AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100⁚ An Overview
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 is a compact, power-efficient professional graphics card ideal for entry-level workstations. It offers reliable performance and ISV certifications for various design and manufacturing applications.
Key Features and Specifications
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 boasts 512 stream processors and 2GB of GDDR5 memory, achieving 1.25 TFLOPS single-precision performance. Its 64-bit memory interface delivers a 48 GB/s bandwidth. This half-height, half-length card fits in compact workstations, expanding to full-height via an included bracket. Supporting OpenCL, OpenGL, and Vulkan APIs, it ensures compatibility with professional software. The card’s maximum power consumption is rated at 35W, contributing to its energy efficiency. Display connectivity includes one DisplayPort 1.4a and two mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The Radeon Pro WX 2100 leverages the efficient 14nm Polaris architecture, offering a significant performance boost over its predecessor, the AMD FirePro W2100. It’s designed for professional workflows, providing reliable performance and stability.
Performance Benchmarks and Comparisons
While specific benchmark numbers weren’t consistently reported across sources, the AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 generally outperforms its predecessor, the AMD FirePro W2100, by an average of 94%, showcasing a substantial generational leap. Independent reviews suggest performance comparable to an RX 550, a consumer-grade card, aligning with expectations for a professional-grade equivalent. Comparisons against NVIDIA’s offerings indicate that the Radeon Pro WX 2100 delivers performance exceeding the NVIDIA Quadro P400 by up to 20%. The performance varies depending on the specific application and workload. Note that gaming performance is not explicitly detailed in available data; however, the card is suitable for professional tasks and applications rather than high-end gaming. The overall consensus points to the WX 2100 providing satisfactory performance within its intended professional use case.
Supported Software and Drivers
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 boasts broad software compatibility, including support for DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6, OpenCL 2.1, and Vulkan 1.3, ensuring compatibility with a wide array of professional applications. AMD provides regular enterprise driver updates, prioritizing stability and performance, particularly for Windows operating systems. Specific mentions include support within professional software such as Autodesk Maya and Avid Media Composer. A “Guest Driver,” a unified software solution designed for enterprise deployments, is available for Microsoft Windows Server 2019 (64-bit). AMD recommends updating your operating system to the latest version before installing drivers for optimal performance and compatibility. Radeon Pro Software for Enterprise offers further support, including features like Radeon Pro ReLive for high-resolution screen capture and recording.
Architecture and Design
Based on the efficient 14nm Polaris architecture, the Radeon Pro WX 2100 features a compact, single-slot design for easy integration into various workstations.
Polaris Architecture and Manufacturing Process
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 leverages the Polaris 12 GPU, a member of the Polaris family renowned for its power efficiency. Manufactured using a 14nm GlobalFoundries process, this architecture boasts a high transistor density, contributing to its compact size and low power consumption. The Lexa PRO GL variant of the Polaris 12 chip is employed in the WX 2100, specifically tailored for professional applications. This targeted design emphasizes stability and reliability, critical for professional workflows. While based on a consumer-grade architecture, the Radeon Pro WX 2100 benefits from AMD’s professional driver support, ensuring optimal performance and compatibility with industry-standard software. This combination of a mature, efficient architecture and dedicated driver support positions the WX 2100 as a robust and dependable solution for professional users.
Memory Configuration and Bandwidth
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 features 2GB of GDDR5 memory, a common choice for entry-level professional graphics cards. This memory capacity is sufficient for many professional tasks, particularly those not demanding extremely high-resolution textures or large scene complexities. The memory operates at an effective speed of 6 Gbps, contributing to the card’s overall performance. Crucially, the memory is connected via a 64-bit memory interface. This relatively narrow interface impacts the overall memory bandwidth available to the GPU, limiting the rate at which data can be transferred. While 2GB of GDDR5 memory and a 64-bit interface provide adequate performance for many professional applications, users should be aware of this bandwidth limitation when considering the card’s suitability for more demanding workloads. The 48 GB/s bandwidth is a direct result of this configuration.
Power Consumption and Cooling
Designed for efficiency, the AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 boasts a maximum power consumption of just 35W. This low TDP contributes to its compact, single-slot form factor and eliminates the need for external power connectors, simplifying installation and reducing clutter within the workstation chassis. The card’s cooling solution, though not explicitly detailed, is likely a passive or low-profile active cooler, sufficient for dissipating the heat generated at its low power draw. The low power consumption also translates into lower operating costs and reduced heat output, making it suitable for smaller form-factor workstations with limited cooling capacity. The 35W TDP makes the Radeon Pro WX 2100 an energy-efficient choice compared to higher-power professional graphics cards.
Technical Specifications
This section details the AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100’s core components, memory, connectivity options, and supported APIs for comprehensive understanding.
GPU, Core, and Memory Details
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 boasts a Lexa PRO GL GPU built on the 14nm process, featuring 512 stream processors, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs. Its architecture is based on GCN 4.0, delivering a respectable 1.248 TFLOPS of single-precision compute performance; The card incorporates 2GB of GDDR5 memory, operating at an effective speed of 6 Gbps, connected via a 64-bit memory interface resulting in a memory bandwidth of 48 GB/s. This configuration ensures smooth handling of demanding professional applications. The GPU’s base clock is 925 MHz, boosting up to 1219 MHz, further enhancing performance. The 2,200 million transistors within the 103 mm² die contribute to its capabilities. The L1 cache is 16KB per compute unit (8 CUs total), and the L2 cache is 256KB. All these features work together to create a balanced and efficient professional graphics solution. The card is compatible with DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6, OpenCL 2.1, and Vulkan 1.3, ensuring broad software compatibility. The shader model supported is 6.7.
