AMD Steam Machine GPU vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains no benchmark results for either the AMD Steam Machine GPU or the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q. The database lists an average benchmark score of 0 for both parts, and the head-to-head benchmark table is empty. The wins counter shows 0 wins for each GPU, meaning there is no measured performance comparison available in the database at this time. Both processors occupy the 50th percentile against all GPUs, which is a neutral midpoint rather than an indication of relative standing. Without recorded scores, no exact frame rate, compute, or synthetic test deltas can be stated. The absence of benchmark data does not imply parity, it simply reflects that neither part has been submitted to the database’s test suite yet. The AMD part carries a 17.56 TFLOPS FP32 figure, while the NVIDIA part shows 28.31 TFLOPS FP32, but those are theoretical throughput specifications, not measured results. The database shows no percentage differences between these two GPUs, as no nearest rival entries exist for either unit. Any comparison of wins, losses, or margins must remain qualitative until benchmark submissions populate the system.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Steam Machine GPU uses the Navi 33 chip built on RDNA 3.0 architecture, codenamed Hotpink Bonefish. This is a Console GPU (Valve) generation part fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The die contains 13,300 million transistors across a 204 mm² area, yielding a transistor density of 65.2M per mm². The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q uses the AD103 chip on Ada Lovelace architecture, belonging to the GeForce 40 Mobile generation. It is built on a 5 nm process, also at TSMC, with 45,900 million transistors on a 379 mm² die, giving a density of 121.1M per mm². The NVIDIA die is larger in both transistor count and physical size, and its density is nearly double that of the AMD part. The AMD GPU has 1,792 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, 64 raster operation units, and 28 ray tracing cores. The NVIDIA GPU has 9,728 shading units, 304 TMUs, 112 ROPs, 76 ray tracing cores, and 304 tensor cores. The NVIDIA part includes tensor cores, while the AMD part lists none. Both GPUs support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, so API feature sets are identical. The AMD GPU uses a 6 nm node, the NVIDIA GPU uses a 5 nm node, both from the same foundry. The AMD chip has a base clock of 1720 MHz and a boost clock of 2450 MHz, with a game clock of 2250 MHz. The NVIDIA chip has a base clock of 930 MHz and a boost clock of 1455 MHz, with no game clock listed. Despite lower clock speeds, the NVIDIA part delivers higher FP32 throughput due to its much larger core count. The AMD GPU’s pixel rate is 156.8 GPixel/s versus 163.0 GPixel/s for NVIDIA, a small margin. The texture rate differs more significantly: 274.4 GTexel/s for AMD versus 442.3 GTexel/s for NVIDIA.

Where Each One Wins

Without benchmark scores, the division of wins must be inferred from the specification differences. The AMD Steam Machine GPU shows a higher base clock, 1720 MHz versus 930 MHz, and a higher boost clock, 2450 MHz versus 1455 MHz. Higher clocks can favor lightly threaded workloads or tasks that respond to frequency rather than core count. The AMD part also has a smaller die, 204 mm² versus 379 mm², which suggests lower manufacturing complexity per unit. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q holds advantages in raw compute resources. It has more than five times the shading units, 9,728 versus 1,792, and nearly three times the TMUs, 304 versus 112. Its FP32 throughput is 28.31 TFLOPS against 17.56 TFLOPS, a 10.75 TFLOPS gap in favor of NVIDIA. The NVIDIA part also has 16 GB of memory versus 8 GB, and a 256-bit bus versus 128-bit, giving 576.0 GB/s bandwidth versus 288.0 GB/s. The NVIDIA GPU’s tensor cores enable AI-accelerated workloads, a feature absent from the AMD part. The NVIDIA GPU shows a higher pixel rate, 163.0 GPixel/s versus 156.8 GPixel/s, and a much higher texture rate, 442.3 GTexel/s versus 274.4 GTexel/s. The AMD GPU has a lower TDP at 110 W versus 80 W for NVIDIA, meaning the NVIDIA part claims higher performance within a lower power envelope. The AMD part’s advantage lies in its compact dimensions, 156 mm length, 152 mm height, and 162 mm width, while the NVIDIA part’s dimensions are not recorded. The AMD GPU also lists specific display outputs, 1x HDMI 2.1a and 1x DisplayPort 2.1, whereas the NVIDIA part’s outputs are described as portable device dependent.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every field where data exists. The process node differs: AMD uses 6 nm, NVIDIA uses 5 nm. Transistor count differs, 13,300 million versus 45,900 million. Die size differs, 204 mm² versus 379 mm². Transistor density differs, 65.2M per mm² versus 121.1M per mm². Base clocks differ, 1720 MHz versus 930 MHz. Boost clocks differ, 2450 MHz versus 1455 MHz. The AMD part has a game clock of 2250 MHz, the NVIDIA part has none listed. Memory size differs, 8 GB versus 16 GB. Memory bus width differs, 128-bit versus 256-bit. Memory bandwidth differs, 288.0 GB/s versus 576.0 GB/s. Shading units differ, 1,792 versus 9,728. TMUs differ, 112 versus 304. ROPs differ, 64 versus 112. Ray tracing cores differ, 28 versus 76. Tensor cores are absent on AMD and present at 304 on NVIDIA. Pixel rate differs, 156.8 GPixel/s versus 163.0 GPixel/s. Texture rate differs, 274.4 GTexel/s versus 442.3 GTexel/s. FP32 performance differs, 17.56 TFLOPS versus 28.31 TFLOPS. FP16 performance mirrors the FP32 ratio, 17.56 TFLOPS versus 28.31 TFLOPS, both at 1:1. TDP differs, 110 W versus 80 W. The NVIDIA part has an integrated graphics package designation, IGP, while the AMD part has no slot width listed. Power connectors are listed as none for both. The bus interface is absent for AMD and PCIe 4.0 x16 for NVIDIA. Display outputs differ, with AMD listing specific ports and NVIDIA listing portable device dependent. Dimensions are recorded for AMD only. Release dates differ, with AMD dated 2026-06-28 and NVIDIA dated 2023-01-02. The NVIDIA part has a predecessor, GeForce 30 Mobile, and a successor, GeForce 50 Mobile, while the AMD part has neither. Both share the same memory type, GDDR6, and the same memory clock, 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective. Both are produced by TSMC, and both carry the same API support for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute throughput?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q shows 28.31 TFLOPS FP32, while the AMD Steam Machine GPU shows 17.56 TFLOPS FP32. The NVIDIA part leads by 10.75 TFLOPS.

Q: How do the memory subsystems compare?

A: The AMD GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 288.0 GB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA GPU has 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA part offers double the capacity and double the bandwidth.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same graphics APIs?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The API feature sets are identical.

Q: Which GPU has more ray tracing cores?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q has 76 ray tracing cores, while the AMD Steam Machine GPU has 28 ray tracing cores. The NVIDIA part has 48 more ray tracing cores.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The AMD GPU has a TDP of 110 W, while the NVIDIA GPU has a TDP of 80 W. The NVIDIA part consumes 30 W less according to the recorded TDP figures.

Q: Are there any tensor cores on either GPU?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q includes 304 tensor cores. The AMD Steam Machine GPU lists no tensor cores in the database.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The AMD Steam Machine GPU has a boost clock of 2450 MHz, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 Max-Q has a boost clock of 1455 MHz. The AMD part boosts 995 MHz higher.

Q: What are the process nodes for each GPU?

A: The AMD GPU uses a 6 nm process, and the NVIDIA GPU uses a 5 nm process, both fabricated by TSMC.