AMD Radeon RX Vega 56
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon RX Vega 56 Specifications
Radeon RX Vega 56 GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
RX Vega 56 Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon RX Vega 56's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The Radeon RX Vega 56 by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon RX Vega 56 Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon RX Vega 56's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
Radeon RX Vega 56 by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the RX Vega 56, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
RX Vega 56 Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
GCN 5.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is built on AMD's GCN 5.0 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the RX Vega 56 will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon RX Vega 56 Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the Radeon RX Vega 56 to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon RX Vega 56 by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
AMD API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the AMD Radeon RX Vega 56. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
Radeon RX Vega 56 Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is manufactured by AMD as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the Radeon RX Vega 56 by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon RX Vega 56 Benchmark Scores
3dmark_3dmark_steel_nomad_dx12Source
3DMark Steel Nomad is the latest GPU benchmark running at native 4K with DirectX 12. It's roughly 3x more demanding than Time Spy, testing AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 with cutting-edge rendering techniques. The benchmark uses state-of-the-art graphics technologies to stress modern hardware. Scores accurately predict AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 performance in demanding AAA games at 4K resolution.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performersgeekbench_metalSource
Geekbench Metal tests GPU compute using Apple's Metal API. This shows how AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 performs in macOS and iOS applications that leverage GPU acceleration.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
About AMD Radeon RX Vega 56
The AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 is a desktop graphics card built on the Vega 10 chip, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 12,500 million transistors on a 495 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 25.3M per mm². The card belongs to the Vega (RX Vega) generation and uses the GCN 5.0 architecture. It was released on August 13, 2017, and is now end-of-life, with Polaris as its predecessor and Navi as its successor. The card supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3, and outputs video via 1x HDMI 2.0b and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. It features 3584 shading units, 224 texture mapping units, and 64 raster operation units.
Memory Subsystem
The RX Vega 56 is equipped with 8 GB of HBM2 memory on a 2048-bit bus. The memory clock runs at 800 MHz, which translates to 1600 Mbps effective, producing a bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s. This is a high-bandwidth configuration for its generation. The wide bus and high bandwidth are particularly relevant for high-resolution rendering, where large amounts of texture data and frame buffers must be moved quickly. The 8 GB capacity also provides headroom for large textures and multi-monitor setups. While the card's memory is not the fastest available today, the 409.6 GB/s figure remains competitive with many modern cards, as indicated by its position in the benchmark database. The pixel rate of 94.14 GPixel/s and texture rate of 329.5 GTexel/s further underscore the card's ability to feed high-resolution displays with detailed geometry and textures. The memory subsystem is a key strength of this card, as HBM2's stacked design allows for a much wider bus than typical GDDR5 solutions, and the 2048-bit interface is exceptionally wide even by current standards. For users who prioritize high resolution or heavy texture modding, this configuration offers a solid foundation.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The RX Vega 56 does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as those fields are null in the specification. This means that any ray tracing workload would have to be processed through compute shaders, which is generally less efficient than dedicated hardware. The card does support a range of APIs: DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. This allows it to run modern games that use these APIs. However, without hardware acceleration for ray tracing, the card is not suited for ray-traced effects at high settings. The feature set is otherwise complete for its era, with support for HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The absence of tensor cores also means that AI-accelerated features, such as DLSS, are not available; any upscaling would rely on traditional methods. For users who do not require ray tracing or AI-based enhancements, the API support ensures compatibility with a wide range of software. The card's compute capability is substantial, with FP32 performance of 10.54 TFLOPS and FP16 performance of 21.09 TFLOPS (2:1), which can be leveraged for non-graphics workloads that do not depend on specialized cores.
Benchmark Performance
The average benchmark score for the RX Vega 56 is 37,507, placing it in the 81st percentile among all GPUs in the database. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it scores 1,501, and in Geekbench Metal it scores 73,512. These scores indicate a card that sits in the upper tier of performance. The 81st percentile ranking means that it outperforms more than four-fifths of all GPUs tracked, a notable achievement for a card released in 2017.
Comparing to its nearest rivals, the RX Vega 56 is 0.6% faster than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070, which has an average score of 37,283. It is 1.3% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce MX570 A (38,008), 1.6% slower than the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile (38,135), and 1.9% slower than the NVIDIA CMP 70HX (38,225). This means that in synthetic benchmarks, the Vega 56 performs within a 2% band of these four cards, which are a mix of desktop and mobile GPUs. The performance parity is notable given the Vega 56's release date and its end-of-life status. The small deltas to its nearest rivals suggest that in real-world applications, differences would be minimal. For instance, a 0.6% advantage over the RTX 4070 is within measurement noise, while the 1.9% deficit against the CMP 70HX is equally negligible. The card's 10.54 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 329.5 GTexel/s texture rate are reflected in these scores, confirming that it remains competitive with much newer hardware.
Who Should Consider It
Given its end-of-life status, the RX Vega 56 is not a candidate for new builds. However, for users who already own this card, the benchmark data indicates that it remains competitive with several modern GPUs. The 81st percentile ranking means that it can handle a wide range of games and applications at reasonable settings. The 8 GB HBM2 memory and 409.6 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for high-resolution textures and multi-monitor setups. The card's performance relative to the RTX 4070, MX570 A, RTX 4080 Mobile, and CMP 70HX shows that it is not obsolete. Users who are satisfied with the performance of those rivals will find similar results with the Vega 56. However, the lack of dedicated ray tracing hardware means that ray-traced games will not run as well as on cards with RT cores. For users who prioritize raw rasterization performance and are not interested in ray tracing or AI upscaling, the Vega 56 still delivers a competent experience at 1080p and 1440p, though the exact frame rates depend on the title and settings. The card's 14 nm process and 210 W TDP mean it will run hotter and draw more power than modern equivalents, but for those already owning the card, it remains a viable option for moderate gaming workloads.
FAQ
Q: What is the memory configuration of the RX Vega 56?
A: It has 8 GB of HBM2 memory on a 2048-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 409.6 GB/s.
Q: Does the RX Vega 56 support hardware ray tracing?
A: No, it does not have dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores.
Q: What is the TDP and recommended power supply?
A: The TDP is 210 W, and the suggested PSU is 550 W, with two 8-pin power connectors required.
Q: What API versions are supported?
A: DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.
Q: What was the launch MSRP?
A: The launch MSRP was 399 USD.
Q: How does the RX Vega 56 compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 in average benchmark score?
A: The RX Vega 56 has an average benchmark score of 37,507, which is 0.6% higher than the RTX 4070's 37,283.
Power and Cooling
The RX Vega 56 has a TDP of 210 W. The suggested power supply is 550 W, and the card requires two 8-pin power connectors. It occupies a dual-slot form factor. The physical dimensions are 280 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 40 mm in width. The card uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface. These specifications indicate that it needs a reasonably strong power supply and adequate case space. The dual-slot design and 280 mm length are typical for a high-end card of its generation. Users should ensure their power supply has the necessary connectors and wattage. The 14 nm process and 210 W TDP mean that cooling is a consideration; the dual-slot cooler is designed to dissipate that heat, but users with compact cases should verify clearance. The two 8-pin connectors are a clear requirement, and a 550 W PSU is recommended to handle transient loads. While the card is end-of-life, its power and cooling demands are not out of line with other high-performance GPUs of its time, and the specifications remain relevant for anyone planning to run it in a modern system.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon RX Vega 56
Looking for a similar graphics card from NVIDIA? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 offers comparable performance and features in the NVIDIA lineup.
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