AMD Radeon 550X vs NVIDIA GRID K2 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a single direct comparison between the AMD Radeon 550X and the NVIDIA GRID K2 in the Geekbench OpenCL test. The NVIDIA GRID K2 wins this matchup by a decisive margin. The GRID K2 scores 10,602 points, while the AMD Radeon 550X scores 8,866 points. That represents a 16.4% advantage for the NVIDIA card, a substantial gap in raw compute performance.

Looking at the broader database context, the AMD Radeon 550X sits at the 45th percentile of all GPUs, with an average benchmark score of 8,918. Its closest rivals include the AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 at 8,863 (0.6% behind), the AMD Radeon R9 M265X at 8,851 (0.8% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 at 9,022 (1.2% ahead). The NVIDIA TITAN V CEO Edition also appears nearby at 9,037, just 1.3% above the 550X. These tight margins indicate the 550X is clustered in a competitive mid-range band, where even small architectural differences separate cards.

The NVIDIA GRID K2, by contrast, occupies the 42nd percentile with an average benchmark score of 8,080. Its nearest rivals are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti Boost at 8,067 (0.2% behind), the NVIDIA GeForce 945M at 8,099 (0.2% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti at 8,053 (0.3% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M at 8,040 (0.5% behind). Interestingly, the GRID K2's average score is dragged down by its Metal benchmark result of 5,557, while its OpenCL score of 10,602 is far stronger. This divergence suggests the GRID K2 is highly workload-dependent, excelling in OpenCL but struggling in Metal.

The head-to-head OpenCL result is the only direct benchmark shared between the two cards. In that test, the GRID K2 leads by 1,736 points. The 550X, however, shows a stronger Vulkan result at 8,970, though no direct Vulkan comparison exists for the GRID K2. The data indicates that the GRID K2's raw compute throughput, driven by its larger GPU, translates into a clear OpenCL victory.

The Verdict

The data points to a straightforward conclusion: the NVIDIA GRID K2 is the stronger card for OpenCL compute workloads. Its 16.4% lead over the AMD Radeon 550X in the only shared benchmark is not a marginal difference; it is a significant performance gap. The GRID K2 also has twice the memory capacity (4 GB versus 2 GB) and a wider 256-bit memory bus, which supports its higher bandwidth of 160.0 GB/s compared to the 550X's 112.0 GB/s.

However, the GRID K2 is not universally superior. Its average benchmark score of 8,080 is actually lower than the 550X's 8,918, due to the weak Metal score. The 550X also achieves a higher percentile ranking at 45 versus 42. For users working exclusively with Vulkan or Metal APIs, the 550X may be the better option, as its Vulkan score of 8,970 is competitive and its OpenCL score is not catastrophically behind.

The GRID K2 is a server-oriented card with no display outputs, meaning it cannot drive a monitor directly. The 550X, in contrast, includes 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, and 1x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. This makes the 550X the only viable choice for a desktop workstation requiring direct display connectivity.

For compute-heavy tasks using OpenCL, the GRID K2 is the clear winner. For general-purpose desktop use or Vulkan-based workloads, the 550X holds its own despite the OpenCL deficit. The choice hinges entirely on the target API and whether display outputs are required.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from fundamentally different architectural generations. The AMD Radeon 550X uses the Lexa chip built on GCN 4.0 architecture, part of the Polaris (RX 500X) generation. It is manufactured on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, with 2,200 million transistors packed into a 103 mm² die. This yields a transistor density of 21.4 million transistors per square millimeter, a relatively dense design for its era.

The NVIDIA GRID K2 uses the GK104 chip based on Kepler architecture, from the GRID (K2) generation. It is built on a 28 nm process at TSMC, with 3,540 million transistors spread across a 294 mm² die. The transistor density here is 12.0 million per square millimeter, reflecting the older, larger process node. The GRID K2 has significantly more silicon area, which allows for more compute resources despite the lower density.

Compute resources differ sharply. The 550X has 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 raster output units. The GRID K2 has 1,536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. These are large differences: the GRID K2 has three times the shading units and four times the TMUs. The pixel rate for the 550X is 19.49 GPixel/s, while the GRID K2 reaches 23.84 GPixel/s. The texture rate gap is even larger: 38.98 GTexel/s for the 550X versus 95.36 GTexel/s for the GRID K2.

Raw floating-point performance follows the same pattern. The 550X delivers 1,247.2 GFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16 (at a 1:1 ratio). The GRID K2 delivers 2.289 TFLOPS for FP32, which is roughly 84% higher than the 550X. The GRID K2 has no recorded FP16 capability in the database.

