AMD Instinct MI308X vs AMD Radeon 8040S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Instinct MI308X and the AMD Radeon 8040S occupy opposite extremes of the AMD accelerator spectrum. The MI308X is a datacenter compute module built on CDNA 3.0, while the 8040S is a mobile integrated graphics processor built on RDNA 3.5. Direct benchmark comparisons are unavailable in the database, so the analysis relies on the recorded specifications and the benchmark results that exist for the 8040S.

The most decisive difference lies in raw compute throughput. The Instinct MI308X delivers 81.72 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the Radeon 8040S delivers 5.734 TFLOPS. That puts the MI308X at roughly 14 times the FP32 throughput of the 8040S. The gap is equally stark in FP16: both cards offer a 1:1 ratio, meaning the MI308X again delivers 81.72 TFLOPS versus 5.734 TFLOPS for the 8040S. The FP32 and FP16 results are identical on both parts, which indicates the MI308X does not rely on a dedicated half-precision path, and the 8040S also processes both formats at the same rate.

Texture processing shows a similar hierarchy. The MI308X has 1,216 texture mapping units and a texture rate of 2,553.6 GTexel/s. The 8040S has 64 TMUs and a texture rate of 179.2 GTexel/s. The MI308X therefore delivers more than 14 times the texture fill rate. Pixel throughput tells a different story: the MI308X lists a pixel rate of 0 MPixel/s because it has 0 ROPs, making it unsuitable for traditional rasterization output. The 8040S, with 32 ROPs, delivers 89.60 GPixel/s. This is the only major specification area where the 8040S has a functional advantage over the MI308X.

Memory capacity and bandwidth further separate the two. The MI308X carries 192 GB of HBM3 across a 8192-bit bus, yielding 5.32 TB/s of bandwidth. The 8040S uses System Shared memory, with bandwidth listed as System Dependent. That means the 8040S has no dedicated video memory and its performance scales with the host system's memory configuration, which is not quantified in the database. The MI308X memory clock is 1300 MHz, running at 5.2 Gbps effective.

The 8040S has recorded benchmark scores in the Passmark suite. Its G3D score is 10,578, and its G2D score is 1,052. Compute performance is measured at 5,138 in Passmark GPU Compute. DirectX results show scores of 134 for DirectX 9, 80 for DirectX 11, 48 for DirectX 10, and 47 for DirectX 12. The MI308X has no benchmark entries in the database, and its average benchmark score is 0, so no direct score comparison is possible.

The nearest rivals for the 8040S in the database are all low-end parts. The NVIDIA GeForce 710M has an average score of 2,433, which is 0.3% below the 8040S. The Intel HD Graphics 610 averages 2,425, a 0.6% deficit. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 710M averages 2,422, a 0.7% gap. The AMD Radeon RX 7400 averages 2,467, which is 1.1% above the 8040S. The 8040S thus sits in a narrow band around 2,440 average score, with all four nearest rivals within roughly one percentage point. The 8040S ranks at the 17th percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the MI308X sits at the 50th percentile despite having no benchmark scores recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The MI308X wins on compute density and memory throughput. Its 19456 shading units outnumber the 8040S's 1,024 shading units by a factor of 19. The 153,000 million transistors on the MI308X, packed into a 1017 mm² die, give it a transistor density of 150.4M per mm². The 8040S uses a 308 mm² die with an unknown transistor count, so density cannot be calculated for that part. The MI308X is built on TSMC's 5 nm process, while the 8040S uses TSMC's 4 nm node, which gives the smaller chip a fabrication advantage but does not compensate for the massive difference in scale.

The MI308X also wins on bandwidth and capacity. At 5.32 TB/s, its memory bandwidth is more than sufficient for large-scale compute workloads. The 192 GB capacity is a server-class allocation. The 8040S has no dedicated memory at all, relying fully on system shared memory, which makes its bandwidth and capacity dependent on the host platform.

The 8040S wins on rasterization output and API support. It has 32 ROPs and a pixel rate of 89.60 GPixel/s, which means it can drive display outputs in portable devices. Its API support includes DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The MI308X lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, and has no display outputs. The MI308X is a compute accelerators with no graphics pipeline, so any task requiring traditional rendering or display output falls to the 8040S.

The 8040S wins on power efficiency in context. Its TDP is 55 W, versus 750 W for the MI308X. The 8040S is an IGP with no power connectors, and it does not require a suggested PSU rating. The MI308X is an OAM Module with no power connectors either, but its suggested PSU is 1150 W. The 8040S produces 5.734 TFLOPS within a 55 W envelope, while the MI308X produces 81.72 TFLOPS within a 750 W envelope. The efficiency ratio differs, but the 8040S is clearly designed for low-power mobile integration.

