AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 vs AMD Radeon VII Comparison

The AMD Radeon VII and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 represent two distinct approaches to high-end computing, and the benchmark data reveals a clear performance hierarchy. The Radeon VII, built on a newer process and architecture, consistently outperforms the Pro Vega 48 across every shared benchmark, with the most dramatic gap appearing in compute-heavy workloads. The Pro Vega 48, however, is not without merit, as its lower power profile and integrated design suggest a different intended use case, even if raw performance is not its primary strength.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The data from the three shared benchmarks is unambiguous. The AMD Radeon VII wins all three head-to-head tests, establishing a dominant lead in both graphics and general-purpose compute. The largest margin is in the Geekbench OpenCL test, where the Radeon VII scores 91,947 against the Pro Vega 48’s 53,757. This represents a 71% deltaPct, a massive gap that highlights the Radeon VII’s superior raw compute throughput. This result is particularly telling for workloads that leverage OpenCL, such as certain scientific simulations and content creation tasks.

The Vulkan benchmark shows a similar, though slightly less extreme, disparity. The Radeon VII posts a score of 91,788, while the Pro Vega 48 manages 57,653. The deltaPct here is 59.2%, still a substantial margin that indicates the Radeon VII is significantly faster in modern graphics APIs. This suggests that in Vulkan-based games or applications, the Radeon VII would provide a much smoother experience, especially at higher resolutions or with more demanding effects.

Even in the Geekbench Metal benchmark, which is often associated with Apple’s ecosystem and is the Pro Vega 48’s strongest showing, the Radeon VII still comes out ahead. With a score of 77,975 versus 69,010, the Radeon VII achieves a 13% deltaPct advantage. While this is the smallest margin of the three tests, it is still a decisive win. It indicates that even in a platform-specific API where the Pro Vega 48 might be expected to excel, the architectural advantages of the Radeon VII—including its higher shading unit count and faster memory—provide a tangible benefit.

Architecture Differences

The performance disparity between these two cards is rooted in their fundamentally different architectures. The Radeon VII is built on the Vega 20 chip, utilizing AMD’s GCN 5.1 architecture, and is fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. In contrast, the Pro Vega 48 uses the older Vega 10 chip with a GCN 5.0 architecture, manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This process node difference is a major factor; the 7 nm node allows the Radeon VII to pack 13,230 million transistors into a die size of just 331 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 40.0M per mm². The Pro Vega 48, with 12,500 million transistors on a much larger 495 mm² die, has a significantly lower density of 25.3M per mm².

These architectural differences translate directly into compute resources. The Radeon VII features 3840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 64 raster operation pipelines (ROPs). The Pro Vega 48 has fewer of each: 3072 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. While both have the same number of ROPs, the higher counts in the other categories give the Radeon VII a clear theoretical advantage. This is reflected in the pixel and texture rates, where the Radeon VII achieves 112.0 GPixel/s and 420.0 GTexel/s, compared to the Pro Vega 48’s 76.80 GPixel/s and 230.4 GTexel/s.

Memory is another critical point of divergence. The Radeon VII is equipped with 16 GB of HBM2 memory on a 4096-bit bus, delivering a massive 1.02 TB/s of bandwidth. The Pro Vega 48, on the other hand, has 8 GB of HBM2 on a 2048-bit bus, providing 402.4 GB/s. This difference in memory capacity and bandwidth is substantial. The Radeon VII’s memory clock is listed as 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective), while the Pro Vega 48’s memory runs at 786 MHz (1572 Mbps effective). This combination of a wider bus and faster memory clock gives the Radeon VII a more than 2.5x bandwidth advantage, which is crucial for high-resolution textures and large datasets in compute workloads.

Where Each One Wins

The Radeon VII is the clear winner in any scenario that demands raw performance. Its 13.44 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, versus the Pro Vega 48’s 7.373 TFLOPS, makes it nearly twice as fast for general-purpose floating-point operations. This is further emphasized by the FP16 performance, where the Radeon VII offers 26.88 TFLOPS compared to 14.75 TFLOPS. For users running machine learning inference, video processing, or 3D rendering, the Radeon VII’s higher compute throughput and memory bandwidth will translate into significantly reduced processing times. Its 16 GB of memory also allows for larger models and datasets to be held in VRAM, avoiding costly spills to system memory.

