AMD FirePro S9300 X2 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded benchmark data presents a clear hierarchy between these two GPUs. Across the two shared workload tests, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti wins decisively in both, leaving the AMD FirePro S9300 X2 without a single recorded victory. The NVIDIA card delivers a 76.6% higher score in Geekbench OpenCL and a 73.4% higher score in Geekbench Vulkan. For any user prioritizing raw compute performance in these cross-API workloads, the RTX 3070 Ti is the unequivocal choice.

The AMD FirePro S9300 X2, despite its older architecture and server-oriented design, remains competitive in aggregate standing. Its average benchmark score of 32,540 places it at the 77th percentile among all GPUs, slightly higher than the RTX 3070 Ti's 75th percentile. This is a narrow margin, with the FirePro's average score being 8.7% higher than the RTX 3070 Ti's 29,945 average. The data suggests the FirePro's strength lies in a broader set of tasks beyond the two head-to-head tests, while the RTX 3070 Ti excels specifically in those shared workloads.

For system builders, the choice depends on workload and platform constraints. The RTX 3070 Ti offers modern features, higher memory capacity, and a much newer interface. The FirePro S9300 X2, being end-of-life and lacking display outputs, suits a niche of compute-focused server installations where its unique HBM memory configuration and legacy GCN architecture are acceptable. The RTX 3070 Ti is the safer, more versatile pick for anyone needing a functional graphics card with contemporary API support.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different design eras and philosophies. The AMD FirePro S9300 X2 is built on the GCN 3.0 architecture, codenamed Capsaicin, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 8,900 million transistors into a 596 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 14.9 million per square millimeter. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti uses the Ampere architecture with the GA104 chip, built on Samsung's 8 nm process. It contains 17,400 million transistors on a much smaller 392 mm² die, achieving a density of 44.4 million per square millimeter. This density difference highlights the generational leap in manufacturing and design.

The FirePro's memory subsystem is its most distinctive trait. It uses 4 GB of HBM memory on a 4096-bit bus, providing 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 3070 Ti instead uses 8 GB of GDDR6X on a 256-bit bus, delivering 608.3 GB/s. Despite the FirePro's massive bus width, the newer GDDR6X technology on the NVIDIA card achieves higher total bandwidth.

In terms of compute resources, the FirePro has 4096 shading units, 256 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operation pipelines. The RTX 3070 Ti has 6144 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. The NVIDIA card also includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, which the FirePro lacks entirely, reflecting its server-focused, non-gaming purpose. The FirePro's FP32 throughput is 7.987 TFLOPS, while the RTX 3070 Ti reaches 21.75 TFLOPS. The NVIDIA card also supports FP16 at a 1:1 ratio, a feature absent from the FirePro's recorded specifications.

API support differs as well. The FirePro supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The RTX 3070 Ti supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA card's higher DirectX feature level and newer Vulkan version indicate better support for modern graphics workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two shared tests paint a one-sided picture. In Geekbench OpenCL, the RTX 3070 Ti scores 119,718 against the FirePro's 27,971. The delta is 76.6% in favor of NVIDIA, meaning the RTX 3070 Ti is roughly four times faster in this specific compute test. This is a massive gap, far beyond any architectural refinement; it reflects the fundamental difference in compute capability between a 2016 server accelerator and a 2021 consumer graphics card.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the RTX 3070 Ti again dominates with 139,541 points versus the FirePro's 37,109. The delta here is 73.4% in NVIDIA's favor. The Vulkan test shows similar relative performance to OpenCL, confirming that the RTX 3070 Ti's advantage is consistent across different graphics and compute APIs. The FirePro's Vulkan score, while lower, is still proportionally closer to its OpenCL result, suggesting the GCN architecture handles both APIs with similar efficiency, just at a much lower absolute level.

The data shows no head-to-head benchmark where the FirePro wins. The RTX 3070 Ti's victory in both tests is comprehensive and unambiguous. For users comparing these two cards for any compute-heavy application, the NVIDIA card's recorded advantage is decisive.

