AMD Instinct MI350P vs Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Instinct MI350P and Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 are both 600 W accelerators aimed at compute workloads, but the data shows they target different priorities. The MI350P uses a 3 nm TSMC process with CDNA 4.0 architecture, while the Max 1550 uses Intel's 10 nm process with Generation 12.5 architecture. The MI350P offers significantly higher memory bandwidth at 8.19 TB/s versus 3.28 TB/s, and it has a newer HBM3e memory type with 144 GB capacity. The Max 1550 counters with higher raw compute throughput in FP32 and FP16, both at 52.43 TFLOPS, compared to the MI350P's 36.04 TFLOPS in both precisions.

The MI350P is the choice for memory-bound workloads where capacity and bandwidth dominate, given its 144 GB HBM3e and 8.19 TB/s bandwidth. The Max 1550 is the choice for compute-bound tasks that scale with shading units and texture rate, since it delivers 45% more FP32 throughput and 45% more texture rate. Neither card has display outputs, so both are strictly for server or accelerator deployments. The MI350P has a later release date of 2026-05-06, while the Max 1550 launched on 2023-01-09 and remains in active production. The Max 1550 also has a successor listed as H3C Graphics, while the MI350P lists its predecessor as Radeon Instinct.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architecture split is process node and memory technology. The MI350P is built on a 3 nm process at TSMC, packing 73,000 million transistors into a 1190 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 61.3M per mm². The Max 1550 uses Intel's 10 nm process, with 100,000 million transistors on a 1280 mm² die, giving a higher density of 78.1M per mm². Despite the larger transistor count, the Max 1550's older process node results in a lower boost clock of 1600 MHz versus the MI350P's 2200 MHz.

The MI350P uses CDNA 4.0 architecture, while the Max 1550 uses Generation 12.5 architecture. The memory subsystems diverge sharply: the MI350P has 144 GB of HBM3e with a 8192-bit bus and 8.19 TB/s bandwidth, whereas the Max 1550 has 128 GB of HBM2e with the same 8192-bit bus but only 3.28 TB/s bandwidth. Memory clock differs as well, with the MI350P at 2000 MHz (8 Gbps effective) and the Max 1550 at 1600 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective).

The compute resources also differ structurally. The MI350P has 8192 shading units, 512 TMUs, and no ROPs. The Max 1550 has 16384 shading units, 1024 TMUs, also no ROPs, but it does include 128 ray tracing cores. The MI350P lists no RT cores. API support differs: the Max 1550 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and OpenGL 4.6, while the MI350P lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan.

Where Each One Wins

The MI350P wins decisively in memory-centric metrics. Its 8.19 TB/s bandwidth is 2.5 times the Max 1550's 3.28 TB/s. The 144 GB capacity exceeds the Max 1550's 128 GB by 16 GB. The HBM3e memory type is a generation ahead of HBM2e. Base clock is also higher at 1000 MHz versus 900 MHz, and boost clock is 2200 MHz versus 1600 MHz. The MI350P's die is 1190 mm² versus 1280 mm², meaning a smaller physical footprint despite the same 600 W TDP.

The Max 1550 wins in raw compute throughput. FP32 performance is 52.43 TFLOPS versus 36.04 TFLOPS, a 45% advantage. FP16 performance matches the same 45% gap at 52.43 TFLOPS versus 36.04 TFLOPS. Texture rate is 1,638.4 GTexel/s versus 1,126.4 GTexel/s, again a 45% lead. The Max 1550 doubles the shading units (16384 versus 8192) and TMUs (1024 versus 512). It also has 100,000 million transistors versus 73,000 million, and a higher transistor density at 78.1M per mm² versus 61.3M per mm².

The form factor differs: the MI350P is a dual-slot card with a 267 mm length, 111 mm height, and 40 mm width, using a single 16-pin power connector. The Max 1550 is an OAM Module with no listed dimensions or power connectors. Both require a 1000 W suggested PSU and use PCIe 5.0 x16 interfaces. The Max 1550 has an active production status, while the MI350P has no production status listed.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Instinct MI350P offers 8.19 TB/s bandwidth, which is 2.5 times the Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550's 3.28 TB/s.

