NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti vs NVIDIA RTX A5500 Comparison

The data shows a split decision between the NVIDIA RTX A5500 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti. While both cards share the same GA102 chip and Ampere architecture, the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti dominates in the Vulkan API, while the RTX A5500 edges out a narrow victory in OpenCL. The benchmark results indicate that the choice between these two hinges on the specific workload and API, rather than a clear overall performance king.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison reveals a stark contrast in performance depending on the API. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the RTX A5500 scores 174,637 points, narrowly beating the RTX 3090 Ti’s 174,441 points. This translates to a delta of just 0.1%, making the A5500 the winner in this specific test, though the margin is effectively a statistical tie.

The situation reverses dramatically in the Geekbench Vulkan test. The RTX 3090 Ti scores 215,633 points, which is 27.7% higher than the RTX A5500’s 155,797 points. This is a significant and decisive victory for the GeForce card, showcasing a substantial advantage in Vulkan-based workloads. The RTX 3090 Ti’s Vulkan score is not only higher than the A5500's but also positions it well above its own average benchmark score, suggesting that Vulkan is a particular strength for the GeForce architecture.

Looking at the broader average benchmark scores, the RTX A5500 achieves an average of 165,217, which places it in the 97th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the NVIDIA RTX 4500 Ada Generation, scores 166,094, a 0.5% difference. In contrast, the RTX 3090 Ti’s average score is 131,938, placing it in the 95th percentile, with its closest competitor being the NVIDIA L4 at 131,072, a 0.7% difference. While the A5500 has a higher average score overall, the RTX 3090 Ti's massive Vulkan win is the most impactful single result in the comparison.

The data shows that the RTX A5500 is the more consistent performer across the two tested APIs, while the RTX 3090 Ti shows a clear specialization. The RTX 3090 Ti's Vulkan performance is its standout feature, while the A5500 offers a more balanced, though less spectacular, profile.

Architecture Differences

Both the NVIDIA RTX A5500 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti are built on the same fundamental architecture. They share the GA102 chip, the Ampere architecture, an 8 nm process node from Samsung, and identical transistor counts of 28,300 million on a 628 mm² die. This means the core architectural foundation is identical.

However, the implementation details differ significantly. The RTX 3090 Ti is configured with more processing units. It has 10,752 shading units, 336 TMUs, 112 ROPs, 84 RT cores, and 336 tensor cores. The RTX A5500 is slightly less equipped, with 10,240 shading units, 320 TMUs, 96 ROPs, 80 RT cores, and 320 tensor cores. These differences in core counts directly translate to higher theoretical performance for the RTX 3090 Ti in raw compute tasks.

The memory subsystems also differ. Both cards have 24 GB of memory on a 384-bit bus, but the RTX A5500 uses GDDR6 memory running at 16 Gbps effective, yielding a bandwidth of 768.0 GB/s. The RTX 3090 Ti uses faster GDDR6X memory at 21 Gbps effective, which results in a significantly higher bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s. This memory bandwidth advantage is a key differentiator for the RTX 3090 Ti.

Clock speeds also favor the RTX 3090 Ti. Its base clock is 1560 MHz and boost clock is 1860 MHz, whereas the RTX A5500 operates at a lower 1080 MHz base and 1665 MHz boost. These higher clocks, combined with more cores, give the RTX 3090 Ti a theoretical FP32 performance of 40.00 TFLOPS, compared to the A5500's 34.10 TFLOPS. The pixel rate and texture rate follow the same pattern, with the RTX 3090 Ti hitting 208.3 GPixel/s and 625.0 GTexel/s, respectively, versus the A5500's 159.8 GPixel/s and 532.8 GTexel/s.

Physical and power characteristics diverge as well. The RTX A5500 is a dual-slot card with a 230 W TDP and a single 8-pin power connector, requiring a 550 W power supply. The RTX 3090 Ti is a much more demanding triple-slot card with a 450 W TDP, a single 16-pin connector, and an 850 W power supply recommendation. The A5500 is also considerably more compact at 267 mm in length, compared to the RTX 3090 Ti's 336 mm. The A5500 offers four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, while the RTX 3090 Ti has one HDMI 2.1 and three DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data clearly defines the distinct use cases for each card. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is the clear winner in Vulkan-based applications. Its 27.7% lead in the Geekbench Vulkan test is a massive advantage that would be very noticeable in any workload that leverages this API, such as certain games or professional visualization tools. The higher core count, faster clock speeds, and superior memory bandwidth all contribute to this dominant performance.