Specification Differences

Several key specifications separate these two GPUs. The memory capacity differs: 4 GB on the FirePro versus 8 GB on the RTX 3070 Ti. Memory type also differs, with HBM on the AMD card and GDDR6X on the NVIDIA card. The bus width is dramatically different: 4096 bits for the FirePro versus 256 bits for the RTX 3070 Ti. Bandwidth favors NVIDIA at 608.3 GB/s versus 512.0 GB/s.

The process node and foundry differ: 28 nm TSMC for AMD versus 8 nm Samsung for NVIDIA. Transistor counts are 8,900 million versus 17,400 million, with die sizes of 596 mm² versus 392 mm². Transistor density is 14.9M per mm² versus 44.4M per mm².

Clock speeds show a clear difference. The FirePro has no recorded base or boost clock, only a memory clock of 500 MHz (1000 Mbps effective). The RTX 3070 Ti has a base clock of 1575 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz, with memory at 1188 MHz (19 Gbps effective). The NVIDIA card's clocks are substantially higher, contributing to its performance advantage.

The power delivery specifications differ. The FirePro has a TDP of 300 W with 2x 8-pin power connectors and a suggested PSU of 700 W. The RTX 3070 Ti has a TDP of 290 W with a single 12-pin connector and a suggested PSU of 600 W. Both are dual-slot cards with identical lengths of 267 mm, but the RTX 3070 Ti is 1 mm taller at 112 mm versus 111 mm.

The bus interface differs: PCIe 3.0 x16 for the FirePro versus PCIe 4.0 x16 for the RTX 3070 Ti. Display outputs also differ: the FirePro has no outputs, while the RTX 3070 Ti has 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. Release dates are five years apart, with the FirePro launching in March 2016 and the RTX 3070 Ti in May 2021.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD FirePro S9300 X2 has an average benchmark score of 32,540, which is 8.7% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti's average of 29,945.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of each card?

A: The FirePro S9300 X2 provides 512.0 GB/s using HBM on a 4096-bit bus. The RTX 3070 Ti provides 608.3 GB/s using GDDR6X on a 256-bit bus.

Q: Does the RTX 3070 Ti have dedicated ray tracing hardware?

A: Yes, the RTX 3070 Ti includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores. The FirePro S9300 X2 has no recorded RT or tensor cores.

Q: Which GPU supports a newer version of Vulkan?

A: The RTX 3070 Ti supports Vulkan 1.4, while the FirePro S9300 X2 supports Vulkan 1.2.170.

Q: How do the two cards compare in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The RTX 3070 Ti scores 119,718, which is 76.6% higher than the FirePro's 27,971.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The FirePro S9300 X2 is built on a 28 nm process at TSMC, while the RTX 3070 Ti uses an 8 nm process at Samsung.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 3070 Ti wins exclusively in the shared head-to-head benchmarks. It takes both Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan with commanding leads. This makes it the obvious choice for any workload that relies on these APIs, including general compute tasks, modern gaming, and applications that leverage DirectX 12 Ultimate features. Its 8 GB memory capacity and display outputs make it a functional graphics card for interactive use. The higher FP32 throughput of 21.75 TFLOPS and FP16 support at a 1:1 ratio also indicate strong compute versatility.

The FirePro S9300 X2, despite losing both head-to-head tests, wins in the aggregate benchmark comparison. Its average score of 32,540 places it at the 77th percentile, slightly above the RTX 3070 Ti's 75th percentile. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon RX 590 GME, scores 32,601 with a delta of only 0.2%, showing that the FirePro sits in a tight cluster of comparable GPUs. The FirePro's 4096-bit memory bus, while paired with slower HBM, provides a unique memory architecture that may benefit specific server workloads not captured in the head-to-head tests. Its lack of display outputs and end-of-life status restrict it to compute-only server roles.

For gaming, content creation, or any task requiring modern graphics features, the RTX 3070 Ti is the clear winner. For a niche server deployment where the FirePro's GCN architecture and HBM memory are specifically required, the AMD card retains some relevance. The data shows the RTX 3070 Ti as the faster card in direct comparison, but the FirePro's higher aggregate benchmark score indicates it holds its own in a broader context. The choice ultimately depends on whether the workload matches the two head-to-head tests or the wider benchmark suite.