AMD Radeon Pro 580 vs NVIDIA A2 Comparison

The Verdict

Benchmark data indicates the AMD Radeon Pro 580 is the clear performance winner in this matchup, taking both recorded head-to-head tests. In Geekbench OpenCL, the Radeon Pro 580 scores 38,457 against the NVIDIA A2's 35,357, an 8.8% advantage. The gap widens substantially in Vulkan, where the AMD card posts 43,285 versus 34,023, a 27.2% lead. The database shows the Radeon Pro 580 holds an 82nd percentile rank among all GPUs, while the A2 sits at the 79th percentile.

The NVIDIA A2 does have strengths the data supports: it offers double the memory capacity at 16 GB versus 8 GB, uses newer GDDR6 memory, and consumes only 60 W compared to 185 W. For workloads that prioritize memory capacity or power efficiency, the A2 becomes the sensible pick. However, raw compute performance clearly favors the AMD part.

For users who need maximum throughput in OpenCL or Vulkan applications, the Radeon Pro 580 delivers measurably better results. For those who need large memory buffers and minimal power draw, the A2 is the better fit despite its lower scores. Neither card is currently in production, but the data suggests distinct use cases rather than one universal recommendation.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and foundries. The AMD Radeon Pro 580 uses the Ellesmere chip built on GCN 4.0 architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 24.6 million per square millimeter. The NVIDIA A2 uses the GA107 chip based on Ampere architecture, manufactured on an 8 nm Samsung process. It contains 8,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die, achieving 43.5 million transistors per square millimeter.

The AMD card features 2,304 shading units, 144 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs. The A2 has 1,280 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Notably, the A2 includes 10 ray tracing cores and 40 tensor cores, while the Radeon Pro 580 has none, reflecting the architectural generational gap. The A2 also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the Radeon Pro 580 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3. Both cards support OpenGL 4.6.

Clock behavior differs significantly. The Radeon Pro 580 runs at a base clock of 1100 MHz and boosts to 1200 MHz, while the A2 operates at 1440 MHz base and 1770 MHz boost. Despite the A2's higher clocks, its smaller shader array limits total throughput. The AMD card reaches 5.530 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16 performance, while the A2 delivers 4.531 TFLOPS in both precision formats. Pixel fill rates also favor NVIDIA at 56.64 GPixel/s versus 38.40 GPixel/s, but texture fill rate favors AMD at 172.8 GTexel/s versus 70.80 GTexel/s.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records two direct benchmark comparisons between these GPUs. In Geekbench OpenCL, the AMD Radeon Pro 580 scores 38,457 against 35,357 for the NVIDIA A2. This 8.8% margin reflects the AMD card's higher shader count and texture throughput, which matter more in compute workloads than the A2's architectural advantages.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the separation becomes far more pronounced. The Radeon Pro 580 scores 43,285, while the A2 manages only 34,023. That represents a 27.2% advantage for AMD. Vulkan workloads often scale with raw compute resources, and the Radeon Pro 580's 2,304 shading units versus 1,280 on the A2 explains much of this gap. The AMD card's 172.8 GTexel/s texture rate versus 70.80 GTexel/s also contributes to the decisive margin.

The A2 wins no recorded benchmark in this head-to-head comparison. Its 4.531 TFLOPS FP32 figure trails the Radeon Pro 580's 5.530 TFLOPS, and while the A2 has higher pixel rate (56.64 GPixel/s versus 38.40 GPixel/s), no benchmark in the database captures that advantage. The A2's higher boost clock of 1770 MHz versus 1200 MHz does not translate into a recorded victory in either test.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every specification category. Memory configuration shows the starkest contrast: the A2 offers 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 200.1 GB/s bandwidth, while the Radeon Pro 580 provides 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 217.0 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD card has slightly higher bandwidth despite older memory technology, but the A2 doubles capacity.

Power and physical specifications diverge completely. The Radeon Pro 580 draws 185 W, uses no power connectors, and is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with portable-device-dependent display outputs. The A2 draws only 60 W, also uses no power connectors, requires a 250 W suggested power supply, is single-slot, and has no display outputs at all. The A2 connects via PCIe 4.0 x8, while the Radeon Pro 580 uses PCIe 3.0 x16.

Production timelines differ as well. The Radeon Pro 580 released on June 4, 2017, while the A2 arrived on November 9, 2021. Both are now end-of-life. The A2 lists a predecessor of Quadro Turing and a successor of Workstation Ada, while the Radeon Pro 580 has no recorded predecessor or successor. The A2 belongs to the Workstation Ampere generation, while the Radeon Pro 580 belongs to the Radeon Pro Mac (500 Series) generation.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro 580 delivers 5.530 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16, while the NVIDIA A2 delivers 4.531 TFLOPS in both precisions. Benchmark scores confirm this gap.

Q: How much faster is the AMD card in Vulkan?

A: The Radeon Pro 580 scores 43,285 in Geekbench Vulkan versus 34,023 for the A2, a 27.2% advantage.

Q: Does the NVIDIA A2 have any advantages in memory?

A: Yes, the A2 offers 16 GB of GDDR6 versus 8 GB of GDDR5, though the Radeon Pro 580 has higher bandwidth at 217.0 GB/s versus 200.1 GB/s.

Q: Which card is more power-efficient?

A: The NVIDIA A2 draws only 60 W compared to the Radeon Pro 580's 185 W, making it far more efficient for the performance it delivers.

Q: Do both cards support the same graphics APIs?

A: Both support OpenGL 4.6, but the A2 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) and Vulkan 1.4, while the Radeon Pro 580 supports DirectX 12 (12_0) and Vulkan 1.3.

Q: Which card has ray tracing hardware?

A: Only the NVIDIA A2 includes ray tracing cores (10) and tensor cores (40). The AMD Radeon Pro 580 has neither.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon Pro 580 wins decisively in compute benchmarks. Its 8.8% lead in OpenCL and 27.2% lead in Vulkan make it the clear choice for applications that rely on general-purpose GPU compute. The card's higher shader count (2,304 versus 1,280), superior texture rate (172.8 GTexel/s versus 70.80 GTexel/s), and higher FP32 throughput (5.530 TFLOPS versus 4.531 TFLOPS) all support this conclusion. Its 82nd percentile ranking versus the A2's 79th also positions it higher in the overall database distribution.

The NVIDIA A2 wins in capacity and efficiency. Its 16 GB memory capacity doubles the Radeon Pro 580's 8 GB, which matters for workloads that require large in-memory datasets. Its 60 W power draw is less than one-third of the AMD card's 185 W, making it suitable for power-constrained environments. The A2 also brings modern features the AMD card lacks: ray tracing cores, tensor cores, DirectX 12 Ultimate support, and PCIe 4.0 connectivity. The A2's higher pixel rate (56.64 GPixel/s versus 38.40 GPixel/s) suggests potential advantages in pixel-bound workloads, though no benchmark in the database captures this directly.

The database comparison shows two GPUs designed for different priorities. The Radeon Pro 580 maximizes compute throughput per dollar of silicon area, while the A2 optimizes for memory capacity and power efficiency. Users with compute-heavy OpenCL or Vulkan workloads should choose the AMD card. Users who need large memory buffers, low power draw, or modern API features should select the NVIDIA A2. The 27.2% Vulkan gap is the single largest performance difference recorded, and it strongly favors AMD for Vulkan-based applications.