AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark data presents a clear split between these two GPUs depending on the API tested. In Geekbench Metal, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 dominates with a score of 17086 against the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670's 7424, a massive 130.1% advantage. This is the single largest margin in any test and reflects the AMD part's much stronger showing in Apple's Metal API.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 strikes back in the other two workloads. In Geekbench OpenCL, the GTX 670 scores 15341 versus 12525 for the RX Vega 11, an 18.4% lead. The Vulkan test tells a similar story: the GTX 670 posts 15553 while the RX Vega 11 manages 13543, a 12.9% edge for NVIDIA. These results indicate that the RX Vega 11's Metal performance is exceptional, but its OpenCL and Vulkan output trails the older discrete card.

Averaging across all three tests, the RX Vega 11 lands at 14385, while the GTX 670 averages 12773. The RX Vega 11 sits at the 56th percentile of all GPUs in the database, four points higher than the GTX 670's 52nd percentile. The RX Vega 11's average score places it within 0.1% of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN and 0.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon Vega 11, while the GTX 670's average is 0.4% behind the GTX 590 and 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT.

The win count is 1 for the RX Vega 11 and 2 for the GTX 670, but the magnitude of the AMD victory in Metal outweighs the narrower NVIDIA wins in OpenCL and Vulkan when considering overall averages.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score in the database?

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 has an average benchmark score of 14385, which is 12.9% higher than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670's average score of 12773.

Q: How do these two GPUs compare in Geekbench Vulkan?

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 scores 15553 in Geekbench Vulkan, while the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 scores 13543. The GTX 670 is 12.9% ahead of the RX Vega 11 in this test.

Q: What is the difference in Geekbench Metal scores?

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 scores 17086 in Geekbench Metal, compared to 7424 for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670. This represents a 130.1% advantage for the AMD part, its only head-to-head win.

Q: Which GPU has the better overall percentile ranking?

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 ranks at the 56th percentile of all GPUs in the database, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 ranks at the 52nd percentile.

Q: In which benchmark does the NVIDIA card perform the best relative to the AMD card?

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 has its largest relative advantage in Geekbench OpenCL, where it scores 15341 against the RX Vega 11's 12525, an 18.4% lead.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each GPU based on average score?

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN (0.1% higher average score) and the AMD Radeon Vega 11 (0.2% higher). The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670's nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro 455 (0.4% higher) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 (0.4% higher).

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from completely different architectural eras and design philosophies. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 is an integrated graphics processor built on the Picasso chip using GCN 5.0 architecture, fabricated on a 12 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It packs 704 shading units, 44 texture mapping units, and only 8 ROPs. The GTX 670, by contrast, is a discrete GPU built on the GK104 chip using NVIDIA's Kepler architecture, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It carries 1344 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 32 ROPs.

The transistor counts tell an interesting story. AMD's Picasso chip contains 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 23.5 million per square millimeter. NVIDIA's GK104 contains 3,540 million transistors on a larger 294 mm² die, resulting in a density of 12.0 million per square millimeter. The smaller 12 nm process gives AMD a clear density advantage, but the GTX 670's larger die still houses more shading hardware.

Clock speeds also differ substantially. The RX Vega 11 runs at a base clock of 300 MHz with a boost clock of 1400 MHz, a wide dynamic range typical of an integrated part. The GTX 670 runs at 915 MHz base and 980 MHz boost, much tighter and higher at the floor. Memory configurations are fundamentally different: the RX Vega 11 uses system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth, while the GTX 670 has dedicated 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256 bit bus with 192.3 GB/s of bandwidth.

The RX Vega 11 supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The GTX 670 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The AMD part has a newer Vulkan version and a higher DirectX feature level, though NVIDIA's card predates it by seven years in release timing.

The Verdict

The data supports a nuanced conclusion. For Metal-based workloads, the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 is the clear winner with a 130.1% lead in Geekbench Metal, and its average score of 14385 puts it ahead of the GTX 670's 12773 by roughly 12.6%. The RX Vega 11 also holds a higher percentile ranking at 56 versus 52.

However, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 wins the two compute-oriented tests that matter for many real-world tasks. In Geekbench OpenCL, it leads by 18.4%, and in Geekbench Vulkan, it leads by 12.9%. If the workload relies on OpenCL or Vulkan rather than Metal, the GTX 670 is the stronger choice despite its lower average.

The RX Vega 11's nearest rival, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, sits within 0.1% of its average score, meaning the integrated AMD part performs at the level of one of NVIDIA's most famous flagship cards from the same era. The GTX 670, meanwhile, sits within 0.4% of the GTX 590 and 0.5% of the AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT, a much more modern discrete mobile GPU. This places the GTX 670 in a different performance tier despite its age.

For users prioritizing Metal performance or seeking a lower-power integrated solution, the RX Vega 11 is the data-backed pick. For users running OpenCL or Vulkan compute, the GTX 670's higher raw throughput in those APIs makes it the more capable card.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every major specification category. The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 uses a 12 nm process, while the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 uses 28 nm. AMD's chip is the Picasso with 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die, while NVIDIA's GK104 has 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die. Transistor density favors AMD at 23.5M per mm² versus 12.0M per mm² for NVIDIA.

Clock speeds show a different pattern: the RX Vega 11 has a 300 MHz base and 1400 MHz boost, while the GTX 670 has a 915 MHz base and 980 MHz boost. Memory is system shared for the AMD part, while the GTX 670 has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 256 bit bus with 192.3 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD card has 704 shading units, 44 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The NVIDIA card has 1344 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 32 ROPs.

Pixel and texture rates reflect these differences. The GTX 670 achieves 27.44 GPixel/s and 109.8 GTexel/s, while the RX Vega 11 manages 11.20 GPixel/s and 61.60 GTexel/s. FP32 performance favors NVIDIA at 2.634 TFLOPS versus 1.971 TFLOPS, and the AMD part offers FP16 at 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1) while the GTX 670 has no FP16 data recorded.

Power and physical specifications diverge sharply. The RX Vega 11 has a TDP of 15 W, is an IGP with no power connectors, and has motherboard dependent display outputs. The GTX 670 has a TDP of 170 W, is a dual-slot card requiring 2x 6-pin power connectors and a 450 W suggested PSU, and offers 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs. The GTX 670 measures 241 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 38 mm in width. The RX Vega 11 has no recorded dimensions since it is integrated.

API support differs in DirectX and Vulkan versions. The RX Vega 11 supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3, while the GTX 670 supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. Both support OpenGL 4.6. Release dates are far apart: the RX Vega 11 launched in July 2019, while the GTX 670 launched in May 2012. The GTX 670 has a recorded launch MSRP of 399 USD.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 wins decisively in Metal API workloads, as shown by its 130.1% advantage in Geekbench Metal. It also wins on average benchmark score, percentile ranking, and overall efficiency metrics like TDP, transistor density, and FP16 capability. For users in Metal-centric environments, particularly those running macOS or Metal-based applications, this is the card to select.

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 wins in OpenCL and Vulkan workloads, with leads of 18.4% and 12.9% respectively. It also wins on raw shading hardware, memory bandwidth, pixel fill rate, and texture fill rate. The GTX 670's dedicated 2 GB GDDR5 memory with 192.3 GB/s bandwidth provides a major advantage over system shared memory in memory-bound tasks. Its 1344 shading units, 112 TMUs, and 32 ROPs give it substantially more parallel throughput capacity than the RX Vega 11's 704 shading units, 44 TMUs, and 8 ROPs.

The RX Vega 11 is the better choice for integrated, low-power systems where the 15 W TDP and lack of power connectors are major benefits. The GTX 670 is the better choice for discrete GPU installations where a dual-slot card with 2x 6-pin connectors and a 450 W PSU is acceptable. The RX Vega 11's newer Vulkan 1.3 support and DirectX 12_1 feature level make it more future-proof on the API front, while the GTX 670's higher FP32 and texture throughput make it stronger for traditional compute workloads.

In practical terms, the RX Vega 11 fits into compact or laptop-class builds where power draw is critical, while the GTX 670 belongs in a desktop with room for a 241 mm card and adequate power delivery. The data does not crown a single overall winner; it identifies two different tools for two different jobs.