AMD Instinct MI300X vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded performance data for these two accelerators is sparse but telling. The AMD Instinct MI300X has a single OpenCL benchmark result of 317,994 points, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q has no benchmark entries in the database at all. This asymmetry means direct numerical comparison is limited to the MI300X's absolute score and its position relative to other data center parts.

The MI300X's score places it at the 100th percentile among all GPUs in the database. That is a perfect percentile ranking, indicating no other recorded GPU scores higher in OpenCL workloads. Its average benchmark score equals that single result, 317,994, because only one test is recorded.

Looking at the MI300X's nearest rivals provides context. The NVIDIA H200 NVL posts an average score of 334,891, which is 5% higher than the MI300X. The NVIDIA B200 scores 345,482, an 8% advantage. The MI300X leads the NVIDIA L40S, which scores 295,763, by 7.5%. It also leads the NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation, which scores 287,237, by 10.7%. These deltas show the MI300X sits in the upper tier of compute accelerators, slightly behind the newest NVIDIA data center parts but ahead of the L40S and RTX 6000 Ada by meaningful margins.

The RTX 4090 Max-Q has no recorded scores, no average benchmark score, and no nearest rivals in the database. Its percentile ranking is 50, which reflects the midpoint of an unranked entry rather than a measured performance level. Benchmark results indicate the MI300X is the only one of the two with validated compute performance data.

Because the head-to-head benchmark array is empty and neither part has wins recorded, any comparison of raw scores between these two specific products is not possible from the database. The data confirms the MI300X is a high-performing accelerator in absolute OpenCL terms, while the RTX 4090 Max-Q remains unmeasured in this database.

FAQ

Q: What is the MI300X's OpenCL benchmark score and how does it rank?

A: The MI300X scores 317,994 points in the Geekbench OpenCL test. This places it at the 100th percentile among all GPUs in the database, meaning no recorded GPU scores higher.

Q: Does the RTX 4090 Max-Q have any benchmark scores?

A: No. The database contains an empty benchmarks array for the RTX 4090 Max-Q, an average benchmark score of 0, and no nearest rivals. Its percentile ranking of 50 is not based on measured performance.

Q: How does the MI300X compare to its nearest NVIDIA rivals?

A: The MI300X trails the NVIDIA H200 NVL by 5% (334,891 vs 317,994) and the NVIDIA B200 by 8% (345,482 vs 317,994). It leads the NVIDIA L40S by 7.5% (295,763 vs 317,994) and the NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation by 10.7% (287,237 vs 317,994).

Q: What memory configurations do these two parts use?

A: The MI300X has 192 GB of HBM3 on an 8192-bit bus with 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The RTX 4090 Max-Q has 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the FP32 compute figures for each?

A: The MI300X delivers 81.72 TFLOPS of FP32 and 81.72 TFLOPS of FP16 (1:1). The RTX 4090 Max-Q delivers 28.31 TFLOPS of FP32 and 28.31 TFLOPS of FP16 (1:1).

Q: What process nodes and die sizes do they use?

A: Both use TSMC's 5 nm process. The MI300X has a die size of 1017 mm² with 153,000 million transistors. The RTX 4090 Max-Q has a die size of 379 mm² with 45,900 million transistors.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two parts is fundamental. The MI300X uses AMD's CDNA 3.0 architecture on a chip codenamed Aqua Vanjaram. This is a compute-optimized design with no display outputs, no DirectX support, no OpenGL support, and no Vulkan support. The RTX 4090 Max-Q uses NVIDIA's Ada Lovelace architecture on the AD103 chip, which is a consumer-derived mobile design with DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 support. The API lists show the MI300X is a pure accelerator with no graphics pipeline, while the RTX 4090 Max-Q retains full graphics capabilities.

The MI300X has 19,456 shading units, 1,216 TMUs, and 0 ROPs. Its pixel rate is listed as 0 MPixel/s, confirming it is not designed for rasterization. The texture rate is 2,553.6 GTexel/s. The RTX 4090 Max-Q has 9,728 shading units, 304 TMUs, and 112 ROPs. Its pixel rate is 163.0 GPixel/s and its texture rate is 442.3 GTexel/s. The RTX 4090 Max-Q also has 76 RT cores and 304 tensor cores, while the MI300X lists no RT cores and no tensor cores in its specification fields.

Memory architecture differs sharply. The MI300X uses HBM3 with 192 GB capacity, an 8192-bit bus, and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The RTX 4090 Max-Q uses GDDR6 with 16 GB capacity, a 256-bit bus, and 576.0 GB/s bandwidth. The MI300X's memory bandwidth is an order of magnitude higher, which suits its data center compute role. The RTX 4090 Max-Q's smaller but faster-clocked GDDR6 (18 Gbps effective) serves a mobile graphics workload.

Clock behavior also separates them. The MI300X runs a 1000 MHz base clock and 2100 MHz boost clock. The RTX 4090 Max-Q runs a 930 MHz base clock and 1455 MHz boost clock. Despite the MI300X's higher clocks, the RTX 4090 Max-Q has a lower thermal envelope, which reflects its integrated, portable form factor.

The process node is the same (TSMC 5 nm), but the implementation differs enormously. The MI300X has 153,000 million transistors on a 1017 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 150.4M per mm². The RTX 4090 Max-Q has 45,900 million transistors on a 379 mm² die, yielding 121.1M per mm². The MI300X's die is nearly three times larger and packs over three times the transistors.

