AMD Instinct MI308X vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded database contains no direct benchmark comparisons between the AMD Instinct MI308X and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q. Both entries show zero benchmark scores, zero average benchmark scores, and zero wins in head-to-head testing. The percentile versus all GPUs is identical for both at 50, placing them at the median of the database distribution despite their radically different designs. Without measured performance data, the comparison rests entirely on the documented specifications.

The raw compute figures illustrate the scale gap. The MI308X delivers 81.72 TFLOPS for FP32 and FP16 operations at a 1:1 ratio, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q produces 11.34 TFLOPS for both precision formats. That difference works out to a factor of roughly 7.2 in raw floating-point throughput. The texture rate follows a similar pattern: the AMD part reaches 2,553.6 GTexel/s versus 177.1 GTexel/s for the NVIDIA chip, a margin of about 14.4 times. Pixel rate, however, tells the opposite story, the MI308X records 0 MPixel/s while the RTX 4070 Max-Q manages 59.04 GPixel/s. This reflects the fundamental design split between a compute accelerator with no display or raster output pipeline and a mobile graphics processor built for rendering.

Memory capacity and bandwidth further separate the two. The MI308X carries 192 GB of HBM3 across an 8192-bit bus, delivering 5.32 TB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 4070 Max-Q uses 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit interface, producing 256.0 GB/s. The AMD part offers 24 times the capacity and roughly 20.8 times the bandwidth. Clock speeds also diverge, the MI308X runs at a 1000 MHz base and 2100 MHz boost, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q operates at 735 MHz base and 1230 MHz boost. The memory clocks reflect their respective technologies: 1300 MHz with 5.2 Gbps effective for the HBM3 module, and 2000 MHz with 16 Gbps effective for the GDDR6 module.

The Verdict

The data indicates two completely different product categories. The AMD Instinct MI308X is a 750 W OAM module with no display outputs, no raster operations pipeline, and no DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan API support. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q is a 35 W IGP (integrated graphics processor for mobile platforms) with 48 ROPs, 36 RT cores, 144 tensor cores, and full API compatibility including DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The MI308X targets compute workloads where massive memory and FP32/FP16 throughput matter. The RTX 4070 Max-Q targets rendering and mobile graphics where pixel output and API support are essential.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The AMD Instinct MI308X has 19,456 shading units, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q has 4,608. The AMD part also has 1,216 TMUs versus 144 for the NVIDIA chip.

Q: What is the memory configuration for each card?

A: The MI308X uses 192 GB of HBM3 with an 8192-bit bus and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The RTX 4070 Max-Q uses 8 GB of GDDR6 with a 128-bit bus and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same PCIe interface?

A: No. The MI308X uses PCIe 5.0 x16, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q uses PCIe 4.0 x8.

Q: Which chip has a larger die size?

A: The AMD Instinct MI308X has a die size of 1017 mm² with 153,000 million transistors. The NVIDIA RTX 4070 Max-Q has a die size of 188 mm² with 22,900 million transistors.

Q: What are the power requirements for each?

A: The MI308X has a TDP of 750 W and a suggested PSU of 1150 W. The RTX 4070 Max-Q has a TDP of 35 W with no suggested PSU listed.

Q: Can either GPU output to a display?

A: The MI308X has no display outputs. The RTX 4070 Max-Q has display outputs described as "Portable Device Dependent", meaning they vary by laptop implementation.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every recorded specification. The MI308X uses the Aqua Vanjaram chip with CDNA 3.0 architecture, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q uses the AD106 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture. The process node is identical at 5 nm from TSMC, but the transistor counts diverge sharply: 153,000 million for the AMD part versus 22,900 million for the NVIDIA part. Die size follows at 1017 mm² versus 188 mm², with transistor density of 150.4M per mm² for the MI308X and 121.8M per mm² for the RTX 4070 Max-Q.

Clock speeds differ in both base and boost. The MI308X runs at 1000 MHz base and 2100 MHz boost; the RTX 4070 Max-Q runs at 735 MHz base and 1230 MHz boost. Memory clocks are 1300 MHz (5.2 Gbps effective) for the AMD part and 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective) for the NVIDIA part. The MI308X has 19,456 shading units, 1,216 TMUs, and 0 ROPs; the RTX 4070 Max-Q has 4,608 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The NVIDIA chip adds 36 RT cores and 144 tensor cores, while the AMD part lists no RT or tensor core counts.

