AMD Radeon RX 7800M vs NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 Comparison

The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 and AMD Radeon RX 7800M represent two vastly different approaches to graphics hardware, separated by six years of architectural evolution. The data shows a near-even split in benchmark wins, with the Quadro taking 5 tests and the Radeon taking 4, yet the nature of those victories tells a more nuanced story. The Quadro RTX 8000, a 2018 workstation titan, leans on its massive 48 GB memory pool and legacy driver optimizations, while the RX 7800M, a 2024 mobile part, counters with a denser 5 nm process and dramatically higher raw compute throughput. Neither card dominates outright; instead, the choice hinges on workload characteristics, API generation, and whether the user prioritizes raw shader performance or compatibility with older graphics pipelines.

The Verdict

From the benchmark data, the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 is the pick for users targeting DirectX 9, DirectX 10, and DirectX 11 workloads, where it leads by margins of 21.3%, 38.4%, and 6.8% respectively. It also holds a decisive 12.4% advantage in Passmark G3D and a 7% lead in GPU compute, making it the stronger candidate for general 3D rendering and compute tasks that rely on mature, single-threaded APIs. Its 74th percentile ranking versus all GPUs also edges out the Radeon's 73rd, and its average benchmark score of 28,421 sits 1.9% above the RX 7800M's 27,883.

The AMD Radeon RX 7800M wins the modern API and compute-adjacent tests: it is 15.6% faster in Geekbench OpenCL, 3.2% faster in Geekbench Vulkan, and 11.2% faster in DirectX 12. For users running current-gen games or Vulkan-based applications, the Radeon's higher boost clock and 5 nm efficiency make it the logical choice. However, its Passmark G3D score of 17,613 trails the Quadro by a wide margin, suggesting that its strengths are concentrated in specific, newer workloads rather than broad legacy compatibility. The verdict is clear: choose the Quadro for legacy API stability and compute density, choose the Radeon for modern API performance and lower power draw.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gulf between these two GPUs is stark. The Quadro RTX 8000 is built on NVIDIA's Turing architecture using a 12 nm process at TSMC, packing 18,600 million transistors onto a massive 754 mm² die. That yields a transistor density of 24.7 million per square millimeter. In contrast, the RX 7800M uses AMD's RDNA 3.0 architecture on a 5 nm process, also at TSMC, with 28,100 million transistors on a much smaller 346 mm² die, achieving a density of 81.2 million per square millimeter — over three times higher.

The compute configuration diverges significantly. The Quadro fields 4,608 shading units, 288 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, backed by 72 RT cores and 576 tensor cores. The Radeon counters with 3,840 shading units, 240 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, plus 60 RT cores but no tensor cores at all. Despite having fewer shading units, the Radeon's FP32 throughput is 35.87 TFLOPS versus the Quadro's 16.31 TFLOPS, a 120% advantage. The FP16 story is equally telling: the Quadro reaches 32.62 TFLOPS via a 2:1 ratio, while the Radeon matches its FP32 at 35.87 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio. Clock speeds tell a similar tale, with the Radeon boosting to 2335 MHz versus the Quadro's 1770 MHz, though the Quadro's base clock of 1395 MHz is higher than the Radeon's 1295 MHz. The Radeon also introduces a game clock of 2145 MHz, a concept absent from the Quadro's specifications.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest single win belongs to the NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 in Passmark DirectX 10, where it scores 137 against the Radeon's 99 — a 38.4% advantage. This is a legacy API test, and the Quadro's dominance here suggests its driver stack and hardware are heavily optimized for older DirectX pipelines. The Quadro also wins Passmark DirectX 9 by 21.3% (211 vs 174) and DirectX 11 by 6.8% (188 vs 176), reinforcing its strength in traditional rasterization workloads.

The AMD Radeon RX 7800M strikes back hardest in Geekbench OpenCL, scoring 120,778 against the Quadro's 101,883, a 15.6% margin. This is a compute-oriented test, and the Radeon's higher FP32 throughput directly translates to a win. In Geekbench Vulkan, the Radeon leads by a narrower 3.2% (126,668 vs 122,637), showing that its modern API performance is solid but not overwhelming. The Radeon also wins Passmark DirectX 12 by 11.2% (89 vs 79), a test that favors its newer architecture. In Passmark G2D, the Radeon edges ahead by 2.9% (892 vs 866), a minor but consistent win.

However, the Quadro dominates the overall 3D picture. Its Passmark G3D score of 19,799 is 12.4% higher than the Radeon's 17,613, and its GPU compute score of 9,992 beats the Radeon's 9,342 by 7%. These two wins are arguably more important than the API-specific tests, as they represent aggregate performance across a wide range of 3D and compute scenarios. The Quadro's average benchmark score of 28,421 also exceeds the Radeon's 27,883, confirming its edge in overall performance.