Specification Differences

The two parts differ across nearly every measurable specification field in the database.

The MI300X belongs to the Instinct (MIx) generation with no series designation, while the RTX 4090 Max-Q belongs to the GeForce 40-series. The MI300X's predecessor is Radeon Instinct with no successor listed. The RTX 4090 Max-Q's predecessor is GeForce 30 Mobile and its successor is GeForce 50 Mobile. The production status differs: the MI300X has no recorded status, while the RTX 4090 Max-Q is listed as Active.

Release dates are distinct. The MI300X was released on December 5, 2023. The RTX 4090 Max-Q was released on January 2, 2023.

Transistor counts: 153,000 million for the MI300X versus 45,900 million for the RTX 4090 Max-Q. Die size: 1017 mm² versus 379 mm². Transistor density: 150.4M per mm² versus 121.1M per mm².

Clock speeds: the MI300X runs 1000 MHz base and 2100 MHz boost. The RTX 4090 Max-Q runs 930 MHz base and 1455 MHz boost. Memory clocks: 1300 MHz (5.2 Gbps effective) for the MI300X versus 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective) for the RTX 4090 Max-Q.

Memory: 192 GB HBM3 versus 16 GB GDDR6. Bus width: 8192 bit versus 256 bit. Bandwidth: 5.32 TB/s versus 576.0 GB/s.

Compute units: 19,456 shading units versus 9,728. TMUs: 1,216 versus 304. ROPs: 0 versus 112. RT cores: none listed versus 76. Tensor cores: none listed versus 304.

Pixel rate: 0 MPixel/s versus 163.0 GPixel/s. Texture rate: 2,553.6 GTexel/s versus 442.3 GTexel/s. FP32: 81.72 TFLOPS versus 28.31 TFLOPS. FP16: 81.72 TFLOPS (1:1) versus 28.31 TFLOPS (1:1).

TDP: 750 W versus 80 W. Slot width: OAM Module versus IGP. Power connectors: None for both. Suggested PSU: 1150 W for the MI300X, none listed for the RTX 4090 Max-Q.

Bus interface: PCIe 5.0 x16 versus PCIe 4.0 x16. Display outputs: No outputs versus Portable Device Dependent.

API support: the MI300X lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan. The RTX 4090 Max-Q lists DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Neither part has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear functional separation. The AMD Instinct MI300X is a data center compute accelerator designed for massive parallel workloads. Its 100th percentile OpenCL ranking, 81.72 TFLOPS FP32, 192 GB HBM3, and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth confirm its position as a high-end compute part. It has no graphics outputs and no graphics API support, so it is not intended for display or gaming workloads.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q is a mobile graphics processor. It has 76 RT cores, 304 tensor cores, full graphics API support, and 112 ROPs. Its 80 W TDP and IGP slot width indicate an integrated solution for portable devices. Its 16 GB GDDR6 and 576.0 GB/s bandwidth are modest compared to the MI300X, but they suit a laptop form factor.

The database contains no benchmark scores for the RTX 4090 Max-Q, so no performance comparison between these two specific parts is possible from recorded measurements. The MI300X's score of 317,994 stands alone. Its nearest rivals are all NVIDIA data center parts, not mobile GPUs.

Users needing a compute accelerator for OpenCL-heavy workloads should look at the MI300X based on its recorded performance and perfect percentile ranking. Users needing a mobile graphics solution with ray tracing and tensor acceleration should consider the RTX 4090 Max-Q, whose specifications indicate graphics capability but whose performance data is absent from the database.

The architectural differences are so substantial that these products target different markets entirely. The MI300X's 750 W TDP, OAM module form factor, and lack of display outputs make it unsuitable for portable or consumer systems. The RTX 4090 Max-Q's 80 W TDP, IGP form factor, and portable-device-dependent outputs make it unsuitable for rack-scale compute clusters.

The MI300X's transistor count of 153,000 million and die size of 1017 mm² illustrate the cost and complexity of a compute-first design. The RTX 4090 Max-Q's 45,900 million transistors on 379 mm² show a more modest but still advanced implementation. Both use TSMC 5 nm, so the density difference (150.4M per mm² versus 121.1M per mm²) reflects design priorities: the MI300X packs more logic per area despite the larger die.

The MI300X leads in every compute-relevant specification: shading units, TMUs, FP32, FP16, memory size, memory bandwidth, and texture rate. The RTX 4090 Max-Q leads in graphics-relevant specifications: ROPs, RT cores, pixel rate, and API support. Its higher memory clock (18 Gbps effective versus 5.2 Gbps effective) reflects the different memory technology, but the MI300X's much wider bus compensates with far greater total bandwidth.

The release dates are close, with the RTX 4090 Max-Q launching in January 2023 and the MI300X in December 2023. Both are built on TSMC 5 nm, but the MI300X is a newer and much larger design.

The verdict from the recorded data is straightforward: the MI300X is a top-tier compute accelerator with validated performance, while the RTX 4090 Max-Q is a capable mobile graphics processor whose performance is not measured in this database. The choice between them depends entirely on whether the workload requires compute acceleration or graphics output. There is no overlap in their intended uses.