Display Outputs and Connectivity
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 offers versatile display connectivity options for seamless integration into various workstation setups. The card provides a comprehensive array of ports to support multiple displays simultaneously, enhancing productivity and workflow efficiency. Specifically, it features one DisplayPort 1.4a output and two mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. This configuration allows users to connect a variety of displays, from standard monitors to high-resolution panels, catering to diverse professional needs. The DisplayPort 1.4a standard supports high refresh rates and resolutions, ensuring crisp, clear visuals for demanding tasks. The inclusion of mini-DisplayPort 1.4a provides compatibility with a wide range of existing professional-grade displays, ensuring smooth transitions for users upgrading their systems. The card utilizes a PCI-Express 3.0 x8 interface for robust and reliable communication with the system’s motherboard. This ensures stable data transfer speeds, crucial for professional applications that often involve large files and complex computations. The combination of multiple display outputs and a high-speed PCI-Express interface makes the Radeon Pro WX 2100 a versatile choice for various workstation configurations.
Supported APIs and Standards
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 boasts broad support for industry-standard APIs and technologies, ensuring compatibility and optimal performance across a wide range of professional applications. Key among these is DirectX 12 support, providing access to advanced graphics features and performance optimizations for modern game engines and applications. OpenGL 4.6 compatibility ensures seamless integration with a vast library of existing professional 3D graphics software. OpenCL 2.1 support unlocks the power of parallel computing for computationally intensive tasks. Furthermore, Vulkan 1.3 compatibility offers a low-overhead, high-performance graphics and compute API for improved efficiency in demanding workflows. The card also supports Shader Model 6.7, providing developers with advanced shading techniques for enhanced visual fidelity and effects. This comprehensive API support translates to a robust and versatile graphics card capable of handling the demands of various professional applications. The card’s adherence to these standards guarantees a consistent and reliable performance across different software platforms. This ensures that professionals can confidently utilize the Radeon Pro WX 2100 across their diverse software ecosystem.
Performance
The Radeon Pro WX 2100 delivers solid performance for its class, suitable for entry-level professional tasks. Expect sufficient speed for many design and CAD applications.
Gaming Performance at Different Resolutions
While primarily a professional workstation card, the AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 offers acceptable gaming performance at lower resolutions. At 1600×900 and 1920×1080, it can handle many games at playable frame rates, although settings may need adjustment for optimal performance. Expect lower frame rates at higher resolutions like 2560×1440, making it less suitable for demanding modern games at these settings. The card’s architecture, while efficient, is not designed for high-end gaming, so users should manage expectations. Its strength lies in professional applications, not high-refresh-rate gaming. Therefore, gamers seeking top-tier performance should look toward dedicated gaming GPUs. Users should consider the overall balance between cost and performance when deciding if this card meets their gaming needs. Keep in mind that driver support for gaming might be less extensive compared to consumer-grade graphics cards, potentially affecting performance or stability in certain titles. Overall, it’s not a primary choice for gaming but can handle less demanding titles adequately at lower resolutions.
Professional Application Performance
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 delivers solid performance in various professional applications, particularly those requiring ISV certification. Its performance is notably faster than its predecessor, the AMD FirePro W2100, offering a significant improvement in speed and efficiency. While not the top-tier professional card, it excels in tasks like product design, simulation, and video post-production, providing sufficient power for many workflows. Users can expect reliable performance and stability due to the enterprise-grade drivers, ensuring smooth operation in mission-critical projects. The card’s compact size and low power consumption also make it suitable for smaller workstations, maximizing workspace efficiency. However, users working with extremely demanding applications requiring high processing power might find its capabilities limited. For these users, higher-end professional cards would be more appropriate. The Radeon Pro WX 2100 strikes a balance between cost-effectiveness and performance, making it a viable option for many professionals.
Availability and Pricing
The Radeon Pro WX 2100 launched June 4th, 2017, at $149 USD. Current market availability and pricing vary depending on retailer and stock.
Launch Date and Original Price
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100, a professional-grade graphics card designed for workstations, made its debut on June 4th, 2017. This strategically timed release positioned the card to compete effectively within the professional market segment. At launch, AMD priced the Radeon Pro WX 2100 competitively at $149 USD. This pricing strategy aimed to make the card accessible to a broader range of professional users and businesses, particularly those with entry-level workstation needs. The initial price point reflected the card’s capabilities and targeted market, offering a balance between performance and affordability. The combination of the launch date and original price played a crucial role in the card’s market reception and overall success. The relatively low price point, coupled with a timely release, helped to establish the Radeon Pro WX 2100 as a viable option for professionals seeking a reliable and cost-effective graphics solution.
Current Market Price and Availability
Determining the precise current market price and availability of the AMD Radeon Pro WX 2100 proves challenging due to its age and the dynamic nature of the used graphics card market. As of December 4th, 2024, this specific model is likely to be discontinued by AMD and no longer officially sold through retail channels. Consequently, finding new units is improbable. However, used or refurbished units might be available through online marketplaces or specialized retailers dealing in pre-owned computer components. Pricing will vary considerably depending on the condition of the card, seller reputation, and prevailing market trends for similar older professional graphics cards. Potential buyers should exercise caution and thoroughly investigate sellers before committing to a purchase. Expect to find a considerable price difference compared to its original MSRP due to its age and obsolescence in the new market;