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AMD Instinct MI100 vs AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT: Comparison
Instinct MI100 vs Radeon RX 6800 XT: the memory bandwidth difference
Memory bandwidth is where these two genuinely part company, Instinct MI100 1200 GB/s against Radeon RX 6800 XT 512 GB/s, a 57% lead for Instinct MI100. Add memory bus width to that, 4096 bit on the Instinct MI100 versus 256 bit on the Radeon RX 6800 XT, and the pattern holds. Boost clock runs the same way, 1502 MHz on the Instinct MI100 versus 2250 MHz on the Radeon RX 6800 XT, another win for Radeon RX 6800 XT. Architecture is not the same on both, CDNA on the Instinct MI100 versus RDNA 2 on the Radeon RX 6800 XT. Shader units is not the same on both, 7680 on the Instinct MI100 versus 4608 on the Radeon RX 6800 XT. There is a split on compute blocks as well, 120 on the Instinct MI100 versus 72 on the Radeon RX 6800 XT.
Who each one is for
Buy the Instinct MI100 for buyers comparing AMD's official reference specifications and researching a chip before choosing a board-partner card, though it is not built for overclocking-focused enthusiasts (reference clocks only). Avoid it for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. it is the wrong buy for anyone who prioritizes ray tracing quality or wants DLSS-style upscaling. It is equally the pick for buyers who want flagship-tier rasterization and a large VRAM buffer without NVIDIA's ray tracing premium. Our rating of the Radeon RX 6800 XT (8/10): flagship rasterization and 16GB of VRAM, with first-generation ray tracing holding it back.
Frequently asked questions
Do the Instinct MI100 and Radeon RX 6800 XT differ on product type?
Yes. Product Type reads Datacenter Accelerator on the Instinct MI100 versus Desktop Add-In Card on the Radeon RX 6800 XT.
Is the TDP the same on the Instinct MI100 and Radeon RX 6800 XT?
It is. Both are listed at 300 W, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Product Type
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Datacenter Accelerator
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- Desktop Add-In Card
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI100
- HBM2
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- GDDR6Best
Boost Clock
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1502 MHz-33%
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- 2250 MHzBest
TDP
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 300 W
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- 300 W
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI100
- CDNA
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- RDNA 2 (Navi 21)
Process Node
- AMD Instinct MI100
- TSMC 7nm FinFET
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- TSMC N7
Card Length
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 267 mm
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- 267 mm
Shader Units
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 7680
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- 4608
Compute Blocks
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 120
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- 72
Memory Bus Width
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 4096 bitBest
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- 256 bit-94%
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1200 GB/sBest
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- 512 GB/s-57%
PCIe Generation
- AMD Instinct MI100
- PCIe 4.0
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- PCIe 4.0
Launch Date
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 11/16/2020
- AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
- November 2020
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI100 if you want the lower TDP (300 W vs 300 W), the lower card length (267 mm vs 267 mm) and the higher memory bus width (4096 bit vs 256 bit).
Choose AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT if you want the higher boost clock (2250 MHz vs 1502 MHz).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Instinct MI100 | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $649.00 View on Consumercarts listing |
Disclaimer: The price and specification of the given product may differ from the actual product. Please confirm on the retailer's website before buying.
Verdict
AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT
8 / 10 Expert Rating
Flagship rasterization and 16GB of VRAM, with first-generation ray tracing holding it back.