AMD Steam Machine GPU vs NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data splits these two GPUs across entirely different product categories. The AMD Steam Machine GPU is a console-oriented part built around the Navi 33 chip with RDNA 3.0 architecture, while the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation is a workstation card using the AD104 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture. The benchmark database shows that the AMD part has no recorded benchmark scores, while the NVIDIA card has two: a Geekbench OpenCL score of 146,593 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 123,842. This means the AMD Steam Machine GPU cannot claim a single measured win in the database; all recorded performance data belongs to the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation.

The NVIDIA card sits at the 95th percentile among all GPUs, which places it well above the AMD part's 50th percentile. The average benchmark score for the NVIDIA card is 135,218, derived from its two recorded tests. The AMD Steam Machine GPU holds an average benchmark score of zero because it has no entries. The wins column in the database confirms this split: zero wins for the AMD part, one win for the NVIDIA part in the head-to-head comparison.

For use-case analysis, the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation wins in any compute-heavy workload that leverages its 6,144 shading units, 192 tensor cores, and 48 RT cores. Its 20 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 160-bit bus delivers 360.0 GB/s of bandwidth, which supports large datasets typical of workstation tasks. The AMD Steam Machine GPU, with 1,792 shading units, 28 RT cores, and no tensor cores, is positioned for console gaming rather than professional compute. Its 8 GB GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus provides 288.0 GB/s of bandwidth.

The data indicates that the NVIDIA part wins in raw throughput metrics: 26.73 TFLOPS FP32 versus 17.56 TFLOPS, 417.6 GTexel/s texture rate versus 274.4 GTexel/s, and 139.2 GPixel/s pixel rate versus 156.8 GPixel/s. The AMD part actually leads in pixel rate, but without any benchmark scores to back that up, the database cannot confirm a real-world win. The NVIDIA card's 95th percentile ranking versus the AMD part's 50th percentile is the most direct comparison available.

The Verdict

The database points to a clear pick for any workload that requires measured performance: the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation. Its 95th percentile ranking, 135,218 average benchmark score, and two recorded test results give it a decisive advantage over the AMD Steam Machine GPU, which has no recorded scores and sits at the 50th percentile. The NVIDIA card also delivers more than double the FP32 compute (26.73 TFLOPS versus 17.56 TFLOPS), triple the shading units (6,144 versus 1,792), and 2.5 times the memory capacity (20 GB versus 8 GB).

The AMD Steam Machine GPU does have structural advantages that could matter in its intended console role. It draws 110 W versus 130 W, uses no power connectors, and occupies a smaller physical footprint at 156 mm length, 152 mm height, and 162 mm width. The NVIDIA card measures 245 mm by 112 mm and requires a 16-pin power connector with a 300 W suggested PSU. The AMD part also outputs both HDMI 2.1a and DisplayPort 2.1, while the NVIDIA card offers four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

For a user choosing between these two based on database evidence alone, the NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation is the only option with proven performance. The AMD Steam Machine GPU would be selected only for its lower power draw, smaller size, and console-specific feature set, but the absence of any benchmark data means its actual performance cannot be verified. The NVIDIA card's nearest rivals in the database are all within 0.9% of its average score, confirming it sits in a tightly competitive workstation tier, but those rivals do not include the AMD Steam Machine GPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark list in the database is empty, so there are no direct test results comparing the two GPUs in the same workloads. However, the available data allows for a numerical comparison across key specifications. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation delivers 26.73 TFLOPS FP32, which is 52% higher than the AMD Steam Machine GPU's 17.56 TFLOPS. In texture throughput, the NVIDIA card reaches 417.6 GTexel/s, which is 52% ahead of the AMD part's 274.4 GTexel/s. The NVIDIA card's 360.0 GB/s memory bandwidth exceeds the AMD part's 288.0 GB/s by 25%.

The AMD Steam Machine GPU counters in pixel throughput with 156.8 GPixel/s, which is 13% higher than the NVIDIA card's 139.2 GPixel/s. The AMD part also boosts to 2450 MHz, while the NVIDIA card boosts to 2175 MHz, a 275 MHz advantage for the AMD chip. The AMD base clock of 1720 MHz also exceeds the NVIDIA base clock of 1500 MHz by 220 MHz.

