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AMD Instinct MI100 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080: Comparison
AMD Instinct MI100 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 memory bandwidth compared
The gap that matters here is memory bandwidth: AMD Instinct MI100 1200 GB/s against NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 760 GB/s, which puts AMD Instinct MI100 37% ahead. AMD Instinct MI100 also leads on memory bus width, 4096 bit on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 320 bit on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 also leads on boost clock, 1502 MHz on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 1710 MHz on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. They differ on architecture too, CDNA on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus Ampere on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080. There is a split on shader units as well, 7680 on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 8704 on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080.
Which should you buy, AMD Instinct MI100 or NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080?
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. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 suits buyers who want flagship-tier Ampere performance without RTX 3090 pricing, though it is not the pick for anyone who specifically needs more than 10GB of VRAM. Our rating of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 (8.5/10): the generational leap that defined Ampere, still strong outside its 10GB memory limit.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Instinct MI100 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 differ on tdp?
Yes. TDP reads 300 W on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 320 W on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080.
Is the PCIe Generation the same on the AMD Instinct MI100 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080?
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 3080
- Desktop Add-In Card
Series
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Instinct
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- GeForce RTX 30
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI100
- HBM2
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- GDDR6XBest
Boost Clock
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1502 MHz-12%
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- 1710 MHzBest
TDP
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 300 WBest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- 320 W-7%
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI100
- CDNA
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- Ampere (GA102)
Process Node
- AMD Instinct MI100
- TSMC 7nm FinFET
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- Samsung 8N
Shader Units
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 7680
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- 8704
Memory Bus Width
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 4096 bitBest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- 320 bit-92%
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1200 GB/sBest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- 760 GB/s-37%
PCIe Generation
- AMD Instinct MI100
- PCIe 4.0
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- PCIe 4.0
Launch Date
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 11/16/2020
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080
- September 2020
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI100 if you want the lower TDP (300 W vs 320 W), the higher memory bus width (4096 bit vs 320 bit) and the higher memory bandwidth (1200 GB/s vs 760 GB/s).
Choose NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 if you want the higher boost clock (1710 MHz vs 1502 MHz).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Instinct MI100 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $699.00 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 3080
8.5 / 10 Expert Rating
The generational leap that defined Ampere, still strong outside its 10GB memory limit.