
Radeon HD 6990 vs FirePro W5000

Radeon HD 6990
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FirePro W5000
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar FirePro W5000
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 6990 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.6% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the FirePro W5000.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6990 | FirePro W5000 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.6%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / TeraScale 3 (2010−2013)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (310mm) | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The FirePro W5000 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the FirePro W5000 holds the technical lead. Priced at $40 (vs $498), it costs 92% less, resulting in a 1125.6% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 6990 | FirePro W5000 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+1125.6%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($498) | ✅More affordable ($40) |
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 Radeon HD 6990 and FirePro W5000

Radeon HD 6990
The Radeon HD 6990 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in March 8 2011. It features the TeraScale 3 architecture. The core clock speed is 830 MHz. It has 1536 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 375W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,014 points. Launch price was $699.

FirePro W5000
The FirePro W5000 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in August 7 2012. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 825 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,967 points. Launch price was $599.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 6990 scores 3,014 and the FirePro W5000 reaches 2,967 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 6990 is built on TeraScale 3 while the FirePro W5000 uses GCN 1.0, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 1,536 (Radeon HD 6990) vs 768 (FirePro W5000). Raw compute: 2.55 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 6990) vs 1.267 TFLOPS (FirePro W5000).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6990 | FirePro W5000 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,014+2% | 2,967 |
| Architecture | TeraScale 3 | GCN 1.0 |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1536 ×2+100% | 768 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.55 TFLOPS ×2+101% | 1.267 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 ×2 | 32 |
| TMUs | 96 ×2+100% | 48 |
| L1 Cache | 384 KB+100% | 192 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 6990 | FirePro W5000 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 2 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6990 | FirePro W5000 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.2 (Radeon HD 6990) vs 12 (FirePro W5000). Vulkan: None vs 1.2.170. OpenGL: 4.4 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 5 vs 6.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6990 | FirePro W5000 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.2 | 12+7% |
| Vulkan | None | 1.2.170 |
| OpenGL | 4.4 | 4.6+5% |
| Max Displays | 5 | 6+20% |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: None (Radeon HD 6990) vs VCE 1.0 (FirePro W5000). Decoder: UVD 3.0 vs UVD 4.0. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 (Radeon HD 6990) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (FirePro W5000).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6990 | FirePro W5000 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | VCE 1.0 |
| Decoder | UVD 3.0 | UVD 4.0 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 6990 draws 375W versus the FirePro W5000's 75W — a 133.3% difference. The FirePro W5000 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (Radeon HD 6990) vs 350W (FirePro W5000). Power connectors: 2x 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 310mm vs 183mm, occupying 2 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 85 vs 75°C.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6990 | FirePro W5000 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 375W | 75W-80% |
| Recommended PSU | 750W | 350W-53% |
| Power Connector | 2x 8-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 310mm | 183mm |
| Height | 115mm | 111mm |
| Slots | 2 | 1-50% |
| Temp (Load) | 85 | 75°C-12% |
| Perf/Watt | 8.0 | 39.6+395% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 6990 launched at $699 MSRP and currently averages $498, while the FirePro W5000 launched at $599 and now averages $40. The FirePro W5000 costs 92% less ($458 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 6.1 (Radeon HD 6990) vs 74.2 (FirePro W5000) — the FirePro W5000 offers 1116.4% better value. The FirePro W5000 is the newer GPU (2012 vs 2011).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6990 | FirePro W5000 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $699 | $599-14% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $498 | $40-92% |
| Performance per Dollar | 6.1 | 74.2+1116% |
| Codename | Antilles | Pitcairn |
| Release | March 8 2011 | August 7 2012 |
| Ranking | #583 | #585 |
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