The NVIDIA card dominates in core counts: 6,144 shading units against 1,792, 192 TMUs against 112, and 48 RT cores against 28. The two GPUs match at 64 ROPs each. The NVIDIA card includes 192 tensor cores, while the AMD part has none listed. The NVIDIA card also carries a transistor advantage with 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, compared to the AMD part's 13,300 million transistors on a 204 mm² die. The transistor density tells the story: 121.8M per mm² for the NVIDIA card versus 65.2M per mm² for the AMD part.

Both GPUs support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, so API-level compatibility is identical. The NVIDIA card's Geekbench OpenCL score of 146,593 and Vulkan score of 123,842 are the only recorded test results in this comparison, and they confirm the specification advantage translates into measured performance.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation has an average benchmark score of 135,218 across two tests. The AMD Steam Machine GPU has no recorded benchmark scores, so its average is zero.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation has 20 GB of GDDR6 on a 160-bit bus, while the AMD Steam Machine GPU has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation has a 130 W TDP and requires a 16-pin power connector with a 300 W suggested PSU. The AMD Steam Machine GPU has a 110 W TDP and uses no power connectors.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation delivers 26.73 TFLOPS FP32, 417.6 GTexel/s texture rate, and 139.2 GPixel/s pixel rate. The AMD Steam Machine GPU delivers 17.56 TFLOPS FP32, 274.4 GTexel/s texture rate, and 156.8 GPixel/s pixel rate.

Q: Which GPU has more RT and tensor cores?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation has 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores. The AMD Steam Machine GPU has 28 RT cores and no tensor cores.

Q: What display outputs does each card provide?

A: The AMD Steam Machine GPU offers 1x HDMI 2.1a and 1x DisplayPort 2.1. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation offers 4x DisplayPort 1.4a.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs use different process nodes, chip designs, and architectural generations. The AMD Steam Machine GPU is built on TSMC's 6 nm process using the Navi 33 chip with RDNA 3.0 architecture and the codename Hotpink Bonefish. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation uses TSMC's 5 nm process with the AD104 chip and Ada Lovelace architecture. The NVIDIA card is classified as a Workstation Ada generation part, while the AMD card is classified as a Console GPU for Valve.

The transistor counts differ substantially. The NVIDIA chip packs 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, achieving a density of 121.8M per mm². The AMD chip contains 13,300 million transistors on a 204 mm² die, with a density of 65.2M per mm². The NVIDIA card also uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 bus interface, while the AMD card has no bus interface listed in the database.

Clock behavior differs as well. The AMD Steam Machine GPU runs a base clock of 1720 MHz, a game clock of 2250 MHz, and a boost clock of 2450 MHz. The NVIDIA RTX 4000 Ada Generation runs a base clock of 1500 MHz and a boost clock of 2175 MHz, with no game clock listed. Both cards use GDDR6 memory at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective speed.

Core configuration shows a major architectural split. The NVIDIA card uses 6,144 shading units, 192 TMUs, 64 ROPs, 48 RT cores, and 192 tensor cores. The AMD card uses 1,792 shading units, 112 TMUs, 64 ROPs, and 28 RT cores, with no tensor cores. The NVIDIA card supports FP16 at 26.73 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio to FP32, and the AMD card supports FP16 at 17.56 TFLOPS also at 1:1.

Physical dimensions and power delivery contrast sharply. The NVIDIA card is a single-slot design measuring 245 mm in length and 112 mm in height, with a 16-pin power connector. The AMD card measures 156 mm by 152 mm by 162 mm, uses no power connector, and draws 110 W versus the NVIDIA card's 130 W. The NVIDIA card's suggested PSU is 300 W. The AMD card's display outputs are 1x HDMI 2.1a and 1x DisplayPort 2.1, while the NVIDIA card provides 4x DisplayPort 1.4a. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA card was released in August 2023 and lists Workstation Ampere as its predecessor and Blackwell PRO W as its successor. The AMD card has a 2026 release date with no predecessor or successor listed.