API support also differs. The 550X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The GRID K2 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The 550X has a more modern DirectX feature level (12_0 versus 11_0) and a newer Vulkan version. This matters for application compatibility, though the GRID K2's OpenCL performance suggests it was optimized for compute rather than gaming.

Specification Differences

The database lists several fields where the two cards diverge. Clock speeds differ, with the 550X having a base clock of 1082 MHz and a boost clock of 1218 MHz, while the GRID K2 has no recorded base or boost clocks. Memory clocks also differ: the 550X runs at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective), while the GRID K2 runs at 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective).

Memory configuration is a major differentiator. The 550X has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, yielding 112.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GRID K2 has 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, yielding 160.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GRID K2 offers double the capacity and 43% more bandwidth.

Power and physical requirements differ substantially. The 550X has a TDP of 50 W, requires no power connectors, and suggests a 250 W power supply. The GRID K2 has a TDP of 225 W, requires 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin power connectors, and suggests a 550 W power supply. The GRID K2 is also physically longer at 267 mm (10.5 inches) versus 145 mm (5.7 inches) for the 550X. Both are dual-slot cards.

Bus interface and display outputs differ. The 550X uses PCIe 3.0 x8, while the GRID K2 uses PCIe 3.0 x16. The 550X has display outputs (1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a), while the GRID K2 has no outputs. Release dates are far apart: the 550X launched on 2019-03-26, while the GRID K2 launched on 2013-05-10. The GRID K2 has a launch MSRP of 5,199 USD. Both cards are end-of-life.

FAQ

Q: Which card wins in OpenCL performance?

A: The NVIDIA GRID K2 wins decisively. It scores 10,602 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 16.4% higher than the AMD Radeon 550X's score of 8,866.

Q: Does the AMD Radeon 550X have any performance advantage?

A: Yes, in terms of average benchmark score. The 550X averages 8,918 across its recorded tests, while the GRID K2 averages 8,080. The 550X also ranks higher at the 45th percentile of all GPUs, compared to the GRID K2's 42nd percentile.

Q: Which card can connect to a display?

A: Only the AMD Radeon 550X. It has 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, and 1x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The NVIDIA GRID K2 has no display outputs at all.

Q: How do memory capacities compare?

A: The NVIDIA GRID K2 has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the AMD Radeon 550X has 2 GB. The GRID K2 also has a wider 256-bit bus and higher bandwidth at 160.0 GB/s versus 112.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The AMD Radeon 550X has a TDP of 50 W and requires no power connectors. The NVIDIA GRID K2 has a TDP of 225 W and requires 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin connectors. The suggested power supply is 250 W for the 550X and 550 W for the GRID K2.

Q: Which card has better API support?

A: The AMD Radeon 550X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The NVIDIA GRID K2 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The 550X has a higher DirectX feature level and newer Vulkan version.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA GRID K2 wins in raw compute throughput. Its OpenCL score of 10,602 is 16.4% ahead of the 550X, and it has superior texture rate (95.36 GTexel/s versus 38.98 GTexel/s) and pixel rate (23.84 GPixel/s versus 19.49 GPixel/s). Its FP32 performance of 2.289 TFLOPS is roughly 84% higher than the 550X's 1,247.2 GFLOPS. For server-side compute tasks, scientific simulations, or any workload that leverages OpenCL, the GRID K2 is the stronger choice. It also offers double the memory capacity (4 GB versus 2 GB) and higher bandwidth (160.0 GB/s versus 112.0 GB/s), which helps with large datasets.

The AMD Radeon 550X wins in versatility and efficiency. It has display outputs, making it usable in a standard desktop setup. Its TDP of 50 W is dramatically lower than the GRID K2's 225 W, and it requires no external power connectors. The 550X also has a newer Vulkan version (1.3 versus 1.2.175) and a higher DirectX feature level (12_0 versus 11_0), which may improve compatibility with modern applications. Its average benchmark score of 8,918 is higher than the GRID K2's 8,080, largely because the GRID K2's Metal score of 5,557 is very low. For Vulkan-based workloads or any use case requiring direct display output, the 550X is the practical pick.

The release dates tell a story of different eras. The GRID K2 launched in 2013 with a launch MSRP of 5,199 USD, targeting virtualized environments where display outputs are unnecessary. The 550X launched in 2019, benefiting from a smaller process node and more modern feature support. Both are end-of-life, but the 550X is the more recent design. The choice between them depends on whether the user prioritizes OpenCL compute power (GRID K2) or desktop usability and modern API support (550X).