm	—
Slots	1	0-100%
Temp (Load)	85°C	75-12%
Perf/Watt	36.0	116.7+224%