AMD Instinct MI308X vs NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains no direct head-to-head benchmark results between the AMD Instinct MI308X and the NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation. The Instinct MI308X has no benchmark entries in the database, with an average benchmark score of zero and a percentile rank of 50 among all GPUs. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation, by contrast, has two recorded benchmark scores: 124,812 in Geekbench OpenCL and 109,364 in Geekbench Vulkan, producing an average score of 117,088 and a percentile rank of 95.

This absence of comparative measurements means the quantitative relationship between these two accelerators must be inferred from their architectural specifications rather than from direct performance tests. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation sits among close rivals in the database, with the NVIDIA GB10 scoring 117,393 (0.3% higher), the AMD Radeon PRO W7700 scoring 118,976 (1.6% higher), the NVIDIA Tesla V100 SXM2 16 GB scoring 114,395 (2.4% lower), and the NVIDIA RTX A5500 Mobile scoring 113,944 (2.8% lower). These margins are narrow, placing the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation in a tightly contested performance band.

The Instinct MI308X, lacking any benchmark scores, cannot be positioned within this ranking. Its percentile of 50 reflects a default or unmeasured standing rather than a tested result. The database therefore offers no empirical basis for claiming either GPU outperforms the other in any specific workload. What the data does provide is a stark contrast in compute ceilings, memory capacity, and power envelopes, which collectively suggest different intended operating environments.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs diverge fundamentally at the architectural level. The AMD Instinct MI308X uses the Aqua Vanjaram chip built on CDNA 3.0, manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process. It packs 153,000 million transistors onto a 1017 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 150.4 million per square millimeter. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation uses the AD104 chip on Ada Lovelace architecture, also on a 5 nm TSMC process, but with 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, for a density of 121.8 million per square millimeter. The AMD chip is roughly 3.46 times larger in die area and carries over 4 times the transistor count.

Compute resources differ dramatically. The Instinct MI308X has 19,456 shading units, 1,216 texture mapping units, and no ROPs, with a pixel rate of 0 MPixel/s and a texture rate of 2,553.6 GTexel/s. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation has 6,144 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, with a pixel rate of 99.84 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 299.5 GTexel/s. The Instinct MI308X also lacks dedicated ray tracing cores and tensor cores in the recorded data, while the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores.

Memory configurations could hardly be more different. The Instinct MI308X uses 192 GB of HBM3 across an 8192-bit bus, delivering 5.32 TB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation uses 20 GB of GDDR6 across a 160-bit bus, providing 280.0 GB/s. The AMD part has nearly 19 times the memory bandwidth and 9.6 times the capacity. Floating-point throughput follows suit: the Instinct MI308X reaches 81.72 TFLOPS in both FP32 and FP16, while the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation delivers 19.17 TFLOPS in both. The AMD accelerator is 4.26 times faster in raw FP32 and FP16 compute.

Clock behavior also differs. The Instinct MI308X runs at a 1000 MHz base and 2100 MHz boost, with memory at 1300 MHz or 5.2 Gbps effective. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation runs at a 720 MHz base and 1560 MHz boost, with memory at 1750 MHz or 14 Gbps effective. The AMD part's higher core clocks and vastly wider memory bus explain its bandwidth advantage, while the NVIDIA part compensates with a smaller, more power-efficient design.

Where Each One Wins

The data points to different strengths for each card, based on specifications rather than measured benchmarks. The Instinct MI308X wins decisively in raw compute density and memory throughput. Its 81.72 TFLOPS FP32 rating, 192 GB HBM3 capacity, and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth position it for large-scale data-parallel workloads such as dense matrix operations, large model training, or high-volume inference, where memory capacity and bandwidth determine feasibility. The absence of display outputs and graphics APIs (DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan are all listed as N/A) confirms it is not intended for rendering or interactive use.

The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation wins in graphics and workstation functionality. It has 64 ROPs, 48 RT cores, 192 tensor cores, and a 99.84 GPixel/s pixel rate, all absent or zeroed on the AMD part. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, and provides four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. Its 20 GB GDDR6 memory is far smaller than the Instinct MI308X's 192 GB, but the 14 Gbps effective memory speed and 160-bit bus still deliver 280.0 GB/s, sufficient for moderate workstation workloads. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation also fits a dual-slot form factor at 168 mm length and 69 mm height, whereas the Instinct MI308X is an OAM module with no listed dimensions.

