AMD Radeon RX 9060 vs AMD Steam Machine GPU Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 and the AMD Steam Machine GPU share a striking amount of underlying hardware, but the recorded data shows a clear separation in performance. The RX 9060, built on Navi 44 with RDNA 4.0 architecture, delivers a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3322. The Steam Machine GPU, using Navi 33 with RDNA 3.0, has no comparable benchmark entries in the database. Across the available synthetic workloads, the RX 9060 posts an average benchmark score of 16014, placing it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs. The Steam Machine GPU sits at the 50th percentile with an average score of zero, reflecting an absence of recorded test results rather than a lack of capability.

Looking at compute-oriented workloads, the RX 9060 produces a Geekbench OpenCL score of 88183 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 39476. The Steam Machine GPU has no such entries. The RX 9060 also shows a Passmark G3D score of 17631 and a Passmark GPU Compute score of 9919. In older DirectX tests, the RX 9060 reaches 104 in Passmark DirectX 10, 182 in DirectX 11, 44 in DirectX 12, and 280 in DirectX 9. Its Passmark G2D score is 1002. None of these figures have a counterpart in the Steam Machine GPU database record.

The nearest rivals for the RX 9060 provide context for interpreting its scores. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti averages 16129 points, which is 0.7% higher than the RX 9060. The AMD Radeon R9 370X averages 15862, putting it 1% below the RX 9060. The AMD Radeon RX 7700 averages 15852, also 1% lower. The AMD Radeon Pro W5500 averages 15679, a 2.1% gap. These deltas indicate that the RX 9060 sits in a competitive band where small percentage differences separate it from several established cards.

The Steam Machine GPU, by contrast, has no nearest rivals listed and no benchmark scores, so direct numerical comparison between the two AMD parts is impossible from the database alone. What can be compared are the hardware specifications that drive performance. The RX 9060 uses a 4 nm process from TSMC with 29,700 million transistors on a 199 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 149.2 million per square millimeter. The Steam Machine GPU uses a 6 nm TSMC process with 13,300 million transistors on a 204 mm² die, for a density of 65.2 million per square millimeter. The RX 9060's smaller, denser chip delivers higher clock rates: a base of 1700 MHz, a boost of 2990 MHz, and a game clock of 2400 MHz. The Steam Machine GPU runs at 1720 MHz base, 2450 MHz boost, and 2250 MHz game clock. Higher boost and game clocks on the RX 9060 translate directly into higher peak throughput.

Peak theoretical performance numbers reinforce this. The RX 9060 reaches 21.43 TFLOPS FP32 and 21.43 TFLOPS FP16, with a pixel rate of 191.4 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 334.9 GTexel/s. The Steam Machine GPU delivers 17.56 TFLOPS FP32 and 17.56 TFLOPS FP16, a pixel rate of 156.8 GPixel/s, and a texture rate of 274.4 GTexel/s. That puts the RX 9060 roughly 22% ahead in FP32 throughput, 22% ahead in pixel fill, and 22% ahead in texture fill, based on the recorded figures. Both cards share 1792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, 64 ROPs, and 28 RT cores, so the performance gap comes from clock speeds and architecture generation rather than raw unit counts.

Memory subsystems are identical on paper. Both use 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth and an effective memory clock of 18 Gbps. The RX 9060 lists a memory clock of 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective, and the Steam Machine GPU lists the same. This means bandwidth is not a differentiator. The RX 9060 pulls ahead purely through its faster shader execution and newer RDNA 4.0 instruction set.

The Verdict

The database indicates that the AMD Radeon RX 9060 is the higher-performing part when comparing architectural specifications and recorded benchmarks. It posts a 59th percentile standing among all GPUs, while the Steam Machine GPU holds a 50th percentile ranking with no benchmark data. The RX 9060's average benchmark score of 16014 places it within 1% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and the AMD Radeon RX 7700, confirming it as a solid mid-range performer. The Steam Machine GPU's lack of recorded scores means no equivalent positioning can be established from measurements.

Users who need a discrete graphics card for a desktop PC should look to the RX 9060. It offers a boost clock of 2990 MHz, a game clock of 2400 MHz, 21.43 TFLOPS FP32, and a dual-slot design with a single 8-pin power connector and a 300 W suggested PSU. Its active production status and PCIe 5.0 x16 interface make it suitable for modern desktop builds. The Steam Machine GPU, with its 110 W TDP, no power connectors, and compact dimensions of 156 mm by 152 mm by 162 mm, appears designed for an embedded console form factor. Its 2450 MHz boost clock and 17.56 TFLOPS FP32 are respectable but lower than the RX 9060. The Steam Machine GPU also lists no bus interface, no slot width, and no suggested PSU, reinforcing its role as a fixed console component rather than a user-upgradeable card.

