MI250X vs MI355X

CDNA 2vsCDNA 4Updated 35 days ago

The MI355X emerges as the clear winner for prevalent AI training and inference use cases. Delivering 6x the FP16 and FP32 performance at 2300 TFLOPS, 2.25x VRAM at 288 GB, and 8000 GB/s bandwidth crushes MI250X limits, enabling larger models and faster iterations despite absent cloud pricing.

MI250X from $1.28/hr

Specifications Compared

SpecMI250XMI355X
TDP560W750W
VRAM128 GB288 GB
Memory TypeHBM2eHBM3e
ArchitectureCDNA 2CDNA 4
Form FactorsOAMOAM
InterconnectInfinity FabricInfinity Fabric
FP16 Performance383 TFLOPS2,300 TFLOPS
FP32 Performance383 TFLOPS2300 TFLOPS
FP64 Performance48 TFLOPS72 TFLOPS
Memory Bandwidth3,277 GB/s8,000 GB/s

Performance Analysis

Raw compute specs highlight the MI355X's dominance: 2300 TFLOPS FP16 and FP32 versus the MI250X's 383 TFLOPS marks a 6x uplift ideal for AI training where mixed precision dominates. The MI355X adds 4600 TFLOPS FP8 capability, accelerating inference for quantized models common in deployment. Equal FP16 to FP32 ratios on both GPUs ensure balanced performance across training phases without precision bottlenecks.

Memory differences profoundly impact real-world usage. The MI355X's 288 GB HBM3e and 8000 GB/s bandwidth versus 128 GB HBM2e and 3277 GB/s on MI250X support 2.25x larger batch sizes in memory-bound tasks like LLM fine-tuning, reducing iteration times. Higher bandwidth minimizes data starvation in multi-GPU setups via Infinity Fabric.

Power scales accordingly: MI355X at 750W TDP demands 34% more than MI250X's 560W, potentially limiting density in power-constrained data centers. Yet, performance-per-watt improves markedly on MI355X, yielding 4.1x FP16 TFLOPS per watt.

Live Cloud Pricing

Real-time prices from 25+ providers. Updated every 60 seconds.

MI250X

ProviderGPU ModelVRAMHost SpecsRegionPriceStatusAction
Cirrascale
Cirrascale
4×AMD Instinct MI250X
128GB VRAM
$1.28/GPU/hr
$5.12/hr total (4×)
Cirrascale
Cirrascale
4×AMD Instinct MI250X
128GB VRAM
$1.44/GPU/hr
$5.76/hr total (4×)
Cirrascale
Cirrascale
4×AMD Instinct MI250X
128GB VRAM
$1.52/GPU/hr
$6.08/hr total (4×)
Cirrascale
Cirrascale
4×AMD Instinct MI250X
128GB VRAM
$1.60/GPU/hr
$6.40/hr total (4×)

Compare real-time pricing across 25+ providers

When to Choose the MI250X

The MI250X excels in cost-sensitive deployments where immediate availability trumps peak performance. With cloud pricing from $1.28 per hour and an average of $1.46 per hour across four providers, it delivers reliable 383 TFLOPS FP16 for mid-scale AI training or inference without the wait for MI355X availability.

Lower 560W TDP suits dense clusters or edge data centers with power limits, maintaining efficiency at 0.68 TFLOPS per watt in FP16.

When to Choose the MI355X

The MI355X stands out for demanding workloads requiring extreme scale. Its 2300 TFLOPS FP16, 288 GB VRAM, and 8000 GB/s bandwidth handle massive LLMs or simulations infeasible on MI250X's 128 GB and 3277 GB/s.

FP8 at 4600 TFLOPS optimizes high-throughput inference, future-proofing investments through 2025 CDNA 4 architecture despite higher 750W TDP.

Use Cases

LLM Training
MI355X

MI355X's 2300 TFLOPS FP16 and 288 GB VRAM accelerate training of billion-parameter models far beyond MI250X's 383 TFLOPS and 128 GB. Higher 8000 GB/s bandwidth supports massive batches.

LLM Inference
MI355X

4600 TFLOPS FP8 on MI355X boosts quantized inference throughput, paired with 288 GB VRAM for serving large models. MI250X lags at 383 TFLOPS without FP8 support.

Fine-tuning
MI355X

MI355X handles larger fine-tuning batches via 8000 GB/s bandwidth and 288 GB capacity, reducing epochs compared to MI250X's 3277 GB/s and 128 GB.

Stable Diffusion
Either

MI250X suffices for standard image generation at 383 TFLOPS FP16 with low cost. MI355X shines for high-resolution or batch jobs needing 2300 TFLOPS.

Scientific Computing
MI250X

MI250X's 560W TDP and $1.28 per hour pricing fit power-limited HPC clusters. 383 TFLOPS FP32 meets most simulations without MI355X's excess.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is the VRAM capacity of MI250X versus MI355X?

MI250X provides 128 GB HBM2e VRAM. MI355X doubles that to 288 GB HBM3e, enabling larger models in AI workloads. This difference directly impacts maximum batch sizes.

How do FP16 performance levels compare?

MI250X achieves 383 TFLOPS in FP16. MI355X reaches 2300 TFLOPS, a 6x increase suited for training. FP32 matches these figures on both GPUs.

What are the memory bandwidth specs?

MI250X offers 3277 GB/s bandwidth. MI355X provides 8000 GB/s, over 2.4x higher for memory-intensive tasks. This reduces bottlenecks in large-scale inference.

What is the power consumption difference?

MI250X has a 560W TDP. MI355X requires 750W, a 34% increase but with superior 3.1 TFLOPS per watt in FP16. Choose based on data center power budgets.

Is MI355X available in the cloud now?

MI355X has no live cloud offers currently. MI250X starts at $1.28 per hour averaging $1.46 per hour across four providers. Monitor for 2025 launches.

What architectures power these GPUs?

MI250X uses CDNA 2 from 2021. MI355X employs CDNA 4 for 2025, driving FP8 at 4600 TFLOPS. Both support Infinity Fabric interconnects.

Which is cheaper to rent, the MI250X or the MI355X?

Cloud rental prices for both the MI250X and MI355X vary by provider, configuration, and availability. This page shows live pricing from 25+ providers updated every 60 seconds. Scroll to the Live Cloud Pricing section to compare current rates.

How much VRAM does the MI250X have compared to the MI355X?

The MI250X has 128 GB of HBM2e memory. The MI355X has 288 GB of HBM3e memory.

Can I find MI250X and MI355X GPUs available to rent right now?

Yes. This page shows real-time availability across 25+ cloud GPU providers. The Live Cloud Pricing section displays only in-stock offers with current pricing.

What is the main difference between the MI250X and the MI355X?

The MI250X uses the CDNA 2 architecture (2021) while the MI355X uses CDNA 4 (2025). The MI355X delivers 6.0x the FP16 throughput and 2.4x the memory bandwidth of the MI250X.

MI250X vs MI355X: 6.0x FP16 Gap, 288GB vs 128GB | GPUPerHour