AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 vs NVIDIA Quadro GP100 Comparison

NVIDIA Quadro GP100 and AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 are two professional-grade graphics cards from the Pascal and GCN 5.0 eras, respectively, both now end-of-life. The benchmark data available offers a direct comparison in one compute workload, alongside distinct architectural profiles that shape their respective strengths. The Quadro GP100 emerges as the clear winner in the sole head-to-head OpenCL test, while the Radeon Pro Vega 64 shows its capabilities in other API benchmarks, creating a nuanced picture for potential users.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is in the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the results are decisive. The NVIDIA Quadro GP100 scores 87,445, while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 scores 71,094. This translates to a 23% advantage for the Quadro GP100, a substantial margin that indicates significantly higher raw compute throughput in this specific OpenCL workload. The data suggests that for general-purpose GPU computing tasks that rely on OpenCL, the NVIDIA card holds a clear performance lead.

However, the Radeon Pro Vega 64 has its own benchmark data that paints a more complex picture. While it scores lower on OpenCL, it achieves 71,868 on Geekbench Metal and 74,174 on Geekbench Vulkan. The Vulkan score is particularly interesting, as it is 4.3% higher than its own OpenCL result, hinting that the architecture may be better optimized for this newer API. In contrast, the Quadro GP100 only has an OpenCL score in the data, leaving its Vulkan and Metal performance unknown. This absence of data is a critical gap; one cannot assume the Quadro's 23% OpenCL lead would translate directly to Vulkan, where AMD architectures have historically shown strength.

Looking at the broader context, the Quadro GP100's OpenCL score places it in the 93rd percentile of all GPUs, while the Radeon Pro Vega 64 sits in the 91st percentile. This difference in percentile ranking, though seemingly small, underscores the GP100's higher peak performance in this specific test. The Quadro's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA RTX A4500, which scores 91,671 and is 4.6% faster, and the RTX A4500 Mobile at 91,134, which is 4% faster. This indicates that the GP100 is positioned just below the top tier of modern workstation GPUs in OpenCL performance. Conversely, the Radeon Pro Vega 64's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Vega Frontier Edition at 73,370 (1.4% faster) and the NVIDIA TITAN X Pascal at 72,098 (0.4% faster), placing it in a highly competitive mid-to-high range bracket where small performance differences separate the cards.

FAQ

Q: Which card has a higher raw compute performance in OpenCL?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro GP100 is significantly faster, scoring 87,445 compared to the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64's 71,094. This represents a 23% performance advantage for the Quadro GP100 in the Geekbench OpenCL test.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 perform better in any benchmark?

A: Yes, the Radeon Pro Vega 64 achieves its highest score in the Geekbench Vulkan test with 74,174, which is higher than its OpenCL score of 71,094. However, there is no direct head-to-head Vulkan comparison available for the Quadro GP100, so a direct performance comparison cannot be made.

Q: How do these cards compare to their closest competitors?

A: The Quadro GP100's OpenCL score of 87,445 is 0.4% higher than the AMD Radeon PRO W7600's 87,108 and 2.1% higher than the NVIDIA CMP 40HX's 85,637. The Radeon Pro Vega 64's average score of 72,379 is 0.4% higher than the NVIDIA TITAN X Pascal's 72,098 and 0.9% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6650M's 71,768.

Q: What is the performance gap between the two cards in the head-to-head test?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro GP100 is 23% faster than the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark. This is the only direct benchmark comparison provided in the data.

Q: Which card has a higher percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro GP100 ranks in the 93rd percentile, while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 ranks in the 91st percentile. This indicates the Quadro GP100 performs better relative to the entire GPU landscape in its tested workload.

Q: Are there any other benchmark scores for the NVIDIA Quadro GP100?

A: No, the data only includes a single Geekbench OpenCL score for the Quadro GP100. In contrast, the Radeon Pro Vega 64 has scores for OpenCL, Metal, and Vulkan.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the data, the NVIDIA Quadro GP100 is the superior choice for applications that heavily utilize OpenCL compute. Its 23% lead in the head-to-head test is a decisive advantage that would translate to faster processing times in scientific computing, data analysis, and other OpenCL-accelerated workloads. Its 93rd percentile ranking further confirms its high-end positioning.

The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64, while slower in OpenCL, is not without merit. Its strong Vulkan score of 74,174 suggests it may be a better option for Vulkan-based rendering or compute tasks. However, without a direct comparison in that API, this remains speculative. For users working within an Apple ecosystem, the card's Metal score of 71,868 is relevant, as Metal is the primary graphics API on macOS.

