AMD Radeon 8060S vs AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 Comparison

The Radeon Pro Vega 48 and the Radeon 8060S represent two distinct eras of AMD graphics. The former is a discrete, end-of-life workstation part built for professional Macs, while the latter is a modern, power-efficient mobile GPU integrated into a processor. This analysis separates the data to clarify which card wins in specific scenarios, how their architectures differ, and what the benchmark results actually mean for a potential user.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear split. The Radeon Pro Vega 48 shows no wins in the recorded head-to-head tests, while the Radeon 8060S wins both. However, the performance context is more nuanced. The Vega 48’s average benchmark score is 60140, which places it at the 88th percentile of all GPUs. The 8060S, despite having a lower average score of 55757, sits at the 87th percentile. This near-identical percentile ranking despite a score difference indicates that the Vega 48’s lead in average score is not significant enough to translate into a higher class of performance.

The 8060S wins decisively in the two shared benchmarks: Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan. In OpenCL, it scores 84626 versus the Vega 48’s 53757, a 36.5% lead. In Vulkan, it scores 80483 versus 57653, a 28.4% lead. These are substantial margins in compute-oriented workloads. The Vega 48’s only available win is in the Geekbench Metal test, where it scores 69010. This is not a direct head-to-head comparison, but it suggests a strength in Apple’s Metal API, which is relevant for its target platform. The 8060S also has a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2162, a test the Vega 48 did not run, indicating its capability in modern DirectX 12 gaming workloads.

For a user, the split is simple. The 8060S wins in raw compute and modern API performance (Vulkan, DX12, OpenCL). The Vega 48’s advantage is limited to the Metal ecosystem, where it has a verified score, and its average benchmark score is slightly higher overall.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and processes. The Vega 48 uses the Vega 10 chip based on the GCN 5.0 architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This is a large chip, with a die size of 495 mm² and 12,500 million transistors. The 8060S uses the Strix Halo chip based on the RDNA 3.5 architecture, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. Its die size is 308 mm², and its transistor count is marked as unknown, but the smaller node suggests a higher density.

The core configurations differ significantly. The Vega 48 has 3072 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The 8060S has 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. Despite having fewer shading units, the 8060S achieves much higher clock speeds: a base of 1295 MHz and a boost of 2900 MHz, while the Vega 48’s base and boost clocks are not listed. This clock advantage is critical to its performance. The 8060S also introduces 40 ray tracing cores, a feature completely absent from the older Vega 48.

Memory architecture is another major divider. The Vega 48 uses 8 GB of HBM2 with a 2048-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 402.4 GB/s. The 8060S uses system shared memory, meaning its bandwidth is system dependent and its bus width is system shared. This is a fundamental difference: one has dedicated, high-bandwidth VRAM, while the other relies on the host system’s memory.

The feature sets reflect their eras. The Vega 48 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The 8060S supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The newer card also has a TDP of 55 W, while the Vega 48’s TDP is not listed. The Vega 48 uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface, while the 8060S uses the newer PCIe 5.0 x16. The production status is another clear indicator: the Vega 48 is end-of-life, while the 8060S is active.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The available head-to-head data is limited to two tests, but both are decisive victories for the 8060S. In Geekbench OpenCL, the 8060S scores 84626 against the Vega 48’s 53757. This is a 36.5% difference in favor of the newer card. This is not a marginal win; it is a substantial performance gap in a general-purpose compute workload. The result indicates that the RDNA 3.5 architecture and high boost clock of the 8060S provide a massive throughput advantage over the older GCN design, despite the Vega 48 having more shading units.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the 8060S scores 80483 versus the Vega 48’s 57653, a 28.4% lead. Vulkan is a low-level API that is sensitive to architectural efficiency and driver optimization. The 8060S’s advantage here confirms that its architecture is not just faster in raw numbers but also more efficient at extracting performance from modern APIs. The Vega 48’s Vulkan score is still respectable, placing it in the same performance tier as its average, but it is clearly outclassed.

The only benchmark where the Vega 48 has a recorded score and the 8060S does not is Geekbench Metal, where the Vega 48 scores 69010. This is its strongest result and highlights its suitability for macOS environments that rely heavily on Metal. However, without a direct comparison, it is impossible to say how the 8060S would fare in this test. The data shows that for any cross-platform compute task, the 8060S is the clear winner by a wide margin.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 has a higher average benchmark score of 60140, compared to the AMD Radeon 8060S’s 55757.

Q: Does the newer Radeon 8060S support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the Radeon 8060S has 40 ray tracing cores. The Radeon Pro Vega 48 has no ray tracing cores listed.

Q: How much faster is the 8060S in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The 8060S scores 84626, which is 36.5% higher than the Vega 48’s score of 53757.

Q: What is the process node difference between the two GPUs?

A: The Radeon Pro Vega 48 is built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, while the Radeon 8060S is built on a 4 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Which GPU has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The Radeon Pro Vega 48 has a dedicated memory bandwidth of 402.4 GB/s using HBM2. The Radeon 8060S uses system shared memory, so its bandwidth is system dependent.

Q: What is the production status of each card?

A: The Radeon Pro Vega 48 is listed as end-of-life, while the Radeon 8060S is listed as active.

Specification Differences

The following table lists only the fields where the two GPUs differ, based on the data provided.

| Specification | AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 | AMD Radeon 8060S |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Chip | Vega 10 | Strix Halo |

| Architecture | GCN 5.0 | RDNA 3.5 |

| Generation | Radeon Pro Mac (Vega Series) | Navi Mobile (RX 8000M) |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 4 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Die Size | 495 mm² | 308 mm² |

| Base Clock | Not listed | 1295 MHz |

| Boost Clock | Not listed | 2900 MHz |

| Memory Size | 8 GB | System Shared |

| Memory Type | HBM2 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus Width | 2048 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 402.4 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Memory Clock | 786 MHz / 1572 Mbps effective | System Shared |

| Shading Units | 3072 | 2560 |

| TMUs | 192 | 160 |

| RT Cores | None | 40 |

| Pixel Rate | 76.80 GPixel/s | 185.6 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 230.4 GTexel/s | 464.0 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 7.373 TFLOPS | 14.85 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 14.75 TFLOPS (2:1) | 14.85 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | Not listed | 55 W |

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

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

| Vulkan Support | 1.3 | 1.4 |

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

| Release Date | 2019-03-18 | 2025-01-05 |

| Predecessor | None listed | Polaris Mobile |

The Verdict

The data points to a clear verdict for most users. The AMD Radeon 8060S is the superior GPU for general compute and modern gaming. Its 36.5% lead in OpenCL and 28.4% lead in Vulkan are decisive. Its architecture is significantly newer, with a smaller process node, higher clocks, and support for ray tracing. Its FP32 performance of 14.85 TFLOPS is double the Vega 48’s 7.373 TFLOPS. The 8060S is also an active product with a much lower TDP of 55 W, making it suitable for modern portable devices.

The Radeon Pro Vega 48 is the correct choice only in a specific scenario: a Mac environment where the Metal API is the primary workload. Its Geekbench Metal score of 69010 is its only recorded benchmark win. It also has the advantage of dedicated HBM2 memory with 402.4 GB/s bandwidth, which is not dependent on system RAM. Its higher average benchmark score of 60140 and 88th percentile ranking show it is still a capable card, but it is end-of-life and lacks the features and raw compute power of the 8060S.

The 8060S is the better overall pick for anyone looking at modern performance. The Vega 48 is a legacy part with a narrow, platform-specific advantage. The benchmark results show that the 8060S is simply in a different, more modern performance class.