AMD Radeon HD 8750M vs NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only recorded benchmark comparison between the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M and the AMD Radeon HD 8750M is the Geekbench OpenCL test. In this single measurement, the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M scores 6493, while the AMD Radeon HD 8750M scores 5970. That is an 8.8% advantage for the NVIDIA part. The data shows a clear winner in direct competition, with the GT 555M holding a decisive lead in compute-oriented workloads.

Looking at the broader field, the GT 555M sits at the 37th percentile among all GPUs in the database, while the HD 8750M sits at the 34th percentile. This percentile gap aligns with the head-to-head result: the NVIDIA part is not just ahead of this specific AMD rival, it also ranks higher in the overall distribution of recorded scores. The GT 555M's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M5000M (6481, 0.2% behind), the AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile (6476, 0.3% behind), and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670M (6513, 0.3% ahead). The HD 8750M's nearest rivals are the NVIDIA Quadro K4000 (5982, 0.2% ahead), the NVIDIA Quadro K620M (5957, 0.2% behind), and the AMD Radeon HD 8730M (5955, 0.3% behind). These clusters confirm that the two cards operate in different performance tiers, with the GT 555M roughly 8% faster than its direct competitor.

The delta between the two cards is consistent across the board. In the head-to-head table, the GT 555M wins the only test by 8.8%. In the percentile ranking, the GT 555M is three points higher. In the nearest rival comparisons, the GT 555M's closest competitor scores 6481, which is still above the HD 8750M's best rival score of 5986. The pattern is uniform: NVIDIA's part occupies a higher performance band, and the AMD part trails by a margin that is meaningful but not overwhelming.

Where Each One Wins

The GT 555M wins the only benchmark category recorded: Geekbench OpenCL. With a score of 6493 against 5970, it takes the sole victory in the head-to-head comparison. The data shows no test where the HD 8750M comes out ahead. This is a straightforward outcome: the NVIDIA card is the faster of the two in compute tasks, and the AMD card has no recorded counter-win.

For users focused on OpenCL performance, the GT 555M is the clear choice. The 8.8% lead translates into tangible advantages in workloads that leverage general-purpose GPU compute. The HD 8750M, by contrast, offers no win condition in this dataset. Its only consolation is that it sits close to other entries in its own tier, such as the Quadro K4000 (5982) and the HD 8730M (5955), meaning it is competitive within its immediate peer group. But against the GT 555M specifically, it loses every measurable contest.

The use-case split is therefore simple: the GT 555M is for compute-bound tasks, and the HD 8750M is for situations where the user is constrained to that specific card for other reasons, such as platform availability. In pure performance terms, the database records no scenario where the AMD part wins.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations and are built on different fabrication processes. The NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M uses the GF106 chip, based on the Fermi architecture, and is fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC. The AMD Radeon HD 8750M uses the Mars chip, based on GCN 1.0, and is fabricated on a 28 nm process, also at TSMC. The process node difference is substantial: 40 nm versus 28 nm, which gives the AMD part a significant density advantage.

The transistor counts reflect this. The GT 555M packs 1,170 million transistors into a die size of 238 mm², resulting in a transistor density of 4.9 million transistors per square millimeter. The HD 8750M packs 950 million transistors into a much smaller die of 77 mm², achieving a transistor density of 12.3 million per square millimeter. The AMD chip is more than twice as dense, a direct consequence of the newer manufacturing process. The smaller die also suggests lower manufacturing costs per wafer, though the database does not record pricing details.

The compute architectures differ fundamentally. The GT 555M has 144 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 16 raster output units. The HD 8750M has 384 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 raster output units. The AMD card has more than double the shading units, but half the ROPs. This explains the benchmark outcome: the GT 555M wins in OpenCL despite having fewer shading units, likely due to architectural efficiency and higher memory subsystem performance per ROP.

The memory subsystems are identical in size and type. Both cards feature 1024 MB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, with the same 28.80 GB/s bandwidth. The memory clock is also the same: 900 MHz, with 1800 Mbps effective data rate. This means the memory bandwidth is not a differentiating factor. The performance difference comes entirely from the compute cores and the architecture itself.

