AMD Radeon Pro W5500 vs AMD Radeon RX 7700 Comparison

The data presents a stark generational contrast. The AMD Radeon RX 7700, built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, utterly dominates the older AMD Radeon Pro W5500, which is based on the first-generation RDNA 1.0 design. Across every single benchmark recorded, the RX 7700 secures a decisive victory, often by margins exceeding 100%. The following analysis details the architectural chasm, the specific benchmark deltas, and what these results mean for a potential buyer.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the AMD Radeon RX 7700 than the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The RX 7700 scores 106,028 points, which is 132.4% higher than the Pro W5500's score of 45,615 points. This means the RX 7700 is more than twice as fast in this compute test.

Q: Which card has a higher average benchmark score, and what do the rival comparisons suggest?

A: The RX 7700 has a higher average benchmark score of 15,852 compared to the Pro W5500's 15,679. The data shows they are extremely close overall, with the RX 7700 performing 1.1% better than the Pro W5500, while the Pro W5500 trails by 1.1% when viewed from its perspective.

Q: What is the difference in the DirectX 11 and DirectX 12 benchmark results?

A: In the Passmark DirectX 11 test, the RX 7700 scores 186 versus the Pro W5500's 56, a massive 232.1% advantage. For DirectX 12, the RX 7700 scores 96, which is 146.2% higher than the Pro W5500's score of 39.

Q: Are there any benchmarks where the AMD Radeon Pro W5500 wins?

A: No. According to the head-to-head data, the AMD Radeon RX 7700 wins all 8 benchmark comparisons. The AMD Radeon Pro W5500 has zero wins in the recorded tests.

Q: How do the memory subsystems compare between the two cards?

A: The RX 7700 features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 624.1 GB/s. In contrast, the Pro W5500 has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s.

Q: What is the production status of each card?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 7700 is currently listed as "Active" in production. The AMD Radeon Pro W5500 is listed as "End-of-life".

Architecture Differences

The fundamental difference lies in the two generations of RDNA architecture. The RX 7700 utilizes the RDNA 3.0 architecture on a 5 nm process node from TSMC, while the Pro W5500 is built on the original RDNA 1.0 architecture using a larger 7 nm process. This node shrink contributes to a massive difference in transistor density, with the RX 7700 packing 81.2 million transistors per mm² versus 40.5 million for the Pro W5500.

The chip designs are entirely distinct. The RX 7700 is powered by the Navi 32 chip, which contains 28,100 million transistors on a 346 mm² die. The Pro W5500 uses the much smaller Navi 14 chip, with 6,400 million transistors on a 158 mm² die. This difference in scale is reflected in nearly every compute unit. The RX 7700 has 2,560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 96 render output units (ROPs). The Pro W5500 is equipped with 1,408 shading units, 88 TMUs, and only 32 ROPs.

A critical feature difference is the inclusion of ray tracing cores. The RX 7700 has 40 dedicated RT cores, a hallmark of the RDNA 3.0 generation. The Pro W5500 has no RT cores listed, highlighting its older design that relies on traditional rasterization only. This is a major functional gap for modern gaming and rendering workloads. Furthermore, the RX 7700 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the Pro W5500 is limited to DirectX 12 (12_1). Both cards support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4.

The memory architecture also differs drastically. The RX 7700's 16 GB frame buffer and 256-bit bus provide a 624.1 GB/s bandwidth, which is nearly three times the 224.0 GB/s of the Pro W5500. This is a direct consequence of the more advanced memory controller and wider bus on the newer card.

The Verdict

The data unequivocally points to the AMD Radeon RX 7700 as the superior performer. It wins every single benchmark comparison, often by margins that are difficult to overstate. For any workload that relies on raw graphics processing power, DirectX 12 Ultimate features, or high-bandwidth memory, the RX 7700 is the clear choice. Its active production status and support for modern APIs like ray tracing make it a future-proof option for gaming and content creation.

The AMD Radeon Pro W5500, despite its "Pro" designation, is a legacy product from a previous generation. Its benchmark scores are consistently a fraction of the RX 7700's performance. While it holds a 0.8% advantage over the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti in its nearest rival list, this does not translate to competitiveness against the RX 7700. The data suggests this card is only suitable for users with extremely specific legacy requirements or those who are constrained to a single-slot, lower-power form factor.

