AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X vs NVIDIA PG506-232 Comparison

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in OpenCL compute workloads?

A: The NVIDIA PG506-232 scores 225,124 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X scores 78,467. That puts the NVIDIA part 186.9% ahead in this specific test.

Q: How does the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X compare to its own closest rivals?

A: The Vega 64X averages 80,959 across its benchmark results. It sits 1.3% behind the AMD Radeon PRO W6600, and it is 1.4% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 and 1.7% ahead of the Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB in average score.

Q: What are the memory specifications of each card?

A: The PG506-232 has 24 GB of HBM2 memory on a 3072-bit bus, delivering 933.1 GB/s of bandwidth. The Vega 64X has 16 GB of HBM2 memory on a 2048-bit bus, providing 512.0 GB/s.

Q: Which GPU has a higher transistor count and die size?

A: The PG506-232 uses 54,200 million transistors on an 826 mm² die. The Vega 64X uses 12,500 million transistors on a 495 mm² die. The PG506-232 also has a much higher transistor density at 65.6M per mm² versus 25.3M per mm².

Q: What is the power draw difference between the two?

A: The PG506-232 has a 165 W TDP, while the Vega 64X has a 250 W TDP. The PG506-232 requires a single 8-pin EPS power connector, whereas the Vega 64X has no power connectors listed and is described as an IGP.

Q: What is the percentile ranking for each GPU in the database?

A: The PG506-232 ranks in the 99th percentile among all GPUs, while the Vega 64X ranks in the 92nd percentile.

Architecture Differences

The NVIDIA PG506-232 is built on the GA100 chip using the Ampere architecture, manufactured on a 7 nm process at TSMC. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X uses the Vega 10 chip with GCN 5.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. This node difference is substantial, as the PG506-232 packs 54,200 million transistors versus 12,500 million on the Vega 64X, and the die size is 826 mm² versus 495 mm².

The PG506-232 includes 224 tensor cores, which are absent from the Vega 64X. Shader configurations differ as well: the Vega 64X has 4,096 shading units and 256 TMUs, while the PG506-232 has 3,584 shading units and 224 TMUs. However, the PG506-232 has 96 ROPs versus 64 on the Vega 64X. The PG506-232 achieves a pixel rate of 138.2 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 322.6 GTexel/s, while the Vega 64X posts 93.95 GPixel/s and 375.8 GTexel/s respectively.

Compute throughput tells a more nuanced story. The PG506-232 delivers 10.32 TFLOPS FP32 and 10.32 TFLOPS FP16 at a 1:1 ratio. The Vega 64X delivers 12.03 TFLOPS FP32 and 24.05 TFLOPS FP16 at a 2:1 ratio, meaning its FP16 throughput is more than double its FP32 rate. The PG506-232's FP16 performance matches its FP32 performance exactly.

Memory architecture differs significantly. The PG506-232 uses a 3072-bit bus with 24 GB of HBM2, while the Vega 64X uses a 2048-bit bus with 16 GB of HBM2. The memory clock on the PG506-232 is 1215 MHz with 2.4 Gbps effective, versus 1000 MHz with 2 Gbps effective on the Vega 64X. This yields bandwidth of 933.1 GB/s versus 512.0 GB/s.

The bus interface also differs: the PG506-232 uses PCIe 4.0 x16, while the Vega 64X uses PCIe 3.0 x16. The PG506-232 has no display outputs, whereas the Vega 64X's display outputs are described as "Portable Device Dependent." The Vega 64X supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3, while the PG506-232 has no listed API support in the database.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison recorded is Geekbench OpenCL. The NVIDIA PG506-232 scores 225,124, and the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X scores 78,467. The PG506-232 wins this test by 186.9%, which is a decisive margin. This is not a close contest; the NVIDIA part is nearly three times faster in raw OpenCL compute.

To put that into context, the PG506-232's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA L20 at 251,147 (10.4% faster), the AMD Radeon PRO W7900D at 219,827 (2.4% slower), and the NVIDIA A100 PCIe 80 GB at 207,124 (8.7% slower). The PG506-232 sits comfortably above the A100 and the W7900D, while the L20 is the only listed GPU that beats it.

The Vega 64X, by contrast, sits in a much lower performance tier. Its nearest rivals are the AMD Radeon PRO W6600 at 81,995 (1.3% faster), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 at 79,842 (1.4% slower), and the Tesla P100 variants at 79,605 and 79,396 (1.7% and 2% slower respectively). The Vega 64X is essentially in the same performance class as those cards, but the PG506-232 is in a completely different league.