Specification Differences

The memory configurations are the most dramatic divergence. The Quadro RTX 8000 ships with 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus, delivering 672.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RX 7800M has 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, yielding 432.0 GB/s. This 4x capacity difference and 55.6% bandwidth advantage are critical for large datasets, but the Radeon's memory runs at 18 Gbps effective versus the Quadro's 14 Gbps, partially offsetting the bandwidth gap. The Quadro's memory clock is 1750 MHz, while the Radeon's is 2250 MHz.

Power and physical design differ sharply. The Quadro has a 260 W TDP, requires a dual-slot cooler, and uses 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin power connectors with a suggested 600 W PSU. The Radeon, as a mobile IGP part, has a 180 W TDP, no slot width (IGP), and no power connectors, with no suggested PSU listed. The Quadro measures 267 mm in length and 111 mm in height, while the Radeon has no listed dimensions. The Quadro uses PCIe 3.0 x16, while the Radeon uses PCIe 4.0 x16, doubling the interface bandwidth. Display outputs also differ: the Quadro offers 4x DisplayPort 1.4a plus 1x USB Type-C, while the Radeon's outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent."

The Quadro's production status is end-of-life, released on 2018-08-12, with a successor in Workstation Ampere. The Radeon is active, released on 2024-09-10, with no successor listed. The Quadro's predecessor is Quadro Volta, while the Radeon's is Polaris Mobile. The Quadro has a launch MSRP of 9,999 USD; the Radeon has no listed launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 has 4,608 shading units, while the AMD Radeon RX 7800M has 3,840. Despite having 16.7% more shading units, the Quadro's FP32 throughput of 16.31 TFLOPS is less than half of the Radeon's 35.87 TFLOPS.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference?

A: The Quadro RTX 8000 has 48 GB of GDDR6, while the RX 7800M has 12 GB. This 4x capacity advantage for the Quadro comes with a 672.0 GB/s bandwidth versus the Radeon's 432.0 GB/s, a 55.6% difference.

Q: How do they compare in DirectX 12 performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7800M wins Passmark DirectX 12 with a score of 89, beating the Quadro's 79 by 11.2%. This is one of the Radeon's four benchmark wins, reflecting its newer architecture's better support for modern APIs.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7800M boosts to 2335 MHz, compared to the Quadro RTX 8000's 1770 MHz. The Radeon also has a game clock of 2145 MHz, while the Quadro has no game clock specification.

Q: What is the transistor density difference?

A: The Radeon RX 7800M achieves 81.2 million transistors per square millimeter on its 346 mm² die, versus the Quadro's 24.7 million per square millimeter on a 754 mm² die. This is a 3.3x density advantage for the Radeon, enabled by the 5 nm process versus 12 nm.

Q: Which GPU has a higher Passmark G3D score?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 scores 19,799 in Passmark G3D, which is 12.4% higher than the Radeon's 17,613. This is the Quadro's largest win in the aggregate 3D benchmark.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Quadro RTX 8000 wins in scenarios dominated by legacy DirectX APIs. Its 38.4% lead in DirectX 10 and 21.3% lead in DirectX 9 suggest it is the safer choice for older enterprise applications, CAD software, or industrial rendering pipelines that have not migrated to modern APIs. Its 12.4% G3D win and 7% GPU compute win also make it the better option for general-purpose 3D rendering and compute tasks that do not rely on Vulkan or OpenCL optimizations. The 48 GB memory pool is a decisive factor for workloads involving massive textures, scientific visualization, or machine learning datasets that exceed the Radeon's 12 GB capacity.

The AMD Radeon RX 7800M wins in modern, forward-looking workloads. Its 15.6% OpenCL lead and 11.2% DirectX 12 lead position it as the stronger choice for current-generation gaming, Vulkan-based applications, and compute tasks that leverage FP32 throughput. The 3.2% Vulkan win further cements its relevance for cross-platform engines. Its 5 nm process and 180 W TDP make it far more power-efficient, and the PCIe 4.0 interface provides double the bus bandwidth of the Quadro's PCIe 3.0. For users prioritizing portability, lower power draw, and compatibility with the latest graphics APIs, the Radeon is the clear victor.

The data ultimately shows a generational split: the Quadro dominates the past, the Radeon dominates the present. The Quadro's 5 wins versus the Radeon's 4 wins in head-to-head tests, combined with its higher average benchmark score and percentile ranking, make it the overall performance leader. Yet the Radeon's wins are in the tests that matter most for future-proofing. The choice is not about which card is "better" — it is about which era of software you need to run.