Pixel rate is 0 MPixel/s for the MI308X and 59.04 GPixel/s for the RTX 4070 Max-Q. Texture rate is 2,553.6 GTexel/s versus 177.1 GTexel/s. FP32 and FP16 are both 81.72 TFLOPS for the AMD part and 11.34 TFLOPS for the NVIDIA part. TDP is 750 W versus 35 W. Slot width is OAM Module for the MI308X and IGP for the RTX 4070 Max-Q. The MI308X uses PCIe 5.0 x16, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q uses PCIe 4.0 x8. The MI308X has no display outputs; the RTX 4070 Max-Q outputs are portable device dependent. API support is N/A for the AMD part, while the NVIDIA part supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The MI308X has a suggested PSU of 1150 W; the RTX 4070 Max-Q has no suggested PSU. Production status is listed as Active for the RTX 4070 Max-Q, with no status for the MI308X.

Architecture Differences

The MI308X uses the CDNA 3.0 architecture, designed for compute acceleration. It has no raster output pipeline, no RT cores, no tensor cores, and no graphics API support. The chip, codenamed Aqua Vanjaram, relies entirely on raw FP32 and FP16 throughput paired with enormous HBM3 memory capacity. The 8192-bit memory bus and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth support large-scale data movement typical of compute workloads. The lack of display outputs and pixel rate confirms the accelerator role.

The RTX 4070 Max-Q uses Ada Lovelace architecture, built for graphics rendering in mobile devices. It includes 48 ROPs for pixel output, 36 RT cores for ray tracing, and 144 tensor cores for AI acceleration. Full API support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 enables standard graphics workloads. The 8 GB GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 256.0 GB/s bandwidth, sufficient for laptop-class rendering. The 35 W TDP and IGP slot width reflect its integration into portable systems.

The process node is the same at 5 nm TSMC, but the transistor density differs: 150.4M per mm² for the MI308X versus 121.8M per mm² for the RTX 4070 Max-Q. The MI308X packs 153,000 million transistors into 1017 mm², while the RTX 4070 Max-Q packs 22,900 million into 188 mm². Both use 1:1 FP32/FP16 ratios, but the MI308X executes both at 81.72 TFLOPS, while the RTX 4070 Max-Q executes both at 11.34 TFLOPS. The MI308X has no shader-based graphics features; the RTX 4070 Max-Q includes the full rendering stack.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Instinct MI308X wins decisively in compute throughput. Its 81.72 TFLOPS FP32/FP16 output, 2,553.6 GTexel/s texture rate, 192 GB memory capacity, and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth position it for high-performance compute tasks. The 750 W TDP and 1150 W suggested PSU indicate a server or data center context. The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides high-bandwidth host communication. The absence of graphics APIs and display outputs means it is not suited for rendering or interactive workloads.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Max-Q wins in graphics rendering and mobile integration. Its 59.04 GPixel/s pixel rate, 48 ROPs, 36 RT cores, and 144 tensor cores support modern rendering pipelines including ray tracing and DLSS-style acceleration. The DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 APIs enable broad software compatibility. The 35 W TDP and IGP form factor make it suitable for thin laptops. The 8 GB GDDR6 memory and 256.0 GB/s bandwidth serve typical mobile gaming and creative workloads. The 735 MHz base and 1230 MHz boost clocks, while lower than the AMD part, reflect the power-constrained environment.

The MI308X also leads in memory bandwidth per watt, delivering 5.32 TB/s at 750 W, approximately 7.09 GB/s per watt. The RTX 4070 Max-Q delivers 256.0 GB/s at 35 W, approximately 7.31 GB/s per watt, a near tie. In transistor count, the MI308X uses 6.7 times more transistors than the RTX 4070 Max-Q. The MI308X has a 21.4 times larger die area. The release dates place the RTX 4070 Max-Q earlier at 2023-01-02, with the MI308X following on 2023-12-05. The RTX 4070 Max-Q has a listed predecessor (GeForce 30 Mobile) and successor (GeForce 50 Mobile), while the MI308X lists only a predecessor (Radeon Instinct). Both GPUs share the same percentile ranking at 50, meaning the database positions them at the median of all recorded GPUs, though no direct benchmark scores substantiate comparative performance.