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AMD Instinct MI100 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090: Comparison
AMD Instinct MI100 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090: the memory bus width difference
Memory bus width is where these two genuinely part company, AMD Instinct MI100 4096 bit against NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 384 bit, a 91% lead for AMD Instinct MI100. Memory bandwidth runs the same way, 1200 GB/s on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 936.2 GB/s on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, another win for AMD Instinct MI100. NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 also leads on boost clock, 1502 MHz on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 1695 MHz on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090. Tdp runs the same way, 300 W on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 350 W on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, another win for AMD Instinct MI100. Add card length to that, 267 mm on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 313 mm on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090, and the pattern holds.
AMD Instinct MI100 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090: which one fits your build
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 not the one for buyers wanting a specific retail card with cooler and warranty details. it is the wrong buy for gaming-only buyers who won't use the extra VRAM headroom. It also earns its place with creators and early local-AI users who specifically need a large VRAM buffer on Ampere-era hardware. Our rating of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 (7.5/10): A 24GB VRAM buffer for creators and local AI work, with modest gaming gains over the 3080.
Frequently asked questions
Do the AMD Instinct MI100 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 differ on vram capacity?
Yes. VRAM Capacity reads 32 GB on the AMD Instinct MI100 versus 24 GB on the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090.
Is the PCIe Generation the same on the AMD Instinct MI100 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090?
It is. Both are listed at PCIe 4.0, so it is not a reason to pick one over the other.
Specs and benchmarks
GPU Brand
- AMD Instinct MI100
- AMD
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- NVIDIA
Product Type
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Datacenter Accelerator
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- Desktop Add-In Card
Series
- AMD Instinct MI100
- Instinct
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- GeForce RTX 30
Memory Type
- AMD Instinct MI100
- HBM2
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- GDDR6XBest
Boost Clock
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1502 MHz-11%
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- 1695 MHzBest
TDP
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 300 WBest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- 350 W-17%
Architecture
- AMD Instinct MI100
- CDNA
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- Ampere
Process Node
- AMD Instinct MI100
- TSMC 7nm FinFET
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- Samsung 8N
Card Length
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 267 mmBest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- 313 mm-17%
Shader Units
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 7680
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- 10496
VRAM Capacity
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 32 GBBest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- 24 GB
Memory Bus Width
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 4096 bitBest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- 384 bit-91%
Memory Bandwidth
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 1200 GB/sBest
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- 936.2 GB/s-22%
PCIe Generation
- AMD Instinct MI100
- PCIe 4.0
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- PCIe 4.0
Launch Date
- AMD Instinct MI100
- 11/16/2020
- NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090
- September 2020
Which one should you pick?
Choose AMD Instinct MI100 if you want the lower TDP (300 W vs 350 W), the lower card length (267 mm vs 313 mm) and the higher memory bus width (4096 bit vs 384 bit).
Choose NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 if you want the higher boost clock (1695 MHz vs 1502 MHz).
Price comparison
| Retailer | AMD Instinct MI100 | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 |
|---|---|---|
| Consumercarts listing | $1,499.00 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 3090
7.5 / 10 Expert Rating
A 24GB VRAM buffer for creators and local AI work, with modest gaming gains over the 3080.