The NVIDIA RTX A5500, while not as potent in Vulkan, wins in the OpenCL test, albeit by a razor-thin 0.1% margin. More importantly, its higher average benchmark score of 165,217 compared to the RTX 3090 Ti's 131,938 suggests that it is the more balanced performer across a wider range of tests. This makes the A5500 the safer choice for a diverse set of professional workloads where Vulkan is not the primary API.

The data indicates that the RTX A5500 is better suited for general-purpose workstation tasks that rely on OpenCL or other compute APIs, where its consistent performance and lower power requirements are beneficial. The RTX 3090 Ti, on the other hand, is the specialist that excels in Vulkan-heavy scenarios, offering a significant performance boost for users who can leverage that specific API. The A5500's lower TDP of 230 W versus the 3090 Ti's 450 W also makes it a more manageable component for a workstation environment.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA RTX A5500 has a higher average benchmark score of 165,217, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti's 131,938.

Q: How much faster is the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti in Vulkan?

A: The GeForce RTX 3090 Ti scores 215,633 in the Geekbench Vulkan test, which is 27.7% higher than the RTX A5500's score of 155,797.

Q: Do both cards use the same underlying chip?

A: Yes, both the NVIDIA RTX A5500 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti are built on the GA102 chip with the Ampere architecture.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The RTX 3090 Ti has a memory bandwidth of 1.01 TB/s, while the RTX A5500 has a bandwidth of 768.0 GB/s.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti has 10,752 shading units, while the NVIDIA RTX A5500 has 10,240.

Q: What is the TDP of each card?

A: The NVIDIA RTX A5500 has a TDP of 230 W, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti has a TDP of 450 W.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA RTX A5500 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Base Clock | 1080 MHz | 1560 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1665 MHz | 1860 MHz |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6X |

| Memory Clock | 16 Gbps effective | 21 Gbps effective |

| Memory Bandwidth | 768.0 GB/s | 1.01 TB/s |

| Shading Units | 10240 | 10752 |

| TMUs | 320 | 336 |

| ROPs | 96 | 112 |

| RT Cores | 80 | 84 |

| Tensor Cores | 320 | 336 |

| Pixel Rate | 159.8 GPixel/s | 208.3 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 532.8 GTexel/s | 625.0 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 34.10 TFLOPS | 40.00 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 34.10 TFLOPS (1:1) | 40.00 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 230 W | 450 W |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | Triple-slot |

| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 16-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 550 W | 850 W |

| Display Outputs | 4x DisplayPort 1.4a | 1x HDMI 2.13x DisplayPort 1.4a |

| Length | 267 mm | 336 mm |

| Height | 112 mm | 140 mm |

| Width | null | 61 mm |

| Release Date | 2022-03-21 | 2022-01-26 |

| Launch MSRP | null | 1,999 USD |

The Verdict

The data supports a clear verdict based on workload. For users whose applications are built on or heavily favor the Vulkan API, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is the unequivocal choice. Its 27.7% performance lead in Vulkan is a definitive advantage that no other metric in this comparison can offset. The higher core counts, clock speeds, and memory bandwidth all contribute to this result, making it the superior card for Vulkan-specific tasks.

For all other scenarios, the NVIDIA RTX A5500 is the more sensible pick. Its higher average benchmark score of 165,217 versus 131,938 indicates better overall consistency and performance across a broader range of tests. The A5500 also matches the RTX 3090 Ti in the OpenCL test, which suggests it is a more versatile professional tool. Furthermore, its significantly lower TDP of 230 W, dual-slot design, and smaller physical footprint make it a far more practical choice for multi-GPU workstations or systems with space and power constraints.

The RTX 3090 Ti is a performance specialist with a single, dominant strength. The RTX A5500 is a generalist with better overall scores and efficiency. The choice is not about which is the better GPU, but which is better suited to the intended use. For Vulkan-centric workloads, the RTX 3090 Ti is the winner. For everything else, the RTX A5500 provides the more balanced and practical solution.