AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT vs NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 Comparison

The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 and AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT represent two very different approaches to graphics hardware, separated by five years of architectural evolution. The data shows the AMD card wins 8 of 10 head-to-head benchmarks, but the NVIDIA card takes a decisive victory in one key API test. The Quadro RTX 4000 holds a 63% lead in Geekbench Vulkan, while the RX 7600 XT counters with a 31.3% advantage in Passmark GPU Compute. The average benchmark scores are close — 17,789 for NVIDIA versus 17,083 for AMD — but their performance profiles could not be more distinct.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data, the AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT is the stronger overall performer for most workloads. It wins the modern DirectX 12 test (3DMark Steel Nomad) by 20.2%, the OpenCL compute test by 19.4%, and the Passmark G3D test by 11.8%. The RX 7600 XT also leads in DirectX 11 (23.4%), DirectX 12 (20%), DirectX 9 (10.1%), and 2D graphics (17.9%). Its compute advantage is substantial: the 8,987 Passmark GPU Compute score versus 6,176 represents a 31.3% gap. The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000, however, dominates in Vulkan with a 63% lead (78,844 versus 48,366) and wins the legacy DirectX 10 test by 27.1%.

For users prioritizing Vulkan-based applications or legacy DirectX 10 workloads, the Quadro RTX 4000 is the clear choice despite its age. For everything else — particularly compute-heavy tasks and modern DirectX 12 gaming — the RX 7600 XT is the data-supported pick. The AMD card also comes with 16 GB of memory versus 8 GB, which matters for large datasets, though the NVIDIA card has a wider 256-bit memory bus delivering 416.0 GB/s versus 288.0 GB/s.

Where Each One Wins

The RX 7600 XT wins across the broadest range of scenarios. Its Passmark G3D score of 17,132 versus 15,117 suggests better overall rasterization performance in typical 3D workloads. The 3DMark Steel Nomad result (2,348 versus 1,873) confirms this holds in modern DirectX 12 titles. Compute is where the AMD card truly separates itself: the 31.3% GPU Compute lead indicates significantly stronger raw throughput for tasks like rendering, physics simulations, or data processing. The 22.57 TFLOPS FP32 figure versus 7.119 TFLOPS explains this advantage.

The Quadro RTX 4000 wins where API compatibility matters most. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 78,844 is remarkable — 63% ahead of the RX 7600 XT's 48,366. This suggests NVIDIA's Turing architecture has superior Vulkan driver optimization or hardware scheduling. The DirectX 10 win (108 versus 85) indicates better backward compatibility with older applications. For professional environments running legacy software or Vulkan-based engines, the Quadro's 288 tensor cores and 36 RT cores provide features the AMD card lacks entirely (tensor cores) or has fewer of (32 RT cores).

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different eras and design philosophies. The Quadro RTX 4000 uses the TU104 chip on TSMC's 12 nm process, with 13,600 million transistors on a 545 mm² die. The RX 7600 XT uses Navi 33 on TSMC's 6 nm process, packing 13,300 million transistors into just 204 mm². The transistor density tells the story: 25.0M per mm² for NVIDIA versus 65.2M per mm² for AMD. This is a 2.6x density advantage for the newer process.

Clock speeds reflect these architectural differences. The Quadro RTX 4000 runs at a 1005 MHz base and 1545 MHz boost. The RX 7600 XT operates at 1980 MHz base, 2470 MHz game clock, and 2755 MHz boost — nearly double the NVIDIA card's frequencies. The AMD card's FP32 throughput of 22.57 TFLOPS is more than triple the Quadro's 7.119 TFLOPS. However, the Quadro has more shading units (2,304 versus 2,048), more TMUs (144 versus 128), and equal ROPs (64). The NVIDIA card also has 288 tensor cores, which the AMD card lacks entirely.

Memory configurations differ significantly. The Quadro RTX 4000 has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, achieving 416.0 GB/s bandwidth. The RX 7600 XT has 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, achieving 288.0 GB/s. The NVIDIA card has 44% more bandwidth, but the AMD card has twice the capacity. The RX 7600 XT also supports PCIe 4.0 x8, while the Quadro uses PCIe 3.0 x16. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

FAQ

Q: Which card has better overall benchmark performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT wins 8 of 10 head-to-head benchmarks, including the modern 3DMark Steel Nomad test by 20.2% and Passmark GPU Compute by 31.3%. Its average benchmark score is 17,083 versus 17,789 for NVIDIA, but the AMD card's wins are more substantial and cover more test categories.

