AMD Instinct MI308X vs AMD Radeon 8050S Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data does not include any direct head-to-head benchmark results between the AMD Instinct MI308X and the AMD Radeon 8050S. The database contains no shared test scores, no comparative workload results, and no measured deltas between these two parts. What the database does contain are complete specifications for each device and a single benchmark profile for the Radeon 8050S. The Instinct MI308X has no benchmark scores recorded at all, with an average benchmark score of 0 and a percentile rank of 50 against all GPUs.

The Radeon 8050S, by contrast, has two recorded benchmark results. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the 8050S scores 65,818 points. In the Geekbench Vulkan test, it scores 58,398 points. Its average benchmark score across these tests is 62,108, which places it in the 89th percentile of all GPUs in the database. This means the 8050S sits above roughly nine out of ten recorded GPUs in overall benchmark standing.

The nearest rivals listed for the Radeon 8050S provide additional context. The AMD Radeon Pro W6600M is the closest competitor with an average score of 61,896, which is a 0.3% delta relative to the 8050S. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 56 averages 63,693, putting it 2.5% ahead of the 8050S. The AMD Radeon RX 7600M averages 63,775, also 2.5% ahead, and the AMD Radeon RX 9060 XT LP averages 63,830, a 2.7% lead over the 8050S. The data therefore shows that the 8050S is competitive with these mid-range parts, slightly behind several of them on average score but within a narrow 3% band.

The Instinct MI308X cannot be compared on the same basis because the database lacks any benchmark entries for it. Its percentile rank of 50 and average score of 0 are placeholder values, not measured performance. The analysis that follows relies entirely on architectural specifications to differentiate the two devices.

The Verdict

The data points to two completely different device classes. The AMD Instinct MI308X is an accelerator module built for compute density. It uses the CDNA 3.0 architecture, implements 19,456 shading units, 1,216 texture mapping units, 192 GB of HBM3 memory on an 8,192-bit bus, and delivers 81.72 TFLOPS of FP32 and FP16 performance. Its pixel rate is recorded as 0 MPixel/s and its texture rate is 2,553.6 GTexel/s. It has no display outputs and supports no graphics APIs. This is not a graphics card in any conventional sense.

The AMD Radeon 8050S is an integrated graphics processor built into the Strix Halo chip. It uses the RDNA 3.5 architecture, implements 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and 32 ray tracing cores. It delivers 11.47 TFLOPS of FP32 and FP16 performance, a pixel rate of 179.2 GPixel/s, and a texture rate of 358.4 GTexel/s. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Its memory is system shared, meaning capacity, bus width, and bandwidth depend on the host platform.

The verdict from the data is straightforward. Anyone needing raw compute throughput, massive memory capacity, or HBM3 bandwidth should look at the MI308X. Anyone needing a functional graphics solution with ray tracing, API support, and display output should look at the 8050S. The two do not compete in the same workloads. The MI308X has no graphics pipeline at all, while the 8050S has a fraction of the shading units and memory bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The MI308X uses the Aqua Vanjaram chip built on CDNA 3.0 architecture. It is fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC with 153,000 million transistors on a 1,017 mm² die. That works out to a transistor density of 150.4 million transistors per square millimeter. The 8050S uses the Strix Halo chip built on RDNA 3.5 architecture. It is fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC with a 308 mm² die. Transistor count is not recorded in the database, nor is transistor density.

The process node difference is small but meaningful. The 8050S uses a 4 nm node versus 5 nm for the MI308X, giving the newer part a modest density advantage on paper. The die size difference is enormous. The MI308X is more than three times larger by area. The MI308X also carries a far higher transistor count, which is consistent with its role as a compute accelerator with 19,456 shading units. The 8050S has 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and 32 ray tracing cores. The MI308X has no ROPs listed, no ray tracing cores listed, and a pixel rate of 0 MPixel/s. The MI308X has 1,216 TMUs, which is roughly 9.5 times the TMU count of the 8050S.

Memory architecture differs completely. The MI308X has 192 GB of HBM3 memory on an 8,192-bit bus with 5.32 TB/s of bandwidth. Memory clock is 1,300 MHz with 5.2 Gbps effective data rate. The 8050S uses system shared memory. Its type, bus width, and bandwidth are all listed as system dependent. There is no dedicated VRAM.

