AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 vs AMD Radeon RX 6650M Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 6650M and AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 are two very different GPUs from different eras, aimed at different tasks. The RX 6650M is a modern mobile gaming chip, while the Instinct MI25 is a data-center compute card from the GCN era. The available benchmark data shows a single head-to-head comparison, and the results are surprisingly close. The Instinct MI25 wins the only shared test, but the RX 6650M offers a more feature-rich and efficient package for general use.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test. In this benchmark, the AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 scores 68,562 points, while the AMD Radeon RX 6650M scores 65,800 points. This gives the Instinct MI25 a 4% advantage over the RX 6650M in raw compute throughput. While the MI25 is ahead, the margin is narrow, especially considering the substantial differences in architecture and power draw between the two cards.

Looking at the broader context, the RX 6650M boasts an average benchmark score of 71,768 across all its tested workloads, which is notably higher than its single OpenCL result. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA TITAN X Pascal at 72,098 (0.5% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 at 72,379 (0.8% higher), and the AMD Radeon Vega Frontier Edition at 73,370 (2.2% higher). The RX 6650M also edges out the AMD Radeon RX 6600 LE, which scores 70,829, by 1.3%. This places the RX 6650M in a performance tier where it trades blows with high-end desktop cards from the previous generation.

The Instinct MI25, on the other hand, has an average benchmark score of 68,562, which is its only recorded result. Its nearest rivals are the Intel Arc A770 at 68,809 (0.4% higher), the NVIDIA CMP 90HX at 69,000 (0.6% higher), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 8200 at 69,870 (1.9% higher), and the NVIDIA Quadro P6000 at 69,986 (2% higher). The data suggests that while the MI25 wins the direct comparison, the RX 6650M has a better overall average score, indicating that it may perform more consistently across a wider range of applications. The MI25’s victory in the single OpenCL test is a data point, but the RX 6650M’s superior average score across multiple benchmark runs paints a more complete picture.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is stark. The RX 6650M is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture, using the Navi 23 chip, and is fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The Instinct MI25 uses the older GCN 5.0 architecture with the Vega 10 chip, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This generational leap gives the RX 6650M a significant efficiency advantage. The RX 6650M packs 11,060 million transistors into a 237 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 46.7 million per mm². The Instinct MI25 has 12,500 million transistors on a much larger 495 mm² die, with a lower density of 25.3 million per mm².

The memory subsystems are also fundamentally different. The RX 6650M uses 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Instinct MI25 uses 16 GB of HBM2 memory on a massive 2048-bit bus, delivering 436.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This gives the MI25 almost double the memory bandwidth and twice the capacity, which is critical for compute workloads that need to move large datasets. The RX 6650M compensates with much higher clock speeds, running at a 2068 MHz base and 2416 MHz boost, compared to the MI25’s 1400 MHz base and 1500 MHz boost.

The compute resources differ in scale and type. The Instinct MI25 has 4096 shading units and 256 texture mapping units, far more than the RX 6650M’s 1792 shading units and 112 TMUs. Both have 64 ROPs. However, the RX 6650M has 28 dedicated ray tracing cores, a feature entirely absent from the MI25. The MI25 does offer higher raw throughput in some metrics: its FP32 performance is 12.29 TFLOPS and FP16 is 24.58 TFLOPS (2:1), while the RX 6650M delivers 8.659 TFLOPS FP32 and 17.32 TFLOPS FP16 (2:1). The RX 6650M has higher pixel fill rate at 154.6 GPixel/s versus 96.00 GPixel/s, but the MI25 has a higher texture fill rate at 384.0 GTexel/s versus 270.6 GTexel/s.

Where Each One Wins

The RX 6650M wins in scenarios that benefit from modern features and efficiency. Its support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4 makes it suitable for gaming and consumer applications. The presence of ray tracing cores is a clear advantage for any workload that uses that technology. Its higher pixel rate suggests it can handle traditional rasterization tasks well. The 120 W TDP and IGP form factor mean it can be integrated into laptops and compact systems, making it a practical choice for mobile workstations. Its PCIe 4.0 x8 interface also provides higher bandwidth per lane than the older standard.

