AMD Radeon 8050S vs AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Radeon 8050S and AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 are two very different GPUs that happen to share a manufacturer and little else. The 8050S is a modern integrated graphics solution built for portability and efficiency, while the RX Vega 64 is a high-power discrete flagship from a previous era. According to the database, the 8050S holds an average benchmark score of 62,108, placing it in the 89th percentile of all GPUs. The RX Vega 64, by contrast, averages 50,001, which lands it in the 86th percentile. The 8050S is the better overall performer in the aggregated data, but the head-to-head results are split: the 8050S wins in OpenCL, while the RX Vega 64 wins decisively in Vulkan.

For users building a thin, power-efficient system where space and thermals are critical, the 8050S is the clear choice. It is an integrated graphics processor, requires no power connectors, and runs at a 55 W TDP. It also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, making it a more future-proof option for modern API features. The RX Vega 64, on the other hand, is for those who need maximum raw throughput in legacy or Vulkan-heavy workloads, provided they have a 600 W power supply, a dual-slot chassis, and an 8-pin power setup. It is end-of-life, so the 8050S is the more sensible pick for new builds, while the Vega 64 remains a niche option for specific workloads.

Architecture Differences

The 8050S is built on the Strix Halo chip using RDNA 3.5 architecture, fabricated on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It belongs to the Navi Mobile (RX 8000M) generation. Its die size is 308 mm², and while the transistor count is listed as unknown, the process node is significantly more advanced than the Vega 64's. The RX Vega 64 uses the Vega 10 chip with GCN 5.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 12,500 million transistors on a 495 mm² die, giving it a transistor density of 25.3M per mm². The 8050S has 2,048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 render output units, plus 32 ray tracing cores. The RX Vega 64 has 4,096 shading units and 256 TMUs, but it has no dedicated ray tracing cores. Both have 64 ROPs. The 8050S supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the Vega 64 is limited to DirectX 12 (12_1). Vulkan support also differs: the 8050S runs Vulkan 1.4, the Vega 64 runs Vulkan 1.3. OpenGL support is identical at 4.6.

Memory architecture is another major divergence. The 8050S uses system shared memory, with a bus width and bandwidth listed as system dependent. The Vega 64 has 8 GB of HBM2 on a 2048-bit bus, delivering 483.8 GB/s of bandwidth. The Vega 64's memory clock is 945 MHz, or 1890 Mbps effective. The 8050S's clock behavior also differs: it has a base clock of 1295 MHz and a boost clock of 2800 MHz, while the Vega 64 runs at a 1247 MHz base and 1546 MHz boost. Pixel and texture rates reflect the architectural shift: the 8050S hits 179.2 GPixel/s and 358.4 GTexel/s, while the Vega 64 manages 98.94 GPixel/s and 395.8 GTexel/s. FP32 throughput is close, with the 8050S at 11.47 TFLOPS and the Vega 64 at 12.66 TFLOPS. FP16 performance is notably different: the 8050S does 11.47 TFLOPS at a 1:1 ratio, while the Vega 64 reaches 25.33 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records two head-to-head comparisons between the 8050S and the RX Vega 64. In Geekbench OpenCL, the 8050S scores 65,818 against the Vega 64's 62,552, a 5.2% advantage. This result indicates that the newer RDNA 3.5 architecture, despite having half the shading units and relying on shared system memory, can outperform the older GCN design in compute workloads that favor the 8050S's higher clocks and modern instruction set. The 8050S's boost clock of 2800 MHz versus the Vega 64's 1546 MHz likely plays a role here, as does the 8050S's support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, which can improve driver-level efficiency.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the tables turn. The RX Vega 64 scores 67,032, while the 8050S manages 58,398, a 12.9% deficit for the 8050S. This is a substantial margin. The Vega 64's dedicated 8 GB of HBM2 memory with 483.8 GB/s of bandwidth gives it a clear edge in memory-bound Vulkan workloads. Shared system memory on the 8050S is dependent on the rest of the system, and the data shows that in this API, the Vega 64's raw memory throughput wins out. The Vega 64 also has double the shading units and TMUs, which can be leveraged more effectively in Vulkan's lower-level access model. The result is a split decision: one win each, with the Vega 64 taking the more lopsided victory.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon 8050S | AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 |

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

| Architecture | RDNA 3.5 | GCN 5.0 |

| Process Node | 4 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | unknown | 12,500 million |

| Die Size | 308 mm² | 495 mm² |

| Transistor Density | not listed | 25.3M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1295 MHz | 1247 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2800 MHz | 1546 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 8 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | HBM2 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 2048 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 483.8 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 2048 | 4096 |

| TMUs | 128 | 256 |

| ROPs | 64 | 64 |

| RT Cores | 32 | null |

| Pixel Rate | 179.2 GPixel/s | 98.94 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 358.4 GTexel/s | 395.8 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 11.47 TFLOPS | 12.66 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 11.47 TFLOPS (1:1) | 25.33 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 55 W | 295 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | None | 2x 8-pin |

| Suggested PSU | not listed | 600 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | 1x HDMI 2.0b, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a |

| DirectX | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | 12 (12_1) |

| Vulkan | 1.4 | 1.3 |

| Production Status | Active | End-of-life |

| Release Date | 2025-01-05 | 2017-08-06 |

| Predecessor | Polaris Mobile | Polaris |

| Successor | not listed | Navi |

| Launch MSRP | not listed | 499 USD |

The 8050S is smaller, newer, and far more efficient. Its 55 W TDP is a fraction of the Vega 64's 295 W. It uses PCIe 5.0 x16, while the Vega 64 uses PCIe 3.0 x16. The Vega 64 is a 280 mm long, 111 mm tall, 40 mm wide dual-slot card, whereas the 8050S is an integrated processor with no slot width. The Vega 64 requires two 8-pin power connectors and a 600 W power supply, while the 8050S needs none. The Vega 64's launch MSRP was 499 USD, but the 8050S has no listed MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon 8050S has an average benchmark score of 62,108, compared to the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64's 50,001. The 8050S also ranks in the 89th percentile of all GPUs, while the Vega 64 ranks in the 86th percentile.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The 8050S wins in Geekbench OpenCL with a score of 65,818 against the Vega 64's 62,552, a 5.2% advantage.

Q: Which GPU performs better in Geekbench Vulkan?

A: The RX Vega 64 wins in Geekbench Vulkan with a score of 67,032, while the 8050S scores 58,398. That gives the Vega 64 a 12.9% lead.

Q: What memory configuration does each GPU use?

A: The 8050S uses system shared memory, with size, type, bus width, and bandwidth all listed as system dependent. The RX Vega 64 has 8 GB of HBM2 memory on a 2048-bit bus with 483.8 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Do both GPUs support ray tracing?

A: No. The 8050S has 32 ray tracing cores, while the RX Vega 64 has no ray tracing cores listed in the database.

Q: What are the power requirements for each GPU?

A: The 8050S has a 55 W TDP, uses no power connectors, and is an integrated graphics processor. The RX Vega 64 has a 295 W TDP, requires two 8-pin power connectors, and recommends a 600 W power supply.