The AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 and Nvidia GB10 (DGX Spark) are both high-performance, compact AI systems. The GB10 stands out for its powerful AI computing, reaching up to 1 petaflop, enabled by its Blackwell architecture. The Ryzen AI Max Plus 395 offers better CPU performance and uses less power, while the GB10 has a more advanced AI software ecosystem and stronger GPU performance.
AMD Ryzen AI Max (395) Key Points:
- Architecture: 16-core/32-thread Zen 5 CPU with Radeon 8060s Graphics (RDNA 3.5).
- Performance: ~1.28x faster in general CPU benchmarks compared to GB10 in early testing.
- AI power: 50 NPU/TOPS designed for local AI content creation and gaming.
- Efficiency: uses less power on average (103W compared to 133W for the GB10 system).
- Use case: Best for developers who need a high-performance x86 system with strong built-in graphics.
NVIDIA GB10 (DGX Spark) Key Points:
- Architecture: Blackwell GPU with 5th Gen Tensor cores paired with A20 core ARM Grace CPU.
- AI Performance: Can deliver up to 1 petaflop of AI computing power, making it better for demanding AI training and inference tasks.
- Memory: 128 GB of LPDDR5X, well-suited for working with large language models.
- Software: More mature ecosystem for AI development.
- Use case: Best suited for AI researchers and engineers who need the highest possible GPU performance.
Specifications and Architecture
The two platforms use very different architectures.
| AMD Ryzen AI Max + 395 | Nvidia GB10 |
| Architecture: Zen 5 CPU, RDNA 3.5 GPU, XDNA 2 NPU. | Architecture, 20 Arm cores (Cortex-X925 and A725), Blackwell GPU. |
| CPU cores: 16 high-performance Zen 5 cores | 20 ARM AArch 64 cores (10 high power, 10 low power) |
| GPU cores: 40 GPU compute units. | GPU Cores: Highly Capable Blackwell Architecture GPU. |
| Memory up to 128 GB of unified LPDDR5 memory. | Memory: 128GB of LPDDR5X memory |
| The operating system runs on Windows and Linux. | Operating system runs on Nvidia DGX OS, (Ubuntu-based Linux). |
Comparison Overview
- Performance: The GB10 is usually better for GPU-intensive tasks thanks to its Blackwell architecture. The Ryzen AI Max+ 395 is stronger in general GPU tasks and uses less total system power.
- Cost: The GB10 platform usually costs more ($4139) than Ryzen AI Max + systems, which range from $1800 to $2900.
Verdict: Choose the Nvidia GB10 for maximum AI compute potential and software maturity. Choose the AMD Ryzen AI Max Plus for a balanced, cost-effective, and power-efficient x86 platform.
The DGX Spark is a great choice for those who need a high-throughput, large-model setup, thanks to the GB10 super chip that delivers 1P-flops at FP4. However, for live inference tasks on the AMD platform, it provides similar performance at a lower cost, which is especially helpful if your workload needs low latency.
For example, the top-tier EVO-X2 from GMKtec costs $2,199 (MSRP $2,800) for the 128GB and 2TB versions. In comparison, the DGX Spark sells for $4,000, with some models around $3,000. If you want to run models locally without spending too much, workstations like the EVO-X2 are a good choice. They are more affordable than most DJX Spark options.