The database records 1 win for the PG506-232 and 0 wins for the Vega 64X. There are no benchmark categories where the AMD part comes out ahead. The margin is large enough that no other test would likely flip the overall result, but the recorded data only includes this single OpenCL comparison.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous. The NVIDIA PG506-232 is the faster compute GPU by a wide margin, with 186.9% higher OpenCL performance than the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X. The PG506-232 also ranks in the 99th percentile across all GPUs, while the Vega 64X ranks in the 92nd.

The PG506-232 offers more memory (24 GB versus 16 GB), higher bandwidth (933.1 GB/s versus 512.0 GB/s), a newer architecture (Ampere versus GCN 5.0), a smaller process node (7 nm versus 14 nm), and lower power draw (165 W versus 250 W). It also includes tensor cores, which the Vega 64X lacks entirely.

The Vega 64X does have higher raw shader count (4,096 versus 3,584), higher FP32 throughput (12.03 TFLOPS versus 10.32 TFLOPS), and higher FP16 throughput (24.05 TFLOPS versus 10.32 TFLOPS). It also supports a full API stack including DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3, while the PG506-232 has no listed API support. However, these advantages do not translate into better OpenCL results.

For compute workloads, the PG506-232 is the clear choice based on the recorded benchmarks. The Vega 64X may be suitable for tasks where its API support or FP16 capabilities are relevant, but the measured performance gap is too large to ignore.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every major specification category. The PG506-232 uses the GA100 chip on Ampere architecture, while the Vega 64X uses Vega 10 on GCN 5.0. Process nodes are 7 nm versus 14 nm. Transistor counts are 54,200 million versus 12,500 million, and die sizes are 826 mm² versus 495 mm².

Clocks differ notably. The PG506-232 has a base clock of 930 MHz and boost of 1440 MHz. The Vega 64X has a higher base clock of 1250 MHz and boost of 1468 MHz. Memory clocks are 1215 MHz versus 1000 MHz.

Memory configuration: 24 GB HBM2 versus 16 GB HBM2, with bus widths of 3072-bit versus 2048-bit. Bandwidth is 933.1 GB/s versus 512.0 GB/s.

Compute units differ: 3,584 shading units, 224 TMUs, 96 ROPs, and 224 tensor cores on the PG506-232; 4,096 shading units, 256 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and no tensor cores on the Vega 64X.

Pixel and texture rates: 138.2 GPixel/s and 322.6 GTexel/s for the PG506-232; 93.95 GPixel/s and 375.8 GTexel/s for the Vega 64X.

FP32 and FP16: 10.32 TFLOPS for both on the PG506-232; 12.03 TFLOPS FP32 and 24.05 TFLOPS FP16 on the Vega 64X.

TDP is 165 W versus 250 W. Slot width is dual-slot versus IGP. Power connectors are 8-pin EPS versus none. Bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x16 versus PCIe 3.0 x16. Display outputs are absent versus "Portable Device Dependent."

Release dates differ: the PG506-232 launched on April 11, 2021, while the Vega 64X launched on March 18, 2019. The PG506-232 has a predecessor (Tesla Turing) and successor (Server Ada), while the Vega 64X has neither listed.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA PG506-232 wins in raw compute performance, as demonstrated by the 186.9% OpenCL advantage. It also wins on memory capacity, memory bandwidth, pixel fill rate, transistor density, power efficiency, and PCIe generation. Its 99th percentile ranking places it among the fastest GPUs in the database. It is well-suited for compute-heavy workloads that benefit from large HBM2 pools and high bandwidth, especially given its lower 165 W power draw.

The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X wins on shader count, FP32 throughput, FP16 throughput, texture fill rate, and API support. Its 24.05 TFLOPS FP16 figure is particularly notable, more than double its FP32 rate, which could benefit workloads that leverage packed math. It also has a higher base clock and boost clock. The Vega 64X's API support for DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3 makes it more flexible for graphics-oriented tasks, and its "Portable Device Dependent" display outputs suggest it was designed for integration into portable systems.

However, based strictly on the benchmark data, the PG506-232 is the stronger performer. The Vega 64X offers architectural features that may be relevant in specific scenarios, but the recorded OpenCL result shows a massive performance gap. Users prioritizing compute performance should choose the PG506-232. Users needing FP16 throughput, API compatibility, or a portable form factor may find the Vega 64X more appropriate, despite its lower overall score.