AMD Radeon VII vs NVIDIA Quadro GP100 Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available between the NVIDIA Quadro GP100 and the AMD Radeon VII is Geekbench OpenCL, and the result is decisive. The AMD Radeon VII scores 91,947, while the NVIDIA Quadro GP100 trails at 87,445. That gives the Radeon VII a 4.9% lead in this compute-oriented workload. While a single test cannot define an entire product, the margin here is meaningful enough to suggest a real performance differential in OpenCL compute tasks.

Looking at the broader benchmark landscape, the Quadro GP100's average benchmark score of 87,445 places it at the 93rd percentile among all GPUs. Its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon PRO W7600 at 87,108 (0.4% behind) and the NVIDIA CMP 40HX at 85,637 (2.1% behind). On the upper end, the NVIDIA RTX A4500 Mobile reaches 91,134 (4% ahead) and the NVIDIA RTX A4500 hits 91,671 (4.6% ahead). This positioning suggests the Quadro GP100 sits in a competitive mid-to-high tier, but it is clearly not at the top of the stack.

The Radeon VII, meanwhile, posts an average benchmark score of 66,004, which places it at the 90th percentile. However, this average figure is dragged down by the inclusion of multiple benchmark types, including a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2,304 and a Geekbench Metal score of 77,975. Its Geekbench Vulkan score of 91,788 is nearly identical to its OpenCL result. The nearest rivals for the Radeon VII tell an interesting story: the NVIDIA Tesla T4 averages 66,733 (1.1% ahead), the NVIDIA Tesla P40 averages 65,095 (1.4% behind), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 9100 averages 64,212 (2.8% behind), and the NVIDIA CMP 30HX averages 63,842 (3.4% behind). The Radeon VII's raw OpenCL score of 91,947 is substantially higher than its average, indicating that it excels in specific compute workloads while underperforming in others.

The delta between the two cards in OpenCL is modest at 4.9%, but the architectural differences between them — which we will explore shortly — help explain why this gap exists and where each card might find its strengths.

# FAQ

Q: Which card wins the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon VII scores 91,947, which is 4.9% higher than the NVIDIA Quadro GP100's 87,445. This is the only head-to-head benchmark available in the data.

Q: How does the Quadro GP100 compare to its nearest rivals in average benchmark score?

A: The Quadro GP100 averages 87,445, placing it 0.4% ahead of the AMD Radeon PRO W7600 (87,108) and 2.1% ahead of the NVIDIA CMP 40HX (85,637). It trails the NVIDIA RTX A4500 Mobile by 4% (91,134) and the NVIDIA RTX A4500 by 4.6% (91,671).

Q: What is the Radeon VII's average benchmark score and how does it rank?

A: The Radeon VII has an average benchmark score of 66,004, which puts it at the 90th percentile. This average includes a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 2,304, a Geekbench Metal score of 77,975, a Geekbench OpenCL score of 91,947, and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 91,788.

Q: Are there any architectural features like ray tracing or tensor cores on either card?

A: Neither card has ray tracing cores or tensor cores. Both the NVIDIA Quadro GP100 (Pascal architecture) and the AMD Radeon VII (GCN 5.1 architecture) lack these dedicated hardware units.

Q: Which card has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The AMD Radeon VII offers 1.02 TB/s of memory bandwidth, while the NVIDIA Quadro GP100 provides 732.2 GB/s. Both cards use 16 GB of HBM2 memory on a 4096-bit bus.

Q: How do the transistor densities compare between the two cards?

A: The Radeon VII, built on a 7 nm process, achieves a transistor density of 40.0M per mm² with 13,230 million transistors on a 331 mm² die. The Quadro GP100, using a 16 nm process, has a density of 25.1M per mm² with 15,300 million transistors on a 610 mm² die.

# Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two cards is substantial, beginning with the manufacturing process. The NVIDIA Quadro GP100 is built on TSMC's 16 nm process, while the AMD Radeon VII uses TSMC's 7 nm node. This process advantage allows the Radeon VII to pack 13,230 million transistors into a 331 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 40.0M per mm². The Quadro GP100, by contrast, houses 15,300 million transistors on a much larger 610 mm² die, yielding a density of just 25.1M per mm². The Radeon VII's density advantage is nearly 60% higher per square millimeter, which is a direct consequence of the more advanced process node.

