NVIDIA Quadro M520 vs AMD FirePro W5170M

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Combined performance score

W5170M
5.65
+17%

FirePro W5170M outperforms Quadro M520 by 17% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in performance ranking562601
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Value for money0.21no data
ArchitectureGCN (2011−2017)Maxwell (2014−2018)
GPU code nameTropoGM108
Market segmentMobile workstationMobile workstation
Release date2 October 2015 (8 years old)13 January 2017 (7 years old)
Current price$1530 no data
Value for money

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

Technical specs

General performance parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. These parameters indirectly speak of performance, but for precise assessment you have to consider their benchmark and gaming test results. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores640384
Core clock speedno data756 MHz
Boost clock speed925 MHz1019 MHz
Number of transistors1,500 millionno data
Manufacturing process technology28 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)no data25 Watt
Texture fill rate37.0016.66
Floating-point performance1,184 gflopsno data

Size and compatibility

Information on FirePro W5170M and Quadro M520 compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For notebook video cards it's notebook size, connection slot and bus, if the video card is inserted into a slot instead of being soldered to the notebook motherboard.

Laptop sizelargemedium sized
InterfaceMXM-A (3.0)MXM-A (3.0)
Supplementary power connectorsNoneNone

Memory

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount2 GB2 GB
Memory bus width128 Bit64 Bit
Memory clock speed4500 MHz5012 MHz
Memory bandwidth72 GB/s40 GB/s
Shared memory--

Video outputs and ports

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display ConnectorsNo outputsNo outputs
Eyefinity+no data

Technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

AppAcceleration+no data
Optimusno data+
3D Stereono data+
nView Display Managementno data+
Optimusno data+

API support

List of supported graphics and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (11_1)12
Shader Model5.15.0
OpenGL4.64.5
OpenCL1.21.2
Vulkan1.2.1311.1.126
CUDAno data5.0

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark performance comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

W5170M 5.65
+17%
Quadro M520 4.83

FirePro W5170M outperforms Quadro M520 by 17% in our combined benchmark results.


Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark, part of Passmark PerformanceTest suite. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

Benchmark coverage: 25%

W5170M 2191
+17.2%
Quadro M520 1870

FirePro W5170M outperforms Quadro M520 by 17% in Passmark.

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

Benchmark coverage: 17%

W5170M 4197
+57.9%
Quadro M520 2658

FirePro W5170M outperforms Quadro M520 by 58% in 3DMark 11 Performance GPU.

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

W5170M 2909
+24.2%
Quadro M520 2342

FirePro W5170M outperforms Quadro M520 by 24% in 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics.

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

W5170M 19095
+42.6%
Quadro M520 13394

FirePro W5170M outperforms Quadro M520 by 43% in 3DMark Cloud Gate GPU.

GeekBench 5 OpenCL

Geekbench 5 is a widespread graphics card benchmark combined from 11 different test scenarios. All these scenarios rely on direct usage of GPU's processing power, no 3D rendering is involved. This variation uses OpenCL API by Khronos Group.

Benchmark coverage: 9%

W5170M 8156
+31.5%
Quadro M520 6202

FirePro W5170M outperforms Quadro M520 by 32% in GeekBench 5 OpenCL.

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD27
+28.6%
21
−28.6%
4K14−16
+16.7%
12
−16.7%

Performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 9−10
+12.5%
8−9
−12.5%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−12
+22.2%
9−10
−22.2%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 6−7
+50%
4−5
−50%
Battlefield 5 16−18
+21.4%
14−16
−21.4%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 16−18
+6.3%
16−18
−6.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 9−10
+12.5%
8−9
−12.5%
Far Cry 5 12−14
+20%
10−11
−20%
Far Cry New Dawn 12−14
+30%
10−11
−30%
Forza Horizon 4 18−20
+26.7%
14−16
−26.7%
Hitman 3 12−14
+18.2%
10−12
−18.2%
Horizon Zero Dawn 10−12
+22.2%
9−10
−22.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2 10−11
+11.1%
9−10
−11.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 14−16
+16.7%
12−14
−16.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion 8−9
+33.3%
6−7
−33.3%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−12
+22.2%
9−10
−22.2%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 6−7
+50%
4−5
−50%
Battlefield 5 16−18
+21.4%
14−16
−21.4%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 16−18
+6.3%
16−18
−6.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 9−10
+12.5%
8−9
−12.5%
Far Cry 5 12−14
+20%
10−11
−20%
Far Cry New Dawn 12−14
+30%
10−11
−30%
Forza Horizon 4 18−20
+26.7%
14−16
−26.7%
Hitman 3 12−14
+18.2%
10−12
−18.2%
Horizon Zero Dawn 10−12
+22.2%
9−10
−22.2%
Metro Exodus 8−9
+14.3%
7−8
−14.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2 10−11
+11.1%
9−10
−11.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 14−16
+16.7%
12−14
−16.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 15
+50%
10−11
−50%
Watch Dogs: Legion 8−9
+33.3%
6−7
−33.3%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−12
+22.2%
9−10
−22.2%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 6−7
+50%
4−5
−50%
Battlefield 5 16−18
+21.4%
14−16
−21.4%
Cyberpunk 2077 9−10
+12.5%
8−9
−12.5%
Far Cry 5 12−14
+20%
10−11
−20%
Far Cry New Dawn 12−14
+30%
10−11
−30%
Forza Horizon 4 18−20
+26.7%
14−16
−26.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 12−14
+20%
10−11
−20%
Watch Dogs: Legion 8−9
+33.3%
6−7
−33.3%

1440p
High Preset

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 9−10
+12.5%
8−9
−12.5%
Hitman 3 9−10
+12.5%
8−9
−12.5%
Horizon Zero Dawn 12−14
+9.1%
10−12
−9.1%
Metro Exodus 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 9−10
+12.5%
8−9
−12.5%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 0−1 0−1
Battlefield 5 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
Cyberpunk 2077 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
Far Cry 5 9−10
+28.6%
7−8
−28.6%
Far Cry New Dawn 6−7
+50%
4−5
−50%
Forza Horizon 4 8−9
+33.3%
6−7
−33.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 5−6
+25%
4−5
−25%
Watch Dogs: Legion 1−2 0−1

4K
High Preset

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Hitman 3 5−6
+0%
5−6
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Metro Exodus 0−1 0−1
Red Dead Redemption 2 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 2−3
+100%
1−2
−100%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 2−3
+100%
1−2
−100%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 3−4
+50%
2−3
−50%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 2−3
+0%
2−3
+0%
Battlefield 5 1−2 0−1
Cyberpunk 2077 0−1 0−1
Far Cry 5 5−6
+0%
5−6
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 8−9
+14.3%
7−8
−14.3%
Forza Horizon 4 5−6
+66.7%
3−4
−66.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion 1−2 0−1

This is how W5170M and Quadro M520 compete in popular games:

1080p resolution:

  • W5170M is 28.6% faster than Quadro M520

4K resolution:

  • W5170M is 16.7% faster than Quadro M520

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the W5170M is 100% faster than the Quadro M520.

All in all, in popular games:

  • W5170M is ahead in 57 tests (93%)
  • there's a draw in 4 tests (7%)

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 5.65 4.83
Recency 2 October 2015 13 January 2017

The FirePro W5170M is our recommended choice as it beats the Quadro M520 in performance tests.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

User ratings

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.


AMD FirePro W5170M
FirePro W5170M
NVIDIA Quadro M520
Quadro M520

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