Clock speeds also favor the 8040S. Its base clock is 1295 MHz and boost clock is 2800 MHz. The MI308X has a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 2100 MHz. The 8040S runs at higher frequencies, but the MI308X compensates with a far larger shader array.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the AMD Instinct MI308X is designed for high-throughput compute tasks that demand massive memory capacity and bandwidth. Its 192 GB HBM3 pool, 8192-bit bus, and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth are server-grade resources. Its 81.72 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16 performance, along with 2,553.6 GTexel/s texture rate, place it in a category far above the 8040S for any compute-heavy workload. The lack of ROPs, display outputs, and graphics API support confirms that the MI308X is not intended for rendering or interactive graphics.

The AMD Radeon 8040S is a mobile integrated processor with a different set of strengths. Its 17th percentile ranking among all GPUs and average benchmark score of 2,440 put it in the entry-level segment. Its nearest rivals, the GeForce 710M, HD Graphics 610, GeForce GT 710M, and Radeon RX 7400, are all within 1.1% of its average score. The 8040S delivers 89.60 GPixel/s pixel throughput and supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it suitable for basic display output and light graphics work in portable devices.

Users who need raw compute for datacenter workloads should select the MI308X. Its 50th percentile rank, while based on no recorded benchmarks, reflects a specification profile that overshadows the 8040S in every compute metric. Users who need a low-power integrated GPU for a mobile system should select the 8040S. Its 55 W TDP and system shared memory architecture fit portable designs, while the MI308X, at 750 W with a 1150 W suggested PSU, does not.

The MI308X was released on December 5, 2023, and has no active production status listed. The 8040S was released on January 5, 2025, and is listed as Active. The MI308X succeeds the Radeon Instinct line, while the 8040S succeeds the Polaris Mobile line. These are different product families with different lifecycles, and the data supports treating them as complementary rather than competing.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 performance?

A: The AMD Instinct MI308X delivers 81.72 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the AMD Radeon 8040S delivers 5.734 TFLOPS.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon 8040S support DirectX 12 Ultimate?

A: Yes, the 8040S supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), along with OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4. The MI308X lists N/A for all three APIs.

Q: How much memory does the Instinct MI308X have?

A: The MI308X has 192 GB of HBM3 memory on an 8192-bit bus, with 5.32 TB/s of bandwidth. The 8040S uses System Shared memory with bandwidth listed as System Dependent.

Q: What is the average benchmark score of the Radeon 8040S?

A: The 8040S has an average benchmark score of 2,440, with a Passmark G3D score of 10,578 and a Passmark GPU Compute score of 5,138.

Q: What are the nearest rivals to the Radeon 8040S?

A: The nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce 710M (0.3% below), Intel HD Graphics 610 (0.6% below), NVIDIA GeForce GT 710M (0.7% below), and AMD Radeon RX 7400 (1.1% above).

Q: Can the Instinct MI308X output video to a display?

A: No. The MI308X has no display outputs and a pixel rate of 0 MPixel/s. The 8040S has display outputs listed as Portable Device Dependent.

Architecture Differences

The MI308X uses the Aqua Vanjaram chip built on CDNA 3.0 architecture, fabricated on TSMC's 5 nm process. It contains 153,000 million transistors on a 1017 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 150.4M per mm². The 8040S uses the Strix Halo chip built on RDNA 3.5 architecture, fabricated on TSMC's 4 nm process. Its die size is 308 mm², and its transistor count is unknown.

The compute pipelines differ fundamentally. The MI308X has 19,456 shading units, 1,216 TMUs, and 0 ROPs. The 8040S has 1,024 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The MI308X also has no ray tracing cores listed, while the 8040S includes 16 ray tracing cores. This makes the 8040S capable of hardware-accelerated ray tracing, a feature absent from the MI308X specification sheet.

Memory architecture is another major split. The MI308X uses 192 GB of HBM3 with an 8192-bit bus and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The 8040S uses System Shared memory, with bus width and bandwidth listed as System Shared and System Dependent, respectively. The MI308X memory clock is 1300 MHz, running at 5.2 Gbps effective. The 8040S has no dedicated memory clock because it shares system memory.

Power delivery and form factor also differ. The MI308X has a TDP of 750 W, uses an OAM Module slot width, and has a suggested PSU of 1150 W. The 8040S has a TDP of 55 W, uses an IGP slot width, and has no suggested PSU. Neither part uses power connectors. Both use a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface.

The MI308X has no display outputs, while the 8040S lists Portable Device Dependent outputs. The MI308X has no DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan support. The 8040S supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The MI308X has no production status listed, while the 8040S is Active. The MI308X was released on December 5, 2023, and the 8040S was released on January 5, 2025. The MI308X succeeds the Radeon Instinct, and the 8040S succeeds the Polaris Mobile. Neither part has a successor listed in the database.