The compute architectures themselves could hardly be more different. The Quadro GP100 uses NVIDIA's Pascal architecture, which was designed for professional visualization and compute workloads. The Radeon VII employs AMD's GCN 5.1 architecture, the final evolution of the Graphics Core Next design that powered many AMD GPUs across several generations. Neither card includes ray tracing cores or tensor cores, so both rely on traditional shader-based compute.

The shader configurations also diverge significantly. The Quadro GP100 has 3,584 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation pipelines. The Radeon VII fields 3,840 shading units and 240 TMUs, but only 64 ROPs. This means the Radeon VII has roughly 7% more shaders and TMUs, but 33% fewer ROPs. The implications for pixel-heavy workloads are clear: the Quadro GP100's higher ROP count gives it a pixel rate of 138.5 GPixel/s, whereas the Radeon VII trails at 112.0 GPixel/s. However, the Radeon VII's superior texture throughput — 420.0 GTexel/s versus 323.2 GTexel/s — reflects its higher TMU count and clock speeds.

Clock speeds tell another story of architectural intent. The Quadro GP100 runs at a base clock of 1304 MHz and boosts to 1443 MHz. The Radeon VII operates at a higher 1400 MHz base and 1750 MHz boost. The Radeon VII's boost clock is over 300 MHz higher, which helps drive its FP32 throughput to 13.44 TFLOPS, compared to the Quadro GP100's 10.34 TFLOPS. In FP16, the Radeon VII reaches 26.88 TFLOPS versus 20.69 TFLOPS for the Quadro GP100, with both cards using a 2:1 ratio for FP16 versus FP32.

Memory architecture is another major differentiator. Both cards use 16 GB of HBM2 on a 4096-bit bus, but the Radeon VII's memory runs at 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective), delivering 1.02 TB/s of bandwidth. The Quadro GP100's memory runs at 715 MHz (1430 Mbps effective), yielding 732.2 GB/s. The Radeon VII's bandwidth advantage is roughly 39%, which can be decisive in memory-bound compute workloads.

# Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two cards diverge across nearly every measurable category. The most obvious difference is the process node: the Quadro GP100 is fabricated on 16 nm, while the Radeon VII uses 7 nm. This leads to the die size disparity — 610 mm² versus 331 mm² — and the transistor density gap of 25.1M per mm² versus 40.0M per mm².

Clock speeds differ substantially. The Quadro GP100 has a base clock of 1304 MHz and a boost clock of 1443 MHz. The Radeon VII operates at 1400 MHz base and 1750 MHz boost. Memory clocks are also different: the Quadro GP100 runs at 715 MHz (1430 Mbps effective), while the Radeon VII runs at 1000 MHz (2 Gbps effective).

Compute resources are not identical. The Quadro GP100 has 3,584 shading units, 224 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. The Radeon VII has 3,840 shading units, 240 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The resulting pixel rates are 138.5 GPixel/s for the Quadro GP100 and 112.0 GPixel/s for the Radeon VII. Texture rates are 323.2 GTexel/s versus 420.0 GTexel/s.

FP32 and FP16 throughput also differ: 10.34 TFLOPS and 20.69 TFLOPS for the Quadro GP100, versus 13.44 TFLOPS and 26.88 TFLOPS for the Radeon VII. Memory bandwidth is 732.2 GB/s versus 1.02 TB/s.

Power requirements are markedly different. The Quadro GP100 has a TDP of 235 W and uses a single 8-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 550 W. The Radeon VII draws 295 W, requires two 8-pin connectors, and suggests a 600 W PSU. Both are dual-slot cards, but the Radeon VII is physically larger: 280 mm long, 125 mm tall, and 40 mm wide, versus the Quadro GP100's 267 mm length and 111 mm height.

