AMD Radeon Vega 8 vs NVIDIA Quadro 6000 Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data presents a clear, if narrow, split between these two GPUs. The NVIDIA Quadro 6000 takes a single, decisive victory in the only benchmark where both products were tested head-to-head. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the Quadro 6000 scores 9,846 points against the Radeon Vega 8’s 8,822 points, a margin of 11.6%. This is the sole win for the NVIDIA product in the provided data, but it is a significant one, placing the Quadro 6000 in a higher performance tier for compute workloads that leverage the OpenCL API.

Conversely, the AMD Radeon Vega 8 does not win any of the direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons. However, its benchmark portfolio is broader, with results across three different APIs. Its strongest showing is in the Geekbench Metal test, where it scores 10,706 points, which is notably higher than the Quadro 6000’s only recorded score. This suggests that in environments utilizing the Metal graphics API, the Vega 8 holds a distinct performance advantage. Its OpenCL score of 8,822 is its second-best result, and its Vulkan score of 8,134 is its lowest, yet all three scores are within a relatively close band. The data points to a scenario where the Quadro 6000 is the stronger choice for OpenCL-centric applications, while the Vega 8 demonstrates superior performance in the Metal ecosystem.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectural philosophies and process technologies. The NVIDIA Quadro 6000 is a professional-grade discrete card from the Fermi generation, fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC. This older, larger process results in a die size of 529 mm², housing 3,100 million transistors. The architecture is designed for maximum throughput in professional compute workloads, with a configuration of 448 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units. Its memory subsystem consists of a dedicated 6 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 143.4 GB/s, and it is rated for a 204 W TDP.

In contrast, the AMD Radeon Vega 8 is a modern integrated graphics processor (IGP) from the GCN 5.0 architecture, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The entire Raven chip, including the CPU cores, measures just 210 mm² but contains 4,940 million transistors, reflecting a much higher transistor density. The Vega 8 has 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, but only 8 ROPs. Unlike the Quadro's dedicated VRAM, it relies on System Shared memory, making its bandwidth System Dependent. Its power envelope is drastically lower, with a 25 W TDP, and it operates as an IGP with no dedicated power connectors. The feature set also diverges, with the Vega 8 supporting Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_1), while the Quadro 6000 lists no Vulkan support and DirectX 12 (11_0). Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it provides a definitive result. The NVIDIA Quadro 6000 achieves a score of 9,846, while the AMD Radeon Vega 8 scores 8,822. This represents an 11.6% advantage for the Quadro 6000, a substantial lead in this compute-oriented test. The Quadro’s dedicated 143.4 GB/s of memory bandwidth and its 48 ROPs likely contribute to this result, as OpenCL workloads often stress memory throughput and rasterization capabilities. The Vega 8’s reliance on system memory, whose bandwidth is System Dependent, puts it at a disadvantage here.

While there are no other direct head-to-head results, the Vega 8’s performance in other APIs provides a broader context. Its Geekbench Metal score of 10,706 is 8.7% higher than the Quadro 6000’s OpenCL score, indicating that the AMD part is not a slouch in absolute terms. However, the direct comparison shows that in a shared test environment, the NVIDIA architecture is the faster of the two. The Quadro 6000’s nearest rivals in the overall database include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 with a score of 9,780, a 0.7% difference, and the GeForce GTX 870M at 9,959, which is 1.1% faster, placing its performance firmly in the mid-range of modern GPUs.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro 6000 is faster, scoring 9,846 points compared to the AMD Radeon Vega 8’s 8,822 points, a difference of 11.6%.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon Vega 8 perform better in any benchmark?

A: The Radeon Vega 8 does not win the direct head-to-head benchmark. However, its Geekbench Metal score of 10,706 is higher than the Quadro 6000’s OpenCL score of 9,846, suggesting a potential advantage in Metal-based applications.

Q: How does the memory configuration differ between the two?

A: The Quadro 6000 has a dedicated 6 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 384-bit bus with 143.4 GB/s bandwidth. The Vega 8 uses System Shared memory, with its bandwidth being System Dependent.

Q: What are the power consumption figures for each GPU?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro 6000 has a TDP of 204 W, while the AMD Radeon Vega 8 has a TDP of just 25 W.

Q: What is the process node for each chip?

A: The Quadro 6000 is built on a 40 nm process, while the Vega 8 utilises a more modern 14 nm process.

Q: How does the Vega 8’s performance compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The Vega 8’s average benchmark score of 9,221 is 0.1% higher than the AMD Radeon 890M (9,210) and 0.6% lower than the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 (9,273).

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two products, highlighting their distinct design goals.

• Architecture: NVIDIA Fermi vs. AMD GCN 5.0
• Process Node: 40 nm vs. 14 nm
• Foundry: TSMC vs. GlobalFoundries
• Transistors: 3,100 million vs. 4,940 million
• Die Size: 529 mm² vs. 210 mm²
• Transistor Density: 5.9M / mm² vs. 23.5M / mm²
• Shading Units: 448 vs. 512
• Texture Mapping Units: 56 vs. 32
• Render Output Units: 48 vs. 8
• Pixel Rate: 16.07 GPixel/s vs. 8.800 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 32.14 GTexel/s vs. 35.20 GTexel/s
• FP32 Performance: 1,027.7 GFLOPS vs. 1,126.4 GFLOPS
• FP16 Performance: Not specified vs. 2.253 TFLOPS (2:1)
• Memory Size: 6 GB vs. System Shared
• Memory Type: GDDR5 vs. System Shared
• Memory Bus Width: 384 bit vs. System Shared
• Memory Bandwidth: 143.4 GB/s vs. System Dependent
• Memory Clock: 747 MHz / 3 Gbps effective vs. System Shared
• Base Clock: Not specified vs. 300 MHz
• Boost Clock: Not specified vs. 1100 MHz
• TDP: 204 W vs. 25 W
• Slot Width: Dual-slot vs. IGP
• Power Connectors: 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin vs. None
• Suggested PSU: 550 W vs. Not specified
• Bus Interface: PCIe 2.0 x16 vs. IGP
• Display Outputs: 1x DVI, 2x DisplayPort, 1x S-Video vs. Motherboard Dependent
• DirectX Support: 12 (11_0) vs. 12 (12_1)
• Vulkan Support: Not specified vs. 1.3
• Release Date: 2010-12-09 vs. 2018-02-11
• Predecessor: Quadro FX Tesla vs. GCN 3.0 IGP
• Successor: Quadro Kepler vs. Vega II IGP
• Launch MSRP: 4,399 USD vs. Not specified

The Verdict

The data supports a clear choice based on the user’s priorities. The NVIDIA Quadro 6000 is the definitive winner for OpenCL-based compute tasks. Its 11.6% lead over the Vega 8 in the Geekbench OpenCL test is a substantial margin, and its dedicated 143.4 GB/s memory subsystem is a significant advantage for bandwidth-intensive workloads. This card is positioned for professional environments where raw compute throughput in OpenCL is paramount, despite its older architecture and higher 204 W power draw.

The AMD Radeon Vega 8, while losing the direct comparison, is the more versatile and modern part in terms of API support. Its support for Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_1) surpasses the Quadro’s feature set. Furthermore, its higher Geekbench Metal score of 10,706 points suggests it is the superior choice for any application that can utilise Apple’s Metal API. With a 25 W TDP and no power connectors, it is also a starkly more power-efficient solution, making it ideal for compact, low-power systems. A user needing maximum OpenCL performance and dedicated VRAM should opt for the Quadro 6000, while those prioritising modern API support, power efficiency, and Metal performance should select the Radeon Vega 8.