NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 vs NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a clean sweep for the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell across all nine shared benchmark tests. The most dramatic gap appears in the Geekbench Vulkan test, where the RTX PRO 4500 scores 221,768 against the RTX 3090's 53,927. That is a 311.2% advantage, a massive lead that suggests the Blackwell architecture delivers far stronger API-level performance in this workload.

In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, the RTX PRO 4500 posts 7,025 points versus 5,118 for the RTX 3090, a 37.3% win. This is a solid, modern-DX12 lead and likely the most relevant result for current gaming or professional rendering loads. The PassMark G3D score reinforces the pattern: 33,360 for the RTX PRO 4500 against 26,645 for the RTX 3090, a 25.2% difference. That gap is consistent with the overall average benchmark score, where the RTX PRO 4500 sits at 31,532 compared to 27,565 for the RTX 3090, roughly a 14.4% average advantage.

The older DirectX tests show smaller but still consistent wins. In PassMark DirectX 9, the RTX PRO 4500 leads 397 to 268, a 48.1% margin. DirectX 11 shows 320 versus 220, a 45.5% lead. DirectX 10 is closer at 204 versus 182, a 12.1% win. DirectX 12 in PassMark is the tightest of all, with 119 versus 110, an 8.2% edge. Even the 2D test favors the newer card: PassMark G2D scores 1,336 versus 1,063, a 25.7% difference. Compute performance follows suit: PassMark GPU Compute shows 19,255 against 15,356, a 25.4% lead for the RTX PRO 4500.

The RTX 3090 wins none of the nine tests. Its closest relative performance comes in PassMark DirectX 12, where it trails by only 8.2%, and in DirectX 10 where the deficit is 12.1%. Those legacy API tests may not reflect real-world modern workloads, but they show the older card is not wholly outclassed in every scenario. Still, the data points to a decisive overall performance advantage for the RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different process nodes and foundries. The RTX PRO 4500 uses TSMC's 5 nm process, while the RTX 3090 relies on Samsung's 8 nm node. That process advantage translates directly into transistor density: the RTX PRO 4500 packs 45,600 million transistors into a 378 mm² die, yielding a density of 120.6 million transistors per square millimeter. The RTX 3090 has 28,300 million transistors on a much larger 628 mm² die, with a density of just 45.1 million per square millimeter. The RTX PRO 4500 is smaller, denser, and newer.

Architecturally, the RTX PRO 4500 is built on Blackwell 2.0 with the GB203 chip, while the RTX 3090 uses the Ampere architecture with the GA102 chip. Both have identical counts of shading units (10,496), texture mapping units (328), render output units (112), ray tracing cores (82), and tensor cores (328). That means the raw core configuration is the same on paper, but the execution efficiency differs dramatically due to the architecture and clock speeds.

Clock speeds tell a clear story. The RTX PRO 4500 runs at a base of 1635 MHz and boosts to 2407 MHz. The RTX 3090 is slower in both metrics: 1395 MHz base and 1695 MHz boost. Higher clocks, combined with the denser process, explain why the RTX PRO 4500 achieves higher fill rates and compute throughput despite identical core counts. The pixel rate for the RTX PRO 4500 is 269.6 GPixel/s versus 189.8 GPixel/s for the RTX 3090. Texture rate is 789.5 GTexel/s versus 556.0 GTexel/s. FP32 and FP16 performance both sit at 50.53 TFLOPS for the RTX PRO 4500, compared to 35.58 TFLOPS for the RTX 3090, a 42% raw compute advantage.

Memory architecture also diverges. The RTX PRO 4500 uses 32 GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 3090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X on a wider 384-bit bus, achieving 936.2 GB/s. The RTX 3090 actually has higher memory bandwidth, but the RTX PRO 4500 compensates with a newer memory type and more capacity. The effective memory speed is 28 Gbps for the RTX PRO 4500 versus 19.5 Gbps for the RTX 3090, which offsets the narrower bus.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX PRO 4500 wins in every single recorded benchmark, so the use-case split is less about which card wins and more about where the margins matter most. The largest victory is in Vulkan compute-style workloads, as shown by the Geekbench Vulkan score. The 311.2% lead suggests the Blackwell architecture has fundamentally improved its Vulkan driver or hardware scheduling, making it the clear choice for Vulkan-based professional visualization, CAD, or game development workloads.

For modern DX12 gaming and rendering, the 3DMark Steel Nomad result gives the RTX PRO 4500 a 37.3% edge. This is the most meaningful test for current titles that rely on DX12. The RTX PRO 4500 also leads in compute-heavy tasks, with the PassMark GPU Compute score showing a 25.4% advantage, making it better suited for GPU-accelerated rendering, simulation, or AI inference, even if the tensor core count is identical.