Power consumption separates the two sharply. The Instinct MI308X has a 750 W TDP and suggests a 1150 W power supply. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation has a 70 W TDP and suggests a 250 W power supply. The NVIDIA card uses roughly one-fourteenth of the power while providing a quarter of the FP32 throughput, indicating a dramatically better performance-per-watt profile. Neither card uses external power connectors in the recorded data, though the suggested PSU ratings imply different system-level requirements.

The Verdict

The recorded data does not support a direct winner between these two GPUs because they occupy different segments of the accelerator market. The AMD Instinct MI308X is a compute-oriented module with no display outputs, no graphics API support, and an OAM form factor. Its 81.72 TFLOPS FP32, 192 GB HBM3, and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth make it suited for server-side compute tasks where power and space are secondary concerns. Its 750 W TDP and 1150 W suggested PSU place it firmly in data-center territory.

The NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation is a workstation graphics card with a dual-slot design, 4x mini-DisplayPort outputs, and full API support. Its 19.17 TFLOPS FP32, 20 GB GDDR6, and 280.0 GB/s bandwidth, combined with a 70 W TDP and 250 W suggested PSU, fit desktop or small-form-factor workstation use. The presence of RT cores and tensor cores adds ray tracing and accelerated AI inference capabilities that the Instinct MI308X does not list. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation also has measurable benchmark scores placing it in the 95th percentile among all GPUs, while the Instinct MI308X has no recorded scores.

The data indicates that a buyer selecting between these cards would be choosing between a high-capacity compute accelerator and a low-power workstation GPU. Neither card replaces the other in typical deployments. The Instinct MI308X targets throughput-heavy environments; the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation targets interactive graphics and modest compute.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw FP32 performance?

A: The AMD Instinct MI308X, with 81.72 TFLOPS FP32, which is 4.26 times the RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation's 19.17 TFLOPS.

Q: How much memory does each card have?

A: The Instinct MI308X has 192 GB of HBM3 on an 8192-bit bus with 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation has 20 GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus with 280.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Does either card support ray tracing?

A: The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation includes 48 RT cores. The Instinct MI308X lists no RT cores in the database.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The Instinct MI308X has a 750 W TDP and suggests a 1150 W power supply. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation has a 70 W TDP and suggests a 250 W power supply.

Q: Can the Instinct MI308X drive displays?

A: No. The database lists no display outputs for the Instinct MI308X. The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation has 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

Q: What are the recorded benchmark scores for each?

A: The RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation scores 124,812 in Geekbench OpenCL and 109,364 in Geekbench Vulkan. The Instinct MI308X has no benchmark scores recorded.

Specification Differences

| Field | AMD Instinct MI308X | NVIDIA RTX 4000 SFF Ada Generation |

|-------|---------------------|-------------------------------------|

| Architecture | CDNA 3.0 | Ada Lovelace |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 5 nm |

| Transistors | 153,000 million | 35,800 million |

| Die Size | 1017 mm² | 294 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 150.4M / mm² | 121.8M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1000 MHz | 720 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2100 MHz | 1560 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1300 MHz, 5.2 Gbps effective | 1750 MHz, 14 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | 192 GB | 20 GB |

| Memory Type | HBM3 | GDDR6 |

| Memory Bus Width | 8192 bit | 160 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 5.32 TB/s | 280.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 19,456 | 6,144 |

| TMUs | 1,216 | 192 |

| ROPs | 0 | 64 |

| RT Cores | None listed | 48 |

| Tensor Cores | None listed | 192 |

| Pixel Rate | 0 MPixel/s | 99.84 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 2,553.6 GTexel/s | 299.5 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 81.72 TFLOPS | 19.17 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 81.72 TFLOPS | 19.17 TFLOPS |

| TDP | 750 W | 70 W |

| Slot Width | OAM Module | Dual-slot |

| Suggested PSU | 1150 W | 250 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | No outputs | 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a |

| DirectX Support | N/A | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |

| OpenGL Support | N/A | 4.6 |

| Vulkan Support | N/A | 1.4 |

| Dimensions | Not listed | 168 mm length, 69 mm height |

| Release Date | 2023-12-05 | 2023-03-20 |

| Predecessor | Radeon Instinct | Workstation Ampere |

| Successor | None listed | Blackwell PRO W |

| Production Status | Not listed | Active |