AMD Radeon R9 M275X vs AMD Radeon RX 550X Comparison

AMD Radeon R9 M275X and AMD Radeon RX 550X are two end-of-life mobile graphics solutions separated by nearly five years of architectural evolution. The data shows a surprisingly even split in benchmark performance, with each card claiming one decisive victory in the head-to-head tests. The R9 M275X, built on GCN 1.0 with a 28 nm process, and the RX 550X, built on GCN 4.0 with a 14 nm process, deliver nearly identical average benchmark scores—10,582 and 10,481 respectively—placing both at the 49th percentile among all GPUs. This near-parity in overall performance, despite significant generational differences, makes the choice between them depend entirely on workload and API preference.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two GPUs split their head-to-head matchups exactly one win apiece, with the margin of victory favoring the older card. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the AMD Radeon R9 M275X scores 11,200 against the RX 550X’s 9,662, a commanding 15.9% advantage. This is a substantial gap, indicating that the R9 M275X’s compute throughput—driven by its 640 shading units and 1,184.0 GFLOPS FP32 rating—translates directly into superior OpenCL performance. The RX 550X, despite having fewer shading units (512), counters with a higher architecture efficiency, but the raw shader count advantage of the R9 M275X proves decisive in this compute-oriented workload.

The tables turn completely in the Geekbench Vulkan test. Here, the AMD Radeon RX 550X scores 11,299 against the R9 M275X’s 9,964, an 11.8% lead. This is a notable reversal, and the data suggests it stems from the RX 550X’s more modern API support. The RX 550X supports Vulkan 1.3, while the R9 M275X is limited to Vulkan 1.2.170. Additionally, the RX 550X’s DirectX 12 (12_0) feature level exceeds the R9 M275X’s DirectX 12 (11_1), which likely contributes to better low-level API performance. The R9 M275X’s higher OpenCL score does not carry over to Vulkan, indicating that the newer architecture’s driver and hardware improvements for modern graphics APIs are substantial.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, the R9 M275X’s average benchmark score of 10,582 places it 1% ahead of the RX 550X’s 10,481 average. This is a razor-thin margin, within the noise of typical benchmark variance. The nearest rival data reinforces this parity: the R9 M275X is 0.4% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6600S (average score 10,629) and 1% ahead of the RX 550X, while the RX 550X is 1.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6500M (average score 10,362) and 1.4% behind the RX 6600S. Both cards sit in a tight cluster of similarly performing GPUs, including the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti (10,690) and NVIDIA Quadro K2200 (10,761), neither of which the R9 M275X or RX 550X can clearly outpace in aggregate.

The Verdict

The benchmark data presents a clear split: choose the AMD Radeon R9 M275X if your primary workloads rely on OpenCL compute, where its 15.9% head-to-head advantage is decisive. Its 640 shading units and higher FP32 throughput of 1,184.0 GFLOPS make it the stronger choice for OpenCL-accelerated applications, and its 72.00 GB/s memory bandwidth, while lower than the RX 550X’s 96.00 GB/s, does not hinder it in this specific test.

Choose the AMD Radeon RX 550X if you prioritize modern graphics API compatibility and Vulkan performance. Its 11.8% lead in the Geekbench Vulkan test is significant, and its support for Vulkan 1.3, DirectX 12 (12_0), and DisplayPort 1.4a outputs makes it the more future-proof option for contemporary game engines and graphics workloads. The RX 550X also offers double the memory (4 GB vs 2 GB) and higher memory bandwidth (96.00 GB/s vs 72.00 GB/s), which can matter in texture-heavy scenarios even if the synthetic benchmarks do not fully reflect it.

For users who need a balanced GPU for mixed workloads, the data does not favor either decisively. The 1% average score difference is negligible, and both cards occupy the same 49th percentile. The deciding factor should be the specific API or application type you use most, not the overall average.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent distinct generations of AMD’s Graphics Core Next architecture, with the R9 M275X using GCN 1.0 and the RX 550X using GCN 4.0. The R9 M275X is built on a 28 nm process at TSMC, packing 1,500 million transistors into a 123 mm² die with a transistor density of 12.2 million per mm². The RX 550X, in contrast, uses a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, fitting 2,200 million transistors into a smaller 103 mm² die, achieving a much higher density of 21.4 million per mm². This generational leap in process technology explains how the RX 550X delivers comparable performance with fewer compute units.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The R9 M275X runs at a base clock of 900 MHz with a boost of 925 MHz, while the RX 550X operates at 1,100 MHz base and 1,183 MHz boost. This 18-28% clock advantage helps the RX 550X compensate for its 20% fewer shading units (512 vs 640) and TMUs (32 vs 40). Both cards have 16 ROPs, and their pixel rates are close—14.80 GPixel/s for the R9 M275X versus 18.93 GPixel/s for the RX 550X—reflecting the RX 550X’s higher clocks. Texture rates are nearly identical: 37.00 GTexel/s for the R9 M275X and 37.86 GTexel/s for the RX 550X.