For anyone comparing the two as potential purchases, the RX 9060 is the only one with measurable performance data. The Steam Machine GPU may be adequate for its intended console environment, but the absence of benchmark entries means no validated claim can be made about its real-world speed. The RX 9060's recorded scores, including its 3322 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and 17631 in Passmark G3D, provide concrete evidence of capability. The Steam Machine GPU offers none.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different generations of AMD's RDNA architecture. The RX 9060 uses RDNA 4.0, codenamed Strix Point, on the Navi 44 chip. The Steam Machine GPU uses RDNA 3.0, codenamed Hotpink Bonefish, on the Navi 33 chip. This generational gap explains several key differences beyond raw clock speeds.

Manufacturing process is a major divider. The RX 9060 is fabricated on TSMC's 4 nm node with 29,700 million transistors packed into a 199 mm² die. The Steam Machine GPU uses TSMC's 6 nm node with 13,300 million transistors on a slightly larger 204 mm² die. The RX 9060's transistor density of 149.2 million per square millimeter is more than double the Steam Machine GPU's 65.2 million per square millimeter. That density advantage enables the RX 9060 to reach higher clocks while maintaining a 132 W TDP, only 22 W above the Steam Machine GPU's 110 W TDP.

Core counts are identical, which is unusual for GPUs from different generations. Both have 1792 shading units, 112 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and 28 RT cores. Neither part includes tensor cores, and both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The RX 9060 lists FP16 performance at 21.43 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio to FP32, and the Steam Machine GPU lists FP16 at 17.56 TFLOPS with the same 1:1 ratio.

Connectivity and power delivery differ substantially. The RX 9060 uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface, a dual-slot cooler, one 8-pin power connector, and a 300 W suggested PSU. The Steam Machine GPU has no bus interface listed, no slot width, no power connectors, and no suggested PSU. Its power delivery is presumably integrated into the console motherboard. Display outputs also differ: the RX 9060 provides one HDMI 2.1b port and two DisplayPort 2.1a ports, while the Steam Machine GPU provides one HDMI 2.1a port and one DisplayPort 2.1 port. The RX 9060 thus offers an extra display output and a newer HDMI revision.

Physical size is only specified for the Steam Machine GPU, measuring 156 mm in length, 152 mm in height, and 162 mm in width. The RX 9060 has no listed dimensions, only its dual-slot width. Release dates place the RX 9060 in 2025 and the Steam Machine GPU in 2026, so the Steam Machine GPU is the newer product despite using older architecture. The RX 9060's predecessor is listed as Navi III, while the Steam Machine GPU has no predecessor or successor. Both are in active production.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 9060 has a boost clock of 2990 MHz, compared to 2450 MHz for the AMD Steam Machine GPU.

Q: Do the two GPUs share the same memory configuration?

A: Yes, both use 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 288.0 GB/s bandwidth and an effective memory clock of 18 Gbps.

Q: How does the RX 9060 compare to its nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti?

A: The RTX 3060 Ti averages 16129 points, which is 0.7% higher than the RX 9060's average benchmark score of 16014.

Q: What is the FP32 throughput of each GPU?

A: The RX 9060 delivers 21.43 TFLOPS FP32, while the Steam Machine GPU delivers 17.56 TFLOPS FP32.

Q: Which GPU has a higher transistor density?

A: The RX 9060 has a transistor density of 149.2 million per square millimeter, more than double the Steam Machine GPU's 65.2 million per square millimeter.

Q: Does the Steam Machine GPU have any recorded benchmark scores?

A: No, the database lists no benchmark entries for the Steam Machine GPU, giving it an average benchmark score of zero.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 9060 wins in every category where measurable data exists. It has the higher boost clock at 2990 MHz versus 2450 MHz, the higher game clock at 2400 MHz versus 2250 MHz, and the higher base clock at 1700 MHz versus 1720 MHz, though the Steam Machine GPU edges it slightly on base clock. The RX 9060 leads in FP32 with 21.43 TFLOPS versus 17.56 TFLOPS, in pixel rate with 191.4 GPixel/s versus 156.8 GPixel/s, and in texture rate with 334.9 GTexel/s versus 274.4 GTexel/s. It also offers a newer architecture in RDNA 4.0, a smaller 4 nm process, and a denser transistor layout. Its recorded benchmark scores, including 3322 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 88183 in Geekbench OpenCL, 39476 in Geekbench Vulkan, and 17631 in Passmark G3D, give it a measurable performance profile that the Steam Machine GPU lacks.

The AMD Steam Machine GPU wins in power efficiency and physical integration. Its 110 W TDP is 22 W lower than the RX 9060's 132 W TDP. It requires no external power connectors, making it suitable for a sealed console design. Its compact dimensions of 156 mm by 152 mm by 162 mm fit a fixed enclosure, whereas the RX 9060 is a dual-slot expansion card with an 8-pin connector. The Steam Machine GPU also carries a newer release date in 2026, though it uses the older RDNA 3.0 architecture. For a console vendor needing a low-power, self-contained GPU, the Steam Machine GPU has structural advantages. For raw performance, the RX 9060 is the clear choice based on all available data.