AMD Instinct MI250 VS AMD Instinct MI300X
Choosing between **Instinct MI250** and **Instinct MI300X** depends on your specific AI workload requirements. The **Instinct MI300X** leads in both memory capacity and raw compute power, making it a stronger choice for high-end LLM training. Currently, you can rent these GPUs starting from **$1.30/h** and **$0.95/h** respectively across 7 providers.
Instinct MI250
Instinct MI300X
📊 Detailed Specifications Comparison
| Specification | Instinct MI250 | Instinct MI300X | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| Architecture & Design | |||
| Architecture | CDNA 2 | CDNA 3 | - |
| Process Node | 6nm | 5nm + 6nm | - |
| Target Market | datacenter | datacenter | - |
| Form Factor | OAM | OAM | - |
| Memory & Bandwidth | |||
| VRAM Capacity | 128GB | 192GB | -33% |
| Memory Type | HBM2e | HBM3 | - |
| Memory Bandwidth | 3.2 TB/s | 5.3 TB/s | -40% |
| Memory Bus Width | 8192-bit | 8192-bit | - |
| Compute Infrastructure | |||
| Stream Processors | 13,312 | 19,456 | -32% |
| AI & Compute Performance (TFLOPS) | |||
| FP32 (Single Precision) | 45.3 TFLOPS | 163.4 TFLOPS | -72% |
| FP16 (Half Precision) | N/A | 1,307.4 TFLOPS | |
| FP64 (Double Precision) | 45.3 TFLOPS | 81.7 TFLOPS | -45% |
| INT8 (Integer Precision) | N/A | 2,614.9 TOPS | |
| Power & Efficiency | |||
| TDP (Thermal Design Power) | 500W | 750W | -33% |
| PCIe Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 | - |
🎯 Use Case Recommendations
LLM & Large Model Training
AMD Instinct MI300X
Higher VRAM capacity and memory bandwidth are critical for training large language models. The Instinct MI300X offers 192GB compared to 128GB.
AI Inference
AMD Instinct MI300X
For inference workloads, performance per watt matters most. Consider the balance between FP16/INT8 throughput and power consumption.
Budget-Conscious Choice
AMD Instinct MI300X
Based on current cloud pricing, the Instinct MI300X starts at a lower hourly rate.
Technical Deep Dive: Instinct MI250 vs Instinct MI300X
This is a generational comparison within the AMD ecosystem, pitting CDNA 2 against CDNA 3. The Instinct MI300X has a significant **64GB VRAM advantage**, which is crucial for training massive datasets or large language models. From a cost perspective, the **Instinct MI300X** is currently about **27% cheaper** per hour, offering better value for budget-conscious projects.
AMD Instinct MI250 is Best For:
- HPC
- Matrix math workloads
- CUDA native apps
AMD Instinct MI300X is Best For:
- LLM inference at scale
- Large VRAM capacity
- CUDA-only software
Frequently Asked Questions
Which GPU is better for AI training: Instinct MI250 or Instinct MI300X?
For AI training, the key factors are VRAM size, memory bandwidth, and tensor core performance. The Instinct MI250 offers 128GB of HBM2e memory with 3.2 TB/s bandwidth, while the Instinct MI300X provides 192GB of HBM3 with 5.3 TB/s bandwidth. For larger models, the Instinct MI300X's higher VRAM capacity gives it an advantage.
What is the price difference between Instinct MI250 and Instinct MI300X in the cloud?
Cloud GPU rental prices vary by provider and region. Based on our data, Instinct MI250 starts at $1.30/hour while Instinct MI300X starts at $0.95/hour. This represents a 37% price difference.
Can I use Instinct MI300X instead of Instinct MI250 for my workload?
It depends on your specific requirements. If your model fits within 192GB of VRAM and you don't need the additional throughput of the Instinct MI250, the Instinct MI300X can be a cost-effective alternative. However, for workloads requiring maximum memory capacity or multi-GPU scaling, the Instinct MI250's architecture may be essential.
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