The verdict is clear: for pure OpenCL performance, the Quadro GP100 is the definitive winner. For users prioritizing Vulkan or Metal, the Radeon Pro Vega 64 warrants consideration, but its lower raw OpenCL performance is a significant drawback. The data does not support a recommendation for the Radeon Pro Vega 64 for general-purpose compute over the Quadro GP100.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ significantly in their core specifications. The NVIDIA Quadro GP100 features 3,584 shading units, 224 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 96 render output units (ROPs). In contrast, the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 has 4,096 shading units, 256 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. This shows a trade-off: AMD has more shaders and TMUs, while NVIDIA has more ROPs.

Memory configurations also differ. The Quadro GP100 uses a 4096-bit memory bus with HBM2 memory, delivering a bandwidth of 732.2 GB/s. The Radeon Pro Vega 64 uses a narrower 2048-bit bus with the same HBM2 memory type, resulting in a lower bandwidth of 402.4 GB/s.

Clock speeds are another differentiator. The Quadro GP100 has a base clock of 1304 MHz and a boost clock of 1443 MHz. The Radeon Pro Vega 64 has a lower base clock of 1250 MHz and a boost clock of 1350 MHz. The memory clocks also differ, with the Quadro running at 715 MHz (1430 Mbps effective) and the AMD at 786 MHz (1572 Mbps effective).

The physical and power profiles are distinct. The Quadro GP100 has a TDP of 235 W and uses a dual-slot design with a single 8-pin power connector, requiring a 550 W power supply. The Radeon Pro Vega 64 has a higher TDP of 250 W but is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no power connectors and no suggested PSU. The Quadro's dimensions are listed as 267 mm in length and 111 mm in height, while the Radeon's dimensions are not provided.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide is fundamental. The NVIDIA Quadro GP100 is built on the Pascal architecture using a 16 nm process at TSMC. It packs 15,300 million transistors on a 610 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 25.1M per mm². The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 uses the GCN 5.0 architecture on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 12,500 million transistors on a smaller 495 mm² die, achieving a slightly higher transistor density of 25.3M per mm².

This difference in node and transistor count has implications. The Pascal architecture on the Quadro, despite having fewer transistors, achieves higher clocks and memory bandwidth. The GCN 5.0 architecture on the AMD card relies on more shading units to deliver its compute performance. Neither card has dedicated ray tracing or tensor cores, as both predate those features.

The memory subsystem is another key architectural difference. The Quadro GP100's 4096-bit bus is double the width of the Radeon's 2048-bit bus, which is the primary reason for its 732.2 GB/s bandwidth versus the AMD's 402.4 GB/s. This massive bandwidth advantage is crucial for memory-intensive workloads like large data sets and high-resolution textures.

Both cards support DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The display outputs differ, with the Quadro offering 1x DVI and 4x DisplayPort 1.4a, while the Radeon's outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent," reflecting its target use in Apple laptops. The Quadro was released on 2016-09-30, while the Radeon came later on 2017-06-26.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Quadro GP100 wins decisively in raw OpenCL compute performance, as evidenced by its 23% higher score. This makes it the superior choice for professional workloads that leverage OpenCL for general-purpose GPU computing, such as scientific simulations, financial modeling, and certain rendering tasks. Its higher pixel rate of 138.5 GPixel/s and texture rate of 323.2 GTexel/s, compared to the Radeon's 86.40 GPixel/s and 345.6 GTexel/s, suggest it may also excel in rasterization-heavy tasks, despite its lower TMU count.

The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64 wins in the context of API-specific performance. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 74,174 is its strongest result, indicating that Vulkan-based applications may run particularly well on this card. Its Metal score of 71,868 also makes it a relevant option for macOS users, as Metal is the native graphics API on Apple platforms. The card's higher shading unit count and TMU count suggest it could have an advantage in workloads that scale well with these resources, though the benchmark data does not directly confirm this.

In terms of power efficiency, the Quadro GP100 delivers its higher performance with a lower TDP of 235 W compared to the Radeon's 250 W. This means the NVIDIA card provides more compute per watt, a significant advantage in dense workstation environments where heat and power are concerns. The Radeon's status as an IGP, however, means it is designed for a completely different form factor, trading raw power for integration into portable systems. The choice between these two cards ultimately hinges on the specific API and workload, with the Quadro GP100 being the clear leader for OpenCL and the Radeon Pro Vega 64 offering a competitive alternative for Vulkan and Metal-centric workflows.