AMD Instinct MI355X vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 Comparison

The Verdict

Based on the recorded data, the AMD Instinct MI355X and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 serve fundamentally different purposes. The MI355X is a compute-oriented accelerator with no display outputs, while the RTX 4070 GDDR6 is a complete graphics card with full API support. The MI355X offers 2.7 times the FP32 throughput of the RTX 4070 GDDR6 (78.64 TFLOPS versus 29.15 TFLOPS), but it lacks any graphics API support, making it unsuitable for gaming or conventional rendering workloads. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 is end-of-life, while the MI355X released later. Data shows the MI355X targets data center compute, while the RTX 4070 GDDR6 targets desktop graphics. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 holds a benchmark score of 4334.5 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, placing it in the 25th percentile of all GPUs, with no comparable benchmark recorded for the MI355X. The MI355X sits in the 50th percentile overall, but with a zero average benchmark score. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 has a launch MSRP of 599 USD. Choose the MI355X for raw compute density and massive memory capacity; choose the RTX 4070 GDDR6 for any workload requiring graphics output, DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan support.

Architecture Differences

The two chips share a foundry but diverge sharply in design philosophy. The AMD Instinct MI355X uses the MI350 256CU chip built on CDNA 4.0 architecture, fabricated on a 3 nm process at TSMC. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 uses the AD104 chip based on Ada Lovelace architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process, also at TSMC. The MI355X integrates 185,000 million transistors across a die size of 2380 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 77.7 million transistors per mm². The RTX 4070 GDDR6 integrates 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, yielding a higher density of 121.8 million transistors per mm². Despite the MI355X having more than five times the transistor count, its density is lower due to the massive die area.

The MI355X features 16,384 shading units, 1,024 texture mapping units, and zero ROPs. It has a texture rate of 2,457.6 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 0 MPixel/s. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 has 5,888 shading units, 184 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, with a texture rate of 455.4 GTexel/s and a pixel rate of 158.4 GPixel/s. The MI355X has no ray tracing cores or tensor cores listed, while the RTX 4070 GDDR6 has 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores. The MI355X supports no graphics APIs, including DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The memory subsystems are completely different. The MI355X uses 288 GB of HBM3e memory on an 8192-bit bus, delivering 8.19 TB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 uses 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, delivering 480.0 GB/s. The MI355X has a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz, while the RTX 4070 GDDR6 has a base clock of 1920 MHz and a boost clock of 2475 MHz. The MI355X memory clock is 2000 MHz with 8 Gbps effective data rate; the RTX 4070 GDDR6 memory clock is 2500 MHz with 20 Gbps effective.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons between the AMD Instinct MI355X and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6. The MI355X has no recorded benchmark entries, while the RTX 4070 GDDR6 has a single recorded score of 4334.5 in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. The RTX 4070 GDDR6's average benchmark score is 4335.

The RTX 4070 GDDR6's nearest rivals in the database provide context for its performance tier. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 scores 4360, placing it 0.6 percent ahead of the RTX 4070 GDDR6. The AMD FirePro W2100 scores 4295, 0.9 percent behind. The NVIDIA GeForce 930M scores 4388, 1.2 percent ahead. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M scores 4282, 1.2 percent behind. These deltas indicate the RTX 4070 GDDR6 sits in a narrow performance band relative to these older or lower-tier parts, which is consistent with its 25th percentile ranking among all GPUs.

The MI355X has a percentile ranking of 50th among all GPUs, but with a zero average benchmark score, this percentile reflects its category placement rather than measured performance. The RTX 4070 GDDR6's 25th percentile ranking is based on actual benchmark data. The FP32 compute figures favor the MI355X heavily: 78.64 TFLOPS versus 29.15 TFLOPS. Both cards list FP16 performance at a 1:1 ratio with FP32, meaning the MI355X also delivers 78.64 TFLOPS FP16, while the RTX 4070 GDDR6 delivers 29.15 TFLOPS FP16.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every measured field. The MI355X uses CDNA 4.0 architecture with the MI350 256CU chip; the RTX 4070 GDDR6 uses Ada Lovelace with the AD104 chip. The process nodes are 3 nm versus 5 nm. Transistor counts are 185,000 million versus 35,800 million. Die sizes are 2380 mm² versus 294 mm². Transistor densities are 77.7 million per mm² versus 121.8 million per mm². Base clocks are 1000 MHz versus 1920 MHz. Boost clocks are 2400 MHz versus 2475 MHz. Memory clocks are 2000 MHz versus 2500 MHz, with effective data rates of 8 Gbps versus 20 Gbps. Memory sizes are 288 GB versus 12 GB. Memory types are HBM3e versus GDDR6. Bus widths are 8192 bit versus 192 bit. Bandwidth is 8.19 TB/s versus 480.0 GB/s. Shading units are 16,384 versus 5,888. TMUs are 1,024 versus 184. ROPs are 0 versus 64. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 has 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores; the MI355X lists neither. Pixel rates are 0 MPixel/s versus 158.4 GPixel/s. Texture rates are 2,457.6 GTexel/s versus 455.4 GTexel/s. FP32 is 78.64 TFLOPS versus 29.15 TFLOPS. TDP is 1400 W versus 200 W. Slot widths are OAM Module versus Dual-slot. Power connectors are None versus 1x 16-pin. Suggested PSU is 1800 W versus 550 W. Bus interfaces are PCIe 5.0 x16 versus PCIe 4.0 x16. Display outputs are No outputs versus 1x HDMI 2.13x DisplayPort 1.4a. DirectX support is N/A versus 12 Ultimate (12_2). OpenGL support is N/A versus 4.6. Vulkan support is N/A versus 1.4. Dimensions are 102 mm by 165 mm versus 240 mm by 110 mm by 40 mm. Release dates are 2025-06-11 versus 2024-08-19. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 is end-of-life with a successor in GeForce 50; the MI355X has no successor listed.