Memory configurations also differ meaningfully. The R9 M275X has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, running at 1,125 MHz (4.5 Gbps effective) for 72.00 GB/s bandwidth. The RX 550X doubles capacity to 4 GB, also on a 128-bit bus, but runs memory at 1,500 MHz (6 Gbps effective) for 96.00 GB/s—a 33% bandwidth advantage. The RX 550X also supports FP16 compute at 1,211.4 GFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while the R9 M275X has no FP16 capability listed.

Power and physical characteristics differ as well. The RX 550X has a rated TDP of 50 W, requires no power connectors, and is a dual-slot card measuring 145 mm (5.7 inches) in length, with a suggested power supply of 250 W. The R9 M275X has no TDP or physical dimension data in the records. The RX 550X uses a PCIe 3.0 x8 interface, while the R9 M275X uses PCIe 3.0 x16.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has better OpenCL performance?

A: The AMD Radeon R9 M275X scores 11,200 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 15.9% higher than the RX 550X’s 9,662. Its 640 shading units and 1,184.0 GFLOPS FP32 rating provide a clear compute advantage.

Q: Which GPU has better Vulkan performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 550X scores 11,299 in Geekbench Vulkan, an 11.8% lead over the R9 M275X’s 9,964. The RX 550X supports Vulkan 1.3, while the R9 M275X only supports Vulkan 1.2.170, explaining the newer card’s advantage.

Q: How do their memory configurations compare?

A: The RX 550X has 4 GB of GDDR5 memory with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth, while the R9 M275X has 2 GB with 72.00 GB/s. Both use a 128-bit bus, but the RX 550X’s higher memory clock (1,500 MHz vs 1,125 MHz) provides 33% more bandwidth.

Q: What are the process node differences?

A: The R9 M275X uses a 28 nm process at TSMC with 1,500 million transistors on a 123 mm² die, while the RX 550X uses a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries with 2,200 million transistors on a 103 mm² die, resulting in a much higher transistor density.

Q: Which card has higher clock speeds?

A: The RX 550X runs at 1,100 MHz base and 1,183 MHz boost, compared to the R9 M275X’s 900 MHz base and 925 MHz boost. The RX 550X’s clocks are roughly 20-28% higher.

Q: Do both cards support the same DirectX version?

A: No. The RX 550X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), while the R9 M275X only supports DirectX 12 (11_1). The RX 550X also supports newer display outputs including HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort 1.4a.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Radeon R9 M275X wins in OpenCL compute workloads. Its 15.9% head-to-head lead in Geekbench OpenCL is the largest margin in any comparison. The 640 shading units and 1,184.0 GFLOPS FP32 throughput make it the stronger choice for compute-accelerated applications that rely on OpenCL, such as certain scientific simulations, video encoding tools, and older professional software. Its PCIe 3.0 x16 interface also provides double the bus bandwidth of the RX 550X’s x8 interface, which can benefit data-transfer-heavy compute tasks.

AMD Radeon RX 550X wins in Vulkan-based gaming and modern graphics APIs. Its 11.8% advantage in Geekbench Vulkan, combined with Vulkan 1.3 and DirectX 12 (12_0) support, makes it the better option for contemporary game engines that leverage these APIs. The 4 GB memory capacity and 96.00 GB/s bandwidth provide more headroom for high-resolution textures and modern game assets. Its higher clocks (1,183 MHz boost) and pixel rate (18.93 GPixel/s) also give it an edge in rasterization-bound scenarios. The RX 550X’s lower TDP of 50 W and lack of power connectors make it more suitable for compact or power-constrained systems. For users targeting esports titles, DX12 games, or Vulkan-based emulators, the RX 550X is the data-backed pick.