The RTX 3090 does not win any test, but its relative strengths appear in legacy DirectX benchmarks. The smallest deficits are in PassMark DirectX 12 (8.2%) and DirectX 10 (12.1%). Those older APIs may be relevant for backward-compatible software, but the margins are still losses. The RTX 3090's higher memory bandwidth (936.2 GB/s versus 896.0 GB/s) is a theoretical advantage, but the recorded data shows no benchmark where that translates into a win. Its 24 GB of GDDR6X might still be useful for very large datasets that fit in VRAM, but the RTX PRO 4500 offers 32 GB, so capacity also favors the newer card.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in almost every measurable specification except core counts and API support. Both have 10,496 shading units, 328 TMUs, 112 ROPs, 82 RT cores, and 328 tensor cores. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Beyond that, the differences are substantial.

The RTX PRO 4500 uses the GB203 chip on a 5 nm TSMC process, while the RTX 3090 uses GA102 on an 8 nm Samsung process. Transistor count is 45,600 million versus 28,300 million, and die size is 378 mm² versus 628 mm². The RTX PRO 4500 has a base clock of 1635 MHz and boost of 2407 MHz, versus 1395 MHz and 1695 MHz for the RTX 3090. Memory differs: 32 GB GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus with 896.0 GB/s bandwidth for the RTX PRO 4500, versus 24 GB GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus with 936.2 GB/s for the RTX 3090.

Power and physical specs diverge sharply. The RTX PRO 4500 has a TDP of 200 W and requires a 550 W PSU, with a single 16-pin connector. The RTX 3090 draws 350 W, needs a 750 W PSU, and uses a 12-pin connector. The RTX PRO 4500 is a dual-slot card measuring 267 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 40 mm in width. The RTX 3090 is a triple-slot card at 336 mm long, 140 mm tall, and 61 mm wide. The RTX PRO 4500 is significantly easier to fit in smaller cases and demands less from the power supply.

Bus interface and display outputs also differ. The RTX PRO 4500 uses PCIe 5.0 x16, while the RTX 3090 is PCIe 4.0 x16. The RTX PRO 4500 has four DisplayPort 2.1b outputs; the RTX 3090 has one HDMI 2.1 and three DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The RTX PRO 4500 is still in active production, while the RTX 3090 is end-of-life. The RTX 3090 launched with an MSRP of 1,499 USD; the RTX PRO 4500 has no recorded launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which card is faster in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12?

A: The NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell scores 7,025 versus 5,118 for the RTX 3090, a 37.3% advantage.

Q: Does the RTX 3090 win any benchmark in the database?

A: No. Across all nine shared tests, the RTX PRO 4500 wins every one, with the RTX 3090's closest result being an 8.2% loss in PassMark DirectX 12.

Q: How much more VRAM does the RTX PRO 4500 have?

A: The RTX PRO 4500 has 32 GB of GDDR7, while the RTX 3090 has 24 GB of GDDR6X. That is an 8 GB capacity difference in favor of the Blackwell card.

Q: Which card has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The RTX 3090 has higher memory bandwidth at 936.2 GB/s, compared to 896.0 GB/s for the RTX PRO 4500, despite the RTX PRO 4500 using faster GDDR7 memory.

Q: What is the power draw difference?

A: The RTX PRO 4500 has a TDP of 200 W, while the RTX 3090 is rated at 350 W. The RTX PRO 4500 also recommends a 550 W PSU versus 750 W for the RTX 3090.

Q: Are the core counts identical?

A: Yes, both cards have 10,496 shading units, 328 TMUs, 112 ROPs, 82 RT cores, and 328 tensor cores. The performance difference comes from clocks, architecture, and process node.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell outperforms the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 in every recorded benchmark. The average benchmark score is 31,532 for the RTX PRO 4500 versus 27,565 for the RTX 3090, and the newer card holds a 76th percentile ranking among all GPUs versus 73rd for the RTX 3090. The RTX PRO 4500 also offers more VRAM (32 GB versus 24 GB), a smaller physical footprint (dual-slot versus triple-slot), and lower power requirements (200 W versus 350 W), making it the more practical choice for most builds.

The RTX 3090's only advantages are higher memory bandwidth (936.2 GB/s versus 896.0 GB/s) and a wider 384-bit bus, but those do not translate into any benchmark win. If you are building for modern DX12 workloads, Vulkan applications, or compute-heavy tasks, the RTX PRO 4500 is the clear pick. The RTX 3090 remains a capable card for those who need a used or legacy option, but the recorded data shows no scenario where it beats the Blackwell card. Choose the RTX PRO 4500 for performance, efficiency, and future-proofing; choose the RTX 3090 only if you specifically need its higher bandwidth or are constrained by availability.