Display outputs differ as well. The Quadro GP100 provides 1x DVI and 4x DisplayPort 1.4a. The Radeon VII offers 1x HDMI 2.0b and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. Both cards support DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The Quadro GP100 was released on 2016-09-30, while the Radeon VII launched on 2019-02-06. The Radeon VII has a listed launch MSRP of 699 USD.

# The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture of two cards designed for different priorities. The AMD Radeon VII wins the only head-to-head benchmark available, posting a 4.9% higher Geekbench OpenCL score. It also offers substantially higher FP32 and FP16 compute throughput, more memory bandwidth, and a more advanced 7 nm process node. For raw compute performance in OpenCL and Vulkan workloads, the Radeon VII is the stronger choice.

However, the Quadro GP100 is not without its advantages. Its higher ROP count and pixel rate of 138.5 GPixel/s suggest superior performance in pixel-heavy rasterization tasks. It also consumes 60 W less power (235 W versus 295 W) and requires only a single 8-pin power connector, which may simplify system integration. Its smaller physical footprint — 267 mm versus 280 mm in length — could be a factor in space-constrained chassis.

The percentile rankings are worth noting. The Quadro GP100 sits at the 93rd percentile, while the Radeon VII sits at the 90th. This is somewhat counterintuitive given the Radeon VII's OpenCL win, but it reflects the fact that the Quadro GP100's average benchmark score of 87,445 is much closer to its peak, while the Radeon VII's average of 66,004 is dragged down by weaker performances in other tests like 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12.

For users who prioritize compute throughput and memory bandwidth, the Radeon VII is the data-backed pick. For those who need lower power draw, higher pixel throughput, and a more compact board, the Quadro GP100 holds its own. Neither card is current — both are end-of-life — but the Radeon VII's newer architecture and higher clock speeds give it the edge in most compute scenarios.

# Where Each One Wins

AMD Radeon VII wins in compute-heavy workloads. The 4.9% OpenCL victory is backed by a 30% higher FP32 throughput (13.44 TFLOPS versus 10.34 TFLOPS) and a 39% memory bandwidth advantage (1.02 TB/s versus 732.2 GB/s). Its FP16 performance of 26.88 TFLOPS versus 20.69 TFLOPS further cements its position for mixed-precision compute tasks. The higher boost clock of 1750 MHz versus 1443 MHz suggests sustained performance in bursty compute scenarios.

NVIDIA Quadro GP100 wins in pixel-throughput-sensitive applications. Its 96 ROPs versus 64 give it a 23.7% higher pixel rate (138.5 GPixel/s versus 112.0 GPixel/s). The lower TDP of 235 W versus 295 W, combined with a single 8-pin connector, makes it a more power-efficient option for systems where power delivery is constrained. Its smaller 267 mm length and 111 mm height also make it easier to fit in compact workstations.

AMD Radeon VII wins on memory bandwidth. The 1.02 TB/s figure is not just a spec-sheet advantage; it can directly impact workloads that stream large datasets through memory, such as scientific computing or large-model inference. The Quadro GP100's 732.2 GB/s is respectable, but the Radeon VII's 39% lead is significant.

NVIDIA Quadro GP100 wins on rasterization efficiency. The combination of 96 ROPs and a lower power draw suggests that for traditional graphics rendering — where pixel fill rate matters — the Quadro GP100 can deliver competitive performance while using less power. Its 138.5 GPixel/s pixel rate is 23.7% higher than the Radeon VII's 112.0 GPixel/s.

AMD Radeon VII wins on architectural modernity. The 7 nm process node and GCN 5.1 architecture represent a later-generation design compared to the 16 nm Pascal architecture. This is reflected in the higher transistor density (40.0M per mm² versus 25.1M per mm²) and the overall performance-per-watt characteristics, even though the Radeon VII consumes more absolute power.

NVIDIA Quadro GP100 wins on placement within its competitive set. Its 93rd percentile ranking versus the Radeon VII's 90th indicates that the Quadro GP100 sits closer to the top of the overall GPU hierarchy. Its nearest rivals are within a 4.6% band, while the Radeon VII's nearest rivals span a 4.5% range, suggesting both cards are competitively positioned but in different tiers of the market.