The API support also differs. The GT 555M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6, but has no Vulkan support recorded. The HD 8750M supports DirectX 12 (11_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.170. The AMD card has a more modern API feature set, including Vulkan, which could matter for certain applications even though the raw OpenCL score favors NVIDIA.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across several specification fields, while sharing others. The process node is different: the GT 555M uses 40 nm, the HD 8750M uses 28 nm. The transistor count is different: 1,170 million for NVIDIA versus 950 million for AMD. The die size is different: 238 mm² versus 77 mm². The transistor density is different: 4.9 million per mm² versus 12.3 million per mm².

The clock speeds differ. The GT 555M has no base or boost clock recorded, only a memory clock of 900 MHz. The HD 8750M has a base clock of 775 MHz and a boost clock of 825 MHz, with the same memory clock of 900 MHz. This means the AMD card has explicit clock speed figures, while the NVIDIA card's core clock is not recorded in the database.

The shading unit count differs: 144 for NVIDIA versus 384 for AMD. The ROP count differs: 16 for NVIDIA versus 8 for AMD. The TMU count is the same at 24 for both. The pixel rate differs: 3.540 GPixel/s for NVIDIA versus 6.600 GPixel/s for AMD. The texture rate differs: 14.16 GTexel/s for NVIDIA versus 19.80 GTexel/s for AMD. The FP32 performance differs: 339.8 GFLOPS for NVIDIA versus 633.6 GFLOPS for AMD.

The TDP is recorded for the GT 555M at 35 W, but is not recorded for the HD 8750M. The bus interface differs: PCIe 2.0 x16 for NVIDIA versus PCIe 3.0 x8 for AMD. The display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent" for NVIDIA, while AMD has no display output data recorded. The release dates differ: the GT 555M was released in July 2011, the HD 8750M in February 2013. The production status is "End-of-life" for both. Neither card has a launch MSRP recorded in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher OpenCL benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M scores 6493, while the AMD Radeon HD 8750M scores 5970. The GT 555M leads by 8.8%.

Q: How do these cards compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The GT 555M's closest rival is the NVIDIA Quadro M5000M at 6481, a 0.2% difference. The HD 8750M's closest rival is the NVIDIA Quadro K4000 at 5982, a 0.2% difference.

Q: What are the memory specifications of both cards?

A: Both cards have 1024 MB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, with 28.80 GB/s bandwidth and a 900 MHz memory clock.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The AMD Radeon HD 8750M has 384 shading units, while the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M has 144 shading units.

Q: What is the process node difference?

A: The GT 555M is built on a 40 nm process, while the HD 8750M is built on a 28 nm process. Both are fabricated by TSMC.

Q: Does the AMD card support Vulkan?

A: Yes, the HD 8750M supports Vulkan 1.2.170. The GT 555M has no Vulkan support recorded in the database.

The Verdict

The data is unambiguous: the NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M outperforms the AMD Radeon HD 8750M in the only recorded benchmark. The GT 555M scores 6493 versus 5970, an 8.8% lead. It also holds a higher percentile ranking, at 37 versus 34. For any compute workload measured by OpenCL, the NVIDIA card is the better choice.

The HD 8750M has architectural advantages that do not translate into benchmark wins. It has more shading units (384 versus 144), higher pixel and texture rates (6.600 GPixel/s versus 3.540 GPixel/s, and 19.80 GTexel/s versus 14.16 GTexel/s), and double the FP32 performance (633.6 GFLOPS versus 339.8 GFLOPS). It also has a more modern API set, including Vulkan, and a much smaller die on a newer process node. Yet none of this produces a higher OpenCL score. The GT 555M wins on execution, not on paper specifications.

The GT 555M's closest rivals, such as the Quadro M5000M and the GTX 670M, all score within 0.3% of its result. The HD 8750M's closest rivals, such as the Quadro K4000 and the HD 8730M, cluster around 5955 to 5986. This places the two cards in distinct performance tiers, with no overlap in their recorded peer groups.

For users choosing between these two specific cards, the GT 555M is the pick for OpenCL compute performance. The HD 8750M is the pick only if Vulkan support or the smaller, denser chip matters more than raw benchmark results. The database records a single winner, and that winner is NVIDIA.