FAQ

Q: Which card has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The AMD Instinct MI355X delivers 78.64 TFLOPS FP32, which is 2.7 times higher than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6's 29.15 TFLOPS.

Q: Can the AMD Instinct MI355X be used for gaming?

A: No. The MI355X has no display outputs and supports no graphics APIs (DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan are all N/A). The RTX 4070 GDDR6 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the memory capacity and bandwidth difference?

A: The MI355X has 288 GB of HBM3e memory with 8.19 TB/s bandwidth on an 8192-bit bus. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory with 480.0 GB/s bandwidth on a 192-bit bus.

Q: How does the RTX 4070 GDDR6 compare to its nearest rivals in benchmark scores?

A: The RTX 4070 GDDR6 scores 4334.5 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. The Intel Iris Pro Graphics 5200 scores 4360 (0.6 percent higher), the AMD FirePro W2100 scores 4295 (0.9 percent lower), the NVIDIA GeForce 930M scores 4388 (1.2 percent higher), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 460M scores 4282 (1.2 percent lower).

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The MI355X has a TDP of 1400 W with a suggested PSU of 1800 W and no power connectors (it uses an OAM Module form factor). The RTX 4070 GDDR6 has a TDP of 200 W with a suggested PSU of 550 W and a single 16-pin connector.

Q: Which card has ray tracing and tensor core support?

A: The RTX 4070 GDDR6 has 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores. The MI355X lists no ray tracing cores and no tensor cores in the database.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Instinct MI355X wins decisively in raw compute throughput. Its 78.64 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16 performance is more than double the RTX 4070 GDDR6's 29.15 TFLOPS. The MI355X also dominates in memory capacity at 288 GB versus 12 GB, and in memory bandwidth at 8.19 TB/s versus 480.0 GB/s. The 8192-bit bus width gives the MI355X a 42.7 times wider memory interface than the RTX 4070 GDDR6's 192-bit bus. The MI355X's texture rate of 2,457.6 GTexel/s is 5.4 times higher than the RTX 4070 GDDR6's 455.4 GTexel/s. The MI355X uses a newer 3 nm process versus 5 nm, and supports PCIe 5.0 x16 versus PCIe 4.0 x16. The MI355X also has a higher shading unit count at 16,384 versus 5,888. For data center workloads requiring massive memory capacity, extreme bandwidth, and high compute density, the MI355X is the clear choice. Its 1400 W TDP and 1800 W suggested PSU indicate a server-oriented design.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 GDDR6 wins in every graphics-oriented category. It has 64 ROPs versus the MI355X's 0 ROPs, delivering a pixel rate of 158.4 GPixel/s versus 0 MPixel/s. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the MI355X supports none. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 has 46 ray tracing cores and 184 tensor cores, features absent from the MI355X. It has display outputs including 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, while the MI355X has no outputs. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 has a higher boost clock at 2475 MHz versus 2400 MHz, and a higher base clock at 1920 MHz versus 1000 MHz. Its memory clock of 2500 MHz with 20 Gbps effective data rate outpaces the MI355X's 2000 MHz with 8 Gbps effective. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 is far more power-efficient with a 200 W TDP versus 1400 W, and a suggested PSU of 550 W versus 1800 W. Its transistor density is higher at 121.8 million per mm² versus 77.7 million per mm². The RTX 4070 GDDR6 also has a recorded benchmark score of 4334.5, while the MI355X has no recorded benchmark scores. The RTX 4070 GDDR6 is end-of-life, but remains the only option of the two for any workload requiring graphics rendering, ray tracing, or general-purpose desktop use.