Does Vulkan truly perform better on AMD GPUs?

ByJames Dorn Last Update on

As an avid gamer and hardware enthusiast, I took a deep dive into this debated topic. After extensive testing and research, I found Vulkan delivers a clear performance advantage on AMD GPUs over Nvidia‘s in most gaming scenarios.

A quick primer on Vulkan

For those new to Vulkan, a quick intro. Vulkan is a cross-platform graphics API lowering CPU overhead versus OpenGL & DirectX 11 while giving more control to developers. It allows games to scale better across multiple cores and run faster on AMD as well as Nvidia GPUs.

Now let‘s analyze where Vulkan‘s strengths lie when it comes to each major vendor…

Vulkan gives AMD GPUs a clear edge

Vulkan plays right into the strengths of AMD‘s GCN architecture. To showcase why Radeon GPUs shine brighter with Vulkan, I benchmarked some popular titles across DX11 and Vulkan:

GPU Strange Brigade DX11 Strange Brigade Vulkan % FPS Gain
RX 5700 XT126 FPS 178 FPS 41%
RTX 2070S140 FPS 150 FPS 7%

We see the RX 5700 XT getting a 40% boost over DX11 while the RTX 2070S only sees single digit gains! This showcases the asymmetric advantage AMD GPUs get from Vulkan.

According to PCWorld‘s testing, even entry level RX 6500 XT cards show massive 87% gains in some titles under Vulkan over DX11.

So why does Team Red have this Vulkan advantage?

Well, Vulkan is derived from Mantle – an API created by AMD themselves targeting their GCN GPU architecture. So Radeon GPUs and Vulkan are well optimized for each other out of the gate before even considering architectural differences between AMD and Nvidia.

Nvidia GPUs – smoother frame pacing wins over AMD

However, don‘t count out Team Green yet! While Radeon sees bigger percentage gains over DX11, many gamers noted DX11 provides smoother frame delivery on higher tier Nvidia cards:

According to Tom‘s Hardware‘s resident GPU expert, while the RTX 3090 delivered higher FPS in Vulkan, DX11 had an advantage in frame time variances leading to a smoother feel. So competitive gamers may still want to stick with DX11 over Vulkan on their shiny RTX cards.

The verdict – depends on your GPU tier

Based on my testing and analysis, here is a cheat sheet on which graphics API to use for maximum performance based on GPU tier:

  • Entry level GPUs like RX 6500 XT: Vulkan
  • Mid range cards like RTX 3060: Vulkan on AMD, DX11 on Nvidia
  • High end cards like 6800 XT & 3080: DX11 for smoother frames

While AMD has the Vulkan advantage, modern top tier Nvidia cards certainly don‘t slouch – offering comparable or higher raw frame rates in many titles plus better frame time consistency under DX11.

I hope this detailed technical breakdown helps fellow gamers pick the right render path for their system! Feel free to reach out with any questions.

James K. Dorn, a passionate gamer deeply immersed in the world of video gaming. My journey in gaming is not just about playing; it's about exploring every facet of the games I love. I am particularly fascinated by the intricate worlds of role-playing games like "The Witcher" series and "Elder Scrolls: Skyrim," where every decision shapes the story.

As a strategy game enthusiast, I spend hours devising tactics in games like "Civilization VI" and "StarCraft II," always eager to share my strategies with fellow gamers. I'm also an ardent follower of the ever-evolving landscape of indie games, finding gems like "Hollow Knight" and "Celeste" that offer unique, compelling experiences.

My content isn't just reviews; it's about deep dives into game mechanics, storytelling, and the art of game design. I love dissecting the narratives of games like "The Last of Us" and discussing the innovative gameplay of titles like "Death Stranding."

Being at the forefront of gaming news, I eagerly anticipate and share insights on upcoming releases like the next big open-world adventure or the latest in the "Final Fantasy" series. My goal is to build a community where we not only play games but also appreciate the artistry and effort behind them. Join me in this gaming journey, where every session is an adventure, and every game is a story waiting to be told.

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