FirePro W9000 vs Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
FirePro W9000
Popular choices:
Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
Popular choices:
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 W9000 is positioned at rank 317 and the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire is on rank 408, so the FirePro W9000 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar FirePro W9000
Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The FirePro W9000 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.6% higher G3D Mark score and 50% more VRAM (6 GB vs 4 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire.
| Insight | FirePro W9000 | Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.6%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN (2012−2015)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+50%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (279mm) | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The FirePro W9000 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the FirePro W9000 holds the technical lead. Priced at $150 (vs $200), it costs 25% less, resulting in a 36.8% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | FirePro W9000 | Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+36.8%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($150) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($200) |
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 W9000 and Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
FirePro W9000
The FirePro W9000 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 14 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 975 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 274W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,157 points. Launch price was $3,999.
Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
The Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 1 2014. It features the GCN architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,000 points.
Graphics Performance
The FirePro W9000 scores 6,157 and the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire reaches 6,000 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The FirePro W9000 is built on GCN 1.0 while the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire uses GCN, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 2,048 (FirePro W9000) vs 2,560 (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire).
| Feature | FirePro W9000 | Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 6,157+3% | 6,000 |
| Architecture | GCN 1.0 | GCN |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 2048 | 2560+25% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | FirePro W9000 | Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The FirePro W9000 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire has 4 GB. The FirePro W9000 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 256-bit vs 512-bit (Dual).
| Feature | FirePro W9000 | Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB+50% | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | 512-bit (Dual)+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (FirePro W9000) vs 12 (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire). Maximum simultaneous displays: 6 vs 0.
| Feature | FirePro W9000 | Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 | 12 |
| Max Displays | 6 | 0 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCE 1.0 (FirePro W9000) vs VCE 1.0 (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire). Decoder: UVD 3.2 vs UVD 3.1.
| Feature | FirePro W9000 | Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 1.0 | VCE 1.0 |
| Decoder | UVD 3.2 | UVD 3.1 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | — |
Power & Dimensions
The FirePro W9000 draws 274W versus the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire's 200W — a 31.2% difference. The Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (FirePro W9000) vs 350W (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs Mobile. Card length: 279mm vs 1mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.
| Feature | FirePro W9000 | Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 274W | 200W-27% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | Mobile |
| Length | 279mm | 1mm |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 93°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 22.5 | 30.0+33% |
Value Analysis
The FirePro W9000 launched at $3999 MSRP and currently averages $150, while the Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire launched at $800 and now averages $200. The FirePro W9000 costs 25% less ($50 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 41.0 (FirePro W9000) vs 30.0 (Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire) — the FirePro W9000 offers 36.7% better value. The Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2012).
| Feature | FirePro W9000 | Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $3999 | $800-80% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150-25% | $200 |
| Performance per Dollar | 41.0+37% | 30.0 |
| Codename | Tahiti | Neptune CF |
| Release | June 14 2012 | March 1 2014 |
| Ranking | #390 | #348 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on FirePro W9000 and Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire
