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AMD Instinct MI100 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060: Comparison
AMD Instinct MI100 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 memory bandwidth compared
On memory bandwidth the spread is 70%, AMD Instinct MI100 1200 GB/s against NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 360 GB/s, so AMD Instinct MI100 takes it. Tdp runs the same way, 300 W on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 170 W on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, another win for NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060. AMD Instinct MI100 also leads on memory bus width, 4096 bit on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 192 bit on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060. Add boost clock to that, 1502 MHz on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 1777 MHz on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060, and the pattern holds. There is a split on shader units as well, 7680 on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 3584 on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060.
Which should you buy, AMD Instinct MI100 or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060?
The AMD Instinct MI100 is the one to take 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). It is the wrong buy for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. it is not the pick for buyers chasing the best raw performance-per-dollar in the current generation. The same goes for budget builds that want more VRAM than most cards at this price point offer. Our rating of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 (7.5/10): A 12GB frame buffer at a budget price has kept this card relevant far longer than most of its generation.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Instinct MI100 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 differ on product type?
Yes. Product Type reads Datacenter Accelerator on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus Desktop Add-In Card on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060.
Is the PCIe Generation the same on the AMD Instinct MI100 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060?
It is. Both are listed at PCIe 4.0, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
Product Type
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Datacenter Accelerator
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- Desktop Add-In Card
Series
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Instinct
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- GeForce RTX 30
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI100
- HBM2
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- GDDR6Best
Boost Clock
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1502 MHz-15%
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- 1777 MHzBest
TDP
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 300 W-76%
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- 170 WBest
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI100
- CDNA
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- Ampere (GA106)
Process Node
- AMD Instinct MI100
- TSMC 7nm FinFET
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- Samsung 8N
Shader Units
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 7680
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- 3584
Memory Bus Width
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 4096 bitBest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- 192 bit-95%
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1200 GB/sBest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- 360 GB/s-70%
PCIe Generation
- AMD Instinct MI100
- PCIe 4.0
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- PCIe 4.0
Launch Date
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 11/16/2020
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
- February 2021
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI100 if you want the higher memory bus width (4096 bit vs 192 bit) and the higher memory bandwidth (1200 GB/s vs 360 GB/s).
Choose NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 if you want the higher boost clock (1777 MHz vs 1502 MHz) and the lower TDP (170 W vs 300 W).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Instinct MI100 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $329.00 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
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A 12GB frame buffer at a budget price has kept this card relevant far longer than most of its generation.