AMD Instinct MI300A vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 Comparison

AMD Instinct MI300A and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 represent two fundamentally different approaches to computing hardware, one aimed at massive data-center workloads and the other at high-end desktop graphics. The recorded data shows that the RTX 5090 has a comprehensive benchmark suite with an average score of 79,842, placing it in the 92nd percentile of all GPUs in the database. The MI300A has no recorded benchmark scores, leaving its average at zero and its percentile at 50. This makes direct numerical comparison limited to specifications and architectural details, but the data that exists paints a clear picture of two devices that are not direct competitors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The MI300A has no entries in the benchmark database, so the head-to-head comparison is one-sided by necessity. The RTX 5090 delivers a strong showing across multiple test suites. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 18,355. In Geekbench OpenCL, it reaches 334,370, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it improves to 376,728. Passmark results show 39,650 in the G3D test and 26,756 in GPU compute. The DirectX legacy tests show lower scores: 226 for DX10, 341 for DX11, 185 for DX12, and 395 for DX9. The 2D test scores 1,413.

The nearest rivals in the database for the RTX 5090 provide context for these numbers. The NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB averages 79,605, which is 0.3% behind the RTX 5090. The Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB averages 79,396, 0.6% behind. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT averages 78,940, 1.1% behind. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X averages 80,959, which is 1.4% ahead of the RTX 5090. This places the RTX 5090 in a tight cluster of high-performance devices, with the Pro Vega 64X being the only one of the listed rivals to score higher.

For the MI300A, the absence of benchmarks means the database cannot assign a measured performance level. Its percentile of 50 reflects an average position among all GPUs, but this is a default value rather than a result of testing. The data does not support any claim about its benchmark performance relative to the RTX 5090 or any other device.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the RTX 5090 is the only device with measurable benchmark performance. Its average score of 79,842 and 92nd percentile ranking indicate it is a top-tier performer in the database. The MI300A has no scores, so any selection between the two must rely on other factors, such as intended use case and hardware specifications.

The RTX 5090 is an active production card with a dual-slot design, display outputs, and a launch MSRP of 1,999 USD. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it suitable for consumer graphics workloads. The MI300A is an OAM module with no display outputs and no API support listed, meaning it is not designed for desktop use.

Who should pick which depends on the workload. The RTX 5090 is the clear choice for any task that requires graphics output, gaming, or consumer-grade rendering. The MI300A, despite lacking benchmarks, is positioned as an accelerator for compute-heavy environments where display output is irrelevant. Its 128 GB of HBM3 memory and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth suggest a focus on data processing rather than visual output.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5090 wins in every category where the database has measurement data. It has a full suite of API support, including DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, and it delivers consistent scores across compute and graphics tests. Its pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s and texture rate of 1,636.8 GTexel/s indicate strong rasterization capabilities. Its 170 ray tracing cores and 680 tensor cores provide dedicated hardware for ray tracing and AI acceleration.

The MI300A wins on raw memory capacity and bandwidth. It offers 128 GB of HBM3 memory, which is four times the 32 GB of GDDR7 on the RTX 5090. Its memory bandwidth of 5.32 TB/s is nearly three times the 1.79 TB/s of the RTX 5090. The MI300A also has a larger die at 1017 mm² compared to 750 mm², and more transistors at 153,000 million versus 92,200 million.

For workloads that depend on memory bandwidth and capacity, such as large-scale scientific computing or AI training, the MI300A has the specifications to excel. For workloads that require graphics processing, API support, or ray tracing, the RTX 5090 has the measured performance to deliver.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 has an average benchmark score of 79,842. The AMD Instinct MI300A has no recorded benchmark scores, so its average is 0.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX 5090 scores 0.3% higher than the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB, 0.6% higher than the Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB, and 1.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT. It scores 1.4% lower than the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X.

Q: What memory configurations do the two cards use?

A: The MI300A uses 128 GB of HBM3 with an 8192-bit bus and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The RTX 5090 uses 32 GB of GDDR7 with a 512-bit bus and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does the MI300A support any graphics APIs?

A: The database lists DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan as not applicable for the MI300A. The RTX 5090 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The MI300A has a TDP of 750 W with a suggested PSU of 1150 W. The RTX 5090 has a TDP of 575 W with a suggested PSU of 950 W.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The RTX 5090 has 21,760 shading units, while the MI300A has 14,592. The RTX 5090 also has 680 texture mapping units and 176 ROPs, while the MI300A has 912 TMUs and 0 ROPs.

Architecture Differences

The two devices use different architectures from different generations. The MI300A is built on CDNA 3.0 and uses the Aqua Vanjaram chip, while the RTX 5090 uses Blackwell 2.0 with the GB202 chip. Both are manufactured on a 5 nm process by TSMC, but the MI300A has a higher transistor density at 150.4 million transistors per square millimeter, compared to 122.9 million for the RTX 5090.

The MI300A has no ROPs, no ray tracing cores, and no tensor cores listed in the database. Its pixel rate is 0 MPixel/s. The RTX 5090 has 176 ROPs, 170 ray tracing cores, and 680 tensor cores, with a pixel rate of 423.6 GPixel/s.

The MI300A is an OAM module with no power connectors and no display outputs. The RTX 5090 is a dual-slot card with a 16-pin power connector and display outputs including HDMI 2.1b and DisplayPort 2.1b. The MI300A has no API support, while the RTX 5090 supports the full range of modern graphics APIs.

Specification Differences

The clock speeds differ significantly. The MI300A has a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 2100 MHz, with memory running at 1300 MHz (5.2 Gbps effective). The RTX 5090 has a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz, with memory at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective).

The MI300A has a much larger memory subsystem: 128 GB of HBM3 on an 8192-bit bus, delivering 5.32 TB/s. The RTX 5090 has 32 GB of GDDR7 on a 512-bit bus, delivering 1.79 TB/s. The MI300A has 14,592 shading units and 912 TMUs, while the RTX 5090 has 21,760 shading units, 680 TMUs, and 176 ROPs.

The MI300A has a higher FP32 compute rating of 61.29 TFLOPS, but the RTX 5090 reaches 104.8 TFLOPS. The RTX 5090 also has an FP16 rating of 104.8 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, while the MI300A has no FP16 rating listed. The texture rate favors the MI300A at 1,915.2 GTexel/s versus 1,636.8 GTexel/s for the RTX 5090.

The power requirements differ as well. The MI300A draws 750 W with a suggested PSU of 1150 W. The RTX 5090 draws 575 W with a suggested PSU of 950 W. The physical dimensions of the RTX 5090 are 304 mm by 137 mm by 40 mm. The MI300A has no dimensions listed.

The release dates show the MI300A launched on December 5, 2023, while the RTX 5090 launched on January 29, 2025. The MI300A follows the Radeon Instinct line, while the RTX 5090 follows the GeForce 40 series and is succeeded by GeForce 60. The RTX 5090 has a launch MSRP of 1,999 USD, while the MI300A has no MSRP listed.