The Pro Vega 48, however, wins in the domain of system integration and power efficiency. Its TDP is not listed in the data, but its slot width is "IGP" (integrated graphics processor) and it requires no power connectors, indicating a much lower power draw than the Radeon VII, which has a TDP of 295 W and requires 2x 8-pin power connectors. The Pro Vega 48 is designed for portable devices, with its display outputs listed as "Portable Device Dependent." This means its primary advantage is not performance, but the ability to provide a discrete-level GPU in a compact, power-constrained environment. Its performance, while lower, is still substantial, placing it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs, and it would be the better choice for a mobile workstation where battery life and heat are more critical than absolute frame rates.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon VII has a higher average benchmark score of 66,004, placing it in the 90th percentile of all GPUs. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 has an average score of 60,140, which is in the 88th percentile.

Q: How much faster is the Radeon VII in the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The Radeon VII scores 91,947 compared to the Pro Vega 48’s 53,757 in the Geekbench OpenCL test, resulting in a deltaPct of 71% in favor of the Radeon VII.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the Pro Vega 48 outperforms the Radeon VII?

A: Based on the head-to-head benchmark data, there are no tests where the Pro Vega 48 wins. The Radeon VII wins all three shared benchmarks: Geekbench Metal, OpenCL, and Vulkan.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two cards?

A: The Radeon VII has a memory bandwidth of 1.02 TB/s, while the Pro Vega 48 has a bandwidth of 402.4 GB/s. The Radeon VII’s bandwidth is more than double that of the Pro Vega 48.

Q: How does the Radeon VII compare to its closest rival, the NVIDIA Tesla T4?

A: The Radeon VII has an average benchmark score of 66,004, which is 1.1% lower than the NVIDIA Tesla T4’s average score of 66,733. This puts the two cards in a very close performance tier.

Q: Which GPU is designed for portable devices?

A: The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 is designed for portable devices, as indicated by its "IGP" slot width and "Portable Device Dependent" display outputs. The Radeon VII is a dual-slot card with multiple display outputs.

Specification Differences

The following table highlights the key specifications where these two AMD GPUs differ. The Radeon VII is a desktop-focused powerhouse, while the Pro Vega 48 is an integrated solution for mobile platforms.

| Specification | AMD Radeon VII | AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48 |

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

| Chip | Vega 20 | Vega 10 |

| Architecture | GCN 5.1 | GCN 5.0 |

| Process Node | 7 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 13,230 million | 12,500 million |

| Die Size | 331 mm² | 495 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 40.0M / mm² | 25.3M / mm² |

| Memory Size | 16 GB | 8 GB |

| Memory Bus Width | 4096 bit | 2048 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 1.02 TB/s | 402.4 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 3840 | 3072 |

| TMUs | 240 | 192 |

| Pixel Rate | 112.0 GPixel/s | 76.80 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 420.0 GTexel/s | 230.4 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 13.44 TFLOPS | 7.373 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 26.88 TFLOPS (2:1) | 14.75 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 295 W | Not specified |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | IGP |

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

| Suggested PSU | 600 W | Not specified |

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

| Dimensions (LxHxW) | 280 mm x 125 mm x 40 mm | Not specified |

The Verdict

The choice between these two GPUs is straightforward based on the data. The AMD Radeon VII is the superior performer in every measurable benchmark, with its 7 nm process, higher compute unit counts, and significantly faster memory subsystem providing a decisive advantage. It should be the pick for any desktop workstation or high-end gaming PC where maximum performance is the goal. Its 90th percentile ranking and wins in all three head-to-head tests make it the clear choice for users who need the fastest possible rendering, simulation, or machine learning capabilities.

The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 48, conversely, is not a competitor in the same performance class. Its design as an integrated GPU for portable devices means that its value proposition is entirely different. It should be the pick for a mobile workstation where space is at a premium and power consumption is a critical factor. While its performance is lower, it still offers a respectable level of compute capability, placing it in the 88th percentile of all GPUs. For a user who needs a capable GPU in a laptop without the luxury of a 295 W power budget and a large dual-slot cooler, the Pro Vega 48 is the appropriate choice. The data does not suggest it can match the Radeon VII in raw speed, but it fulfills a specific niche that the Radeon VII cannot.