Clock speeds also differ. The MI308X runs at a 1,000 MHz base clock and a 2,100 MHz boost clock. The 8050S runs at a 1,295 MHz base clock and a 2,800 MHz boost clock. The 8050S has higher clocks on both ends despite having far fewer compute units.

Physical and power characteristics diverge sharply. The MI308X is an OAM module with a 750 W TDP and no power connectors, since OAM modules receive power through the socket. The suggested PSU is 1,150 W. The 8050S is an IGP with a 55 W TDP and no power connectors. No suggested PSU is listed because it draws from the host system.

The MI308X has no display outputs. The 8050S has outputs that depend on the portable device it is integrated into. The MI308X supports no graphics APIs. The 8050S supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Release timing differs by roughly thirteen months. The MI308X was released on December 5, 2023. The 8050S was released on January 5, 2025. The MI308X succeeds the Radeon Instinct line. The 8050S succeeds the Polaris Mobile line.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD Instinct MI308X has 19,456 shading units, while the AMD Radeon 8050S has 2,048 shading units.

Q: Does the Instinct MI308X support DirectX or Vulkan?

A: No. The database lists DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support as not applicable for the MI308X. The Radeon 8050S supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the memory configuration of each GPU?

A: The MI308X has 192 GB of HBM3 memory on an 8,192-bit bus with 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The 8050S uses system shared memory, with type, bus width, and bandwidth all listed as system dependent.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The MI308X has a 750 W TDP and a suggested PSU of 1,150 W. The 8050S has a 55 W TDP and no suggested PSU listed.

Q: What benchmark scores exist for the Radeon 8050S?

A: The 8050S scores 65,818 in Geekbench OpenCL and 58,398 in Geekbench Vulkan. Its average benchmark score is 62,108, placing it in the 89th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: Are there any benchmark scores for the Instinct MI308X?

A: No. The database lists no benchmarks for the MI308X, with an average benchmark score of 0 and a percentile rank of 50.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Instinct MI308X wins in every category that involves raw compute scale. Its 19,456 shading units dwarf the 8050S's 2,048. Its 1,216 TMUs compare with 128 on the 8050S. Its FP32 and FP16 performance of 81.72 TFLOPS is roughly 7.1 times the 11.47 TFLOPS of the 8050S. Its texture rate of 2,553.6 GTexel/s is more than seven times the 358.4 GTexel/s of the 8050S. Its memory capacity of 192 GB of HBM3 with 5.32 TB/s bandwidth is in a different category entirely from the system shared memory of the 8050S. The MI308X is also built on a larger die with 153,000 million transistors versus no recorded transistor count for the 8050S.

The AMD Radeon 8050S wins in graphics capability and practical integration. It has 64 ROPs and 32 ray tracing cores, neither of which the MI308X lists. Its pixel rate of 179.2 GPixel/s is measurable, while the MI308X records 0 MPixel/s. The 8050S supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The MI308X supports none of these. The 8050S has display outputs, though they depend on the host device. The MI308X has no display outputs. The 8050S runs at higher clocks, with a 1,295 MHz base and 2,800 MHz boost versus 1,000 MHz base and 2,100 MHz boost on the MI308X. The 8050S also draws 55 W against 750 W for the MI308X, making it suitable for portable devices. Its production status is active, while the MI308X has no production status recorded.

The 8050S also wins on benchmark evidence. Its average score of 62,108 and 89th percentile ranking demonstrate measurable performance against the wider GPU field. Its nearest rivals, the Radeon Pro W6600M, Radeon Pro Vega 56, Radeon RX 7600M, and Radeon RX 9060 XT LP, are all within 2.7% of its average score. The MI308X has no such data.

For use cases, the split is clean. Compute-heavy workloads such as large-scale math, memory-bandwidth-bound tasks, or AI training would favor the MI308X because of its massive shading unit count, HBM3 capacity, and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. Graphics workloads, ray tracing, gaming, or any task requiring a display output would favor the 8050S because it is the only one of the two with a graphics pipeline, API support, and ROPs. The 8050S is also the only viable option for a portable device given its 55 W TDP and IGP form factor. The MI308X requires an OAM module slot and a 1,150 W suggested PSU.