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 delivers 52.43 TFLOPS FP32, which is 45% higher than the AMD Instinct MI350P's 36.04 TFLOPS.

Q: Do either of these GPUs support display outputs?

A: No. Both the AMD Instinct MI350P and the Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 list "No outputs" for display connections.

Q: What memory types do these GPUs use?

A: The AMD Instinct MI350P uses 144 GB of HBM3e, while the Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 uses 128 GB of HBM2e.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Instinct MI350P has a boost clock of 2200 MHz, compared to the Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550's 1600 MHz.

Q: What is the transistor count for each GPU?

A: The AMD Instinct MI350P has 73,000 million transistors, while the Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 has 100,000 million transistors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows no direct benchmark scores for either GPU, as both have an average benchmark score of 0 and no nearest rivals listed. However, the specification-level comparisons provide clear performance deltas.

The largest win for the AMD Instinct MI350P is memory bandwidth. At 8.19 TB/s, it outperforms the Intel Max 1550's 3.28 TB/s by a factor of 2.5. This advantage is compounded by the newer HBM3e memory type and the higher memory clock of 2000 MHz (8 Gbps effective) versus 1600 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective). The MI350P also has a larger memory pool at 144 GB versus 128 GB. For workloads that saturate memory bandwidth, such as large model inference or data-intensive simulations, this gap is substantial.

The largest win for the Intel Data Center GPU Max 1550 is raw compute throughput. Its FP32 score of 52.43 TFLOPS beats the MI350P's 36.04 TFLOPS by 45%. The same 45% margin applies to FP16 (52.43 TFLOPS versus 36.04 TFLOPS) and texture rate (1,638.4 GTexel/s versus 1,126.4 GTexel/s). The Max 1550 achieves this with 16384 shading units and 1024 TMUs, both exactly double the MI350P's 8192 shading units and 512 TMUs. The Max 1550 also includes 128 ray tracing cores, a feature the MI350P does not list.

Clock speed differences partially explain the compute gap. The MI350P's boost clock of 2200 MHz is 37.5% higher than the Max 1550's 1600 MHz, but the Max 1550's doubled shading unit count overcomes this clock disadvantage. The Max 1550's higher transistor count (100,000 million versus 73,000 million) and higher transistor density (78.1M per mm² versus 61.3M per mm²) also contribute to its compute advantage.

Power consumption is identical at 600 W TDP for both cards, and both suggest a 1000 W PSU. The MI350P uses a single 16-pin power connector, while the Max 1550 lists no power connector. The MI350P is a dual-slot card measuring 267 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 40 mm in width. The Max 1550 is an OAM Module with no dimensions recorded.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every major specification category. The most consequential differences are memory bandwidth (8.19 TB/s versus 3.28 TB/s), FP32 compute (36.04 TFLOPS versus 52.43 TFLOPS), and memory type (HBM3e versus HBM2e). The MI350P uses a 3 nm TSMC process, while the Max 1550 uses Intel's 10 nm process. Transistor counts differ at 73,000 million versus 100,000 million, and die sizes differ at 1190 mm² versus 1280 mm².

Clock speeds show the MI350P with a 1000 MHz base and 2200 MHz boost, versus the Max 1550's 900 MHz base and 1600 MHz boost. Memory clocks are 2000 MHz (8 Gbps effective) for the MI350P and 1600 MHz (3.2 Gbps effective) for the Max 1550. Shading units are 8192 versus 16384, TMUs are 512 versus 1024, and both have 0 ROPs. The Max 1550 has 128 RT cores, while the MI350P has none listed.

Form factor and power delivery differ: the MI350P is dual-slot with a 16-pin connector, while the Max 1550 is an OAM Module with no connector listed. Both use PCIe 5.0 x16 and have a 600 W TDP with a 1000 W suggested PSU. API support is present on the Max 1550 (DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6) but absent on the MI350P (N/A for all APIs). Release dates differ by over three years: the Max 1550 launched on 2023-01-09 and is active, while the MI350P is dated 2026-05-06 with no production status. The Max 1550 has a successor in H3C Graphics, and the MI350P has a predecessor in Radeon Instinct.