The Instinct MI25 wins in compute-heavy tasks that demand massive memory bandwidth and raw FP32/FP16 throughput. Its 16 GB of HBM2 memory with 436.2 GB/s bandwidth is a clear advantage for large datasets. Its higher texture rate and shading unit count make it a brute-force compute engine. However, its 300 W TDP and dual-slot design with 2x 8-pin power connectors require a 700 W power supply. It has no display outputs, so it is strictly a compute accelerator. Its support for DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3 is older, but that is less relevant for data center tasks.

The data shows a clear split: the RX 6650M is the better all-rounder for gaming and consumer workloads, while the MI25 is specialized for raw compute. The RX 6650M’s higher average benchmark score of 71,768 versus the MI25’s 68,562 suggests it is more versatile. The MI25’s single benchmark win is offset by its lack of modern features and high power consumption.

The Verdict

Who should pick which? Strictly from the data, the AMD Radeon RX 6650M is the better choice for most users. It has a higher average benchmark score (71,768 vs 68,562), placing it in the 91st percentile versus the MI25’s 90th. It supports modern APIs, has ray tracing cores, and is far more power-efficient. It is an end-of-life product but so is the MI25. The RX 6650M is a capable mobile GPU that can handle gaming and general compute.

The AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 is for a specific niche. If a workload absolutely requires more than 8 GB of memory, or if the application is heavily optimized for GCN compute and benefits from the 436.2 GB/s bandwidth and 12.29 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, then the MI25 has a reason to exist. It wins the only head-to-head OpenCL test, but that is a narrow victory. Its 300 W power draw and lack of display outputs make it unsuitable for desktop use.

The data suggests that the RX 6650M is the more balanced product. It loses the OpenCL test by only 4% but wins in overall average score, features, and efficiency. The MI25 is a relic of a specific compute era, and its strengths are too narrow for general recommendation. For a builder looking at a single GPU, the RX 6650M is the safer, more sensible pick. The MI25 is only for those who know they need its specific memory and compute characteristics.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 wins, scoring 68,562 compared to the AMD Radeon RX 6650M’s 65,800, a 4% difference.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each GPU?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650M has an average benchmark score of 71,768, while the AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 has an average score of 68,562.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650M has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, while the AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 has 16 GB of HBM2 memory.

Q: Does either GPU support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the AMD Radeon RX 6650M has 28 dedicated ray tracing cores. The AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 has no ray tracing cores.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6650M has a 120 W TDP, while the AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 has a 300 W TDP.

Q: Which GPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 has significantly higher memory bandwidth at 436.2 GB/s, compared to the AMD Radeon RX 6650M’s 224.0 GB/s.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX 6650M | AMD Radeon Instinct MI25 |

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

| Architecture | RDNA 2.0 | GCN 5.0 |

| Process Node | 7 nm (TSMC) | 14 nm (GlobalFoundries) |

| Transistors | 11,060 million | 12,500 million |

| Die Size | 237 mm² | 495 mm² |

| Base Clock | 2068 MHz | 1400 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2416 MHz | 1500 MHz |

| Memory Size | 8 GB GDDR6 | 16 GB HBM2 |

| Memory Bus | 128 bit | 2048 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 224.0 GB/s | 436.2 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 1792 | 4096 |

| TMUs | 112 | 256 |

| ROPs | 64 | 64 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | 28 | None |

| FP32 Performance | 8.659 TFLOPS | 12.29 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 17.32 TFLOPS (2:1) | 24.58 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| Pixel Rate | 154.6 GPixel/s | 96.00 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 270.6 GTexel/s | 384.0 GTexel/s |

| TDP | 120 W | 300 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | Dual-slot |

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

| Suggested PSU | None | 700 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | No outputs |

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

| Vulkan Support | 1.4 | 1.3 |

| Release Date | 2022-01-03 | 2017-06-26 |