Choosing between these two is not a question of trade-offs, but of recognizing a complete generational leap. The RX 7700 offers over double the performance in key areas like DirectX 11 and G3D, and its 16 GB of memory is double the capacity of the Pro W5500. Unless a specific need for the Pro W5500's single-slot design or its 125 W power draw exists, the RX 7700 is the only rational choice based on the benchmark data.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets reveal a clear divide in performance class and intended use.

• Chip & Process: The RX 7700 uses the Navi 32 chip on a 5 nm process, while the Pro W5500 uses the Navi 14 chip on a 7 nm process.
• Transistors & Die: The RX 7700 has 28,100 million transistors on a 346 mm² die. The Pro W5500 has 6,400 million transistors on a 158 mm² die.
• Architecture: The RX 7700 is based on RDNA 3.0, while the Pro W5500 uses RDNA 1.0.
• Clock Speeds: The RX 7700 has a base clock of 1900 MHz and a boost clock of 2459 MHz. The Pro W5500 has a base clock of 1744 MHz and a boost clock of 1855 MHz.
• Memory: The RX 7700 features 16 GB GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus (624.1 GB/s). The Pro W5500 features 8 GB GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus (224.0 GB/s).
• Core Counts: The RX 7700 has 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. The Pro W5500 has 1,408 shading units, 88 TMUs, and 32 ROPs.
• Ray Tracing: The RX 7700 has 40 RT cores; the Pro W5500 has none.
• Power & Physical: The RX 7700 is a 200 W dual-slot card requiring a 550 W PSU and two 8-pin connectors. The Pro W5500 is a 125 W single-slot card requiring a 300 W PSU and one 6-pin connector.
• Bus Interface: The RX 7700 uses PCIe 4.0 x16, while the Pro W5500 uses PCIe 4.0 x8.
• Display Outputs: The RX 7700 offers 1x HDMI 2.1a, 2x DisplayPort 2.1, and 1x USB Type-C. The Pro W5500 offers 4x DisplayPort 1.4a.
• DirectX Support: The RX 7700 supports 12 Ultimate (12_2); the Pro W5500 supports 12 (12_1).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results are a one-sided affair, with the RX 7700 winning all 8 comparisons. The most dramatic difference is in the Passmark DirectX 11 test, where the RX 7700 scores 186 against the Pro W5500's 56. This 232.1% delta is the largest single victory for the newer card and highlights the massive improvement in driver-level and API efficiency between the two generations.

In the broader Passmark G3D test, which is a general indicator of gaming performance, the RX 7700 scores 20,974, a 133.6% improvement over the Pro W5500's score of 8,978. This result is mirrored in the Geekbench OpenCL test, where the RX 7700's 106,028 score is 132.4% higher than the Pro W5500's 45,615. These two tests alone establish the RX 7700 as being in a completely different performance tier.

The compute potential is also significantly higher. The Passmark GPU Compute test shows the RX 7700 at 10,963, which is 128.2% ahead of the Pro W5500's 4,804. Even in the less demanding legacy DirectX 9 and DirectX 10 tests, the RX 7700 maintains a massive lead, scoring 261 and 92 respectively, compared to 126 and 47 for the Pro W5500. This consistency across all API levels shows the architectural advantage is not confined to modern workloads. The smallest margin of victory is in the Passmark G2D test, where the RX 7700 leads by 49.6%, scoring 1,206 versus 806.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 7700 wins in every measurable category. Its victories span all benchmark types: compute, gaming, and 2D. The data indicates a clear win for users who prioritize performance in modern DirectX 12 Ultimate games, GPU-accelerated compute tasks, and any workload that can utilize its 16 GB of VRAM.

The AMD Radeon Pro W5500 does not have a performance win, but its specifications suggest a niche for specific use cases. Its single-slot design and 125 W TDP make it suitable for compact, low-power workstations where space and thermal output are primary constraints. Its 4x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs might also be preferable for multi-display setups without adapters. However, in terms of raw benchmark scores, the RX 7700 is the definitive winner across the board.