Q: Why does the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 win the Vulkan test by so much?

A: The Geekbench Vulkan score shows a 63% advantage for the Quadro (78,844 versus 48,366). This likely stems from NVIDIA's Turing architecture having dedicated tensor cores and RT cores that may accelerate certain Vulkan workloads, combined with mature driver optimization for that API.

Q: Which card has more memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 has 416.0 GB/s bandwidth from its 256-bit memory bus, compared to 288.0 GB/s from the AMD card's 128-bit bus. However, the AMD card has 16 GB total memory versus 8 GB, offering more capacity for large textures or datasets.

Q: What is the performance difference in compute workloads?

A: The RX 7600 XT leads Passmark GPU Compute by 31.3% (8,987 versus 6,176) and OpenCL by 19.4% (92,426 versus 74,540). The AMD card's 22.57 TFLOPS FP32 output versus 7.119 TFLOPS for NVIDIA explains this substantial compute advantage.

Q: Are these cards comparable in modern DirectX 12 gaming?

A: The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test shows the RX 7600 XT leading by 20.2% (2,348 versus 1,873). The Passmark DirectX 12 test also favors AMD by 20% (65 versus 52). Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), but the AMD card performs better in these specific tests.

Q: Which card is better for legacy API support?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 wins DirectX 10 by 27.1% (108 versus 85), but the AMD card wins DirectX 9 by 10.1% (228 versus 205) and DirectX 11 by 23.4% (167 versus 128). The results are mixed, with each card having strengths in different legacy APIs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single victory belongs to the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 in Geekbench Vulkan, where its 78,844 score crushes the AMD card's 48,366 — a 63% delta. This is the most dramatic result in the entire comparison and suggests the Quadro's Turing architecture handles Vulkan's explicit control model exceptionally well. The NVIDIA card also takes DirectX 10 (108 versus 85, a 27.1% lead), showing its legacy API compatibility remains strong.

The AMD Radeon RX 7600 XT's biggest win is in Passmark GPU Compute, where 8,987 versus 6,176 represents a 31.3% advantage. This aligns with the OpenCL result (92,426 versus 74,540, a 19.4% lead) and the FP32 throughput difference. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test shows a 20.2% lead for AMD (2,348 versus 1,873), confirming modern gaming performance favors the newer architecture. The DirectX 11 test shows AMD ahead by 23.4% (167 versus 128), and even the 2D test goes AMD's way by 17.9% (1,030 versus 846).

The Passmark G3D score (17,132 versus 15,117) gives AMD an 11.8% overall 3D performance lead. The DirectX 9 result (228 versus 205) shows a 10.1% AMD advantage. The only other NVIDIA win is DirectX 10, giving the Quadro 2 wins total versus AMD's 8 wins. The closest result is the DirectX 12 test, where AMD's 65 barely edges NVIDIA's 52 — a 20% difference that is actually one of the larger margins in the suite.

Specification Differences

The process node difference is stark: 12 nm for NVIDIA versus 6 nm for AMD. This drives the die size disparity (545 mm² versus 204 mm²) and transistor density (25.0M/mm² versus 65.2M/mm²). The clock speeds differ dramatically — AMD's 2755 MHz boost versus NVIDIA's 1545 MHz boost. The FP32 compute is 22.57 TFLOPS for AMD versus 7.119 TFLOPS for NVIDIA, and FP16 is 22.57 TFLOPS (1:1) for AMD versus 14.24 TFLOPS (2:1) for NVIDIA.

Memory capacity differs: 16 GB for AMD versus 8 GB for NVIDIA. The bus width is 128-bit for AMD versus 256-bit for NVIDIA, resulting in 288.0 GB/s versus 416.0 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD card has 2,048 shading units and 128 TMUs, while NVIDIA has 2,304 shading units and 144 TMUs. Both have 64 ROPs. The NVIDIA card has 36 RT cores and 288 tensor cores; AMD has 32 RT cores and no tensor cores.

The TDP is 160 W for NVIDIA versus 190 W for AMD, with both using a single 8-pin connector and 450 W suggested PSU. The Quadro is single-slot (241 mm length), while the RX 7600 XT is dual-slot (204 mm length). Display outputs differ: NVIDIA offers 3x DisplayPort 1.4a plus USB Type-C, while AMD offers 1x HDMI 2.1a plus 3x DisplayPort 2.1. The bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x16 for NVIDIA and PCIe 4.0 x8 for AMD. The NVIDIA card is end-of-life with a launch MSRP of 899 USD, while the AMD card is active with a launch MSRP of 329 USD.