GPU Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 480 and NVIDIA T550 Mobile represent two very different approaches to graphics processing: a desktop-oriented, high-power part from 2016 versus a mobile-focused, ultra-efficient chip from the Turing era. The benchmark data shows a clear overall winner in raw performance, but the specification sheets reveal why each product exists in its respective market segment.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the head-to-head benchmark tests?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 480 wins both available head-to-head tests. It scores 37,998 in Geekbench OpenCL versus 35,521 for the NVIDIA T550 Mobile (a 7% lead), and it scores 45,968 in Geekbench Vulkan versus 30,801 (a 49.2% lead).

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The RX 480 has an average benchmark score of 33,997, while the T550 Mobile averages 33,161. The RX 480 also holds a higher percentile ranking at 78 versus 77 for the T550 Mobile among all GPUs.

Q: What is the TDP difference between the two cards?

A: The RX 480 has a TDP of 150 W, while the T550 Mobile is rated at just 23 W. This represents a massive efficiency gap, with the mobile chip consuming roughly 85% less power.

Q: Do they support the same graphics APIs?

A: Both support DirectX 12 and OpenGL 4.6. The RX 480 supports Vulkan 1.3, while the T550 Mobile supports Vulkan 1.4. The T550 Mobile supports DirectX 12_1, whereas the RX 480 is limited to 12_0.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each card?

A: The RX 480's nearest rival is the AMD Radeon HD 7950, with a deltaPct of 0.1%. The T550 Mobile's closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile, with a deltaPct of 0%.

Q: Which card has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The RX 480 offers 256.0 GB/s bandwidth over a 256-bit bus with 8 GB GDDR5. The T550 Mobile provides 96.00 GB/s over a 64-bit bus with 4 GB GDDR6.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural split is between AMD's GCN 4.0 and NVIDIA's Turing. The RX 480 uses the Ellesmere chip, built on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, containing 5,700 million transistors on a 232 mm² die. The T550 Mobile uses the TU117 chip, manufactured by TSMC on a 12 nm process, with 4,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die. Transistor density is similar, 24.6M per mm² for the AMD part versus 23.5M per mm² for the NVIDIA chip.

The compute configuration differs dramatically. The RX 480 packs 2,304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The T550 Mobile has 1,024 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. This means AMD has more than double the shader count, but NVIDIA compensates with a much higher boost clock: 1,665 MHz versus 1,266 MHz for the RX 480. Base clocks are closer at 1,065 MHz and 1,120 MHz respectively.

Memory architecture is another major differentiator. The RX 480 uses 8 GB of GDDR5 across a 256-bit bus, yielding 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The T550 Mobile uses 4 GB of GDDR6 across a 64-bit bus, yielding just 96.00 GB/s. While the NVIDIA card uses faster memory technology (12 Gbps effective versus 8 Gbps effective), its narrow bus severely limits total throughput.

Feature-wise, neither card has dedicated ray tracing or tensor cores. The RX 480 supports PCIe 3.0 x16 and outputs via 1x HDMI 2.0b plus 3x DisplayPort 1.4a. The T550 Mobile also uses PCIe 3.0 x16 but has portable-device-dependent display outputs, reflecting its mobile nature. The RX 480 is a dual-slot card requiring a 6-pin power connector and a 450 W suggested PSU, while the T550 Mobile is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no power connectors.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data contains only two benchmark comparisons, both favoring the AMD Radeon RX 480. In Geekbench OpenCL, the RX 480 scores 37,998 against 35,521 for the T550 Mobile. This 7% delta is a modest win, reflecting that OpenCL workloads can leverage the raw compute resources of the desktop card, but the T550 Mobile's higher clock speed helps it stay competitive despite having fewer than half the shading units.

The Geekbench Vulkan result is far more decisive. The RX 480 scores 45,968, while the T550 Mobile manages only 30,801. That is a 49.2% advantage for AMD. Vulkan's lower-level API appears to benefit the RX 480's larger memory bandwidth and wider bus, allowing it to feed its 2,304 shaders more effectively. The T550 Mobile's 64-bit memory interface becomes a bottleneck in this scenario, despite the higher effective memory clock.

Looking at the broader benchmark picture, the RX 480 also has a Geekbench Metal score of 51,057 and a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 966, though the T550 Mobile has no corresponding results in those tests. The average benchmark scores, 33,997 for the RX 480 versus 33,161 for the T550 Mobile, show a 2.5% overall gap, which is smaller than the Vulkan delta suggests because the T550 Mobile's OpenCL result is relatively strong.

In the nearest rivals comparison, the RX 480 sits within 0.5% of the AMD Radeon RX 7700S and the NVIDIA RTX A2000 12 GB, while the T550 Mobile trades blows with the RTX 3050 Mobile and the AMD Radeon Pro 570. This indicates the T550 Mobile is competitive with entry-level mobile discrete GPUs, while the RX 480 holds its own against much newer mid-range parts.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: the AMD Radeon RX 480 is the superior performer in every benchmark category where both cards were tested. Its 49.2% Vulkan lead is substantial, and even its smaller 7% OpenCL advantage is consistent. For anyone prioritizing raw graphics throughput, the RX 480 is the obvious choice.

However, the verdict changes when power consumption enters the equation. The RX 480 draws 150 W and requires a dedicated power connector plus a 450 W PSU, making it a desktop-only solution. The T550 Mobile draws just 23 W and requires no external power, fitting into the IGP slot. This makes the NVIDIA part suitable for thin-and-light laptops where battery life and thermals are paramount.

The specification differences reinforce this split. The RX 480 has 8 GB of VRAM and 256.0 GB/s of bandwidth, essential for high-resolution textures and memory-heavy workloads. The T550 Mobile's 4 GB and 96.00 GB/s are limiting, but its GDDR6 memory and 12 Gbps effective speed show NVIDIA's focus on efficiency rather than brute bandwidth.

The T550 Mobile's higher boost clock (1,665 MHz versus 1,266 MHz) and superior FP16 throughput (6.820 TFLOPS versus 5.834 TFLOPS) indicate it is optimized for workloads that leverage rapid clock ramping and half-precision math. The RX 480 counters with 5.834 TFLOPS FP32 performance versus 3.410 TFLOPS for the mobile chip, giving AMD a 71% advantage in full-precision compute.

Ultimately, the RX 480 is for users who need maximum performance in a desktop chassis with power to spare. The T550 Mobile is for those who need capable graphics in a power-constrained mobile environment. The benchmark results favor AMD decisively, but the TDP figures explain why NVIDIA's offering exists at all.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every major specification category. The process node is 14 nm for the RX 480 versus 12 nm for the T550 Mobile, with the former built by GlobalFoundries and the latter by TSMC. Transistor counts are 5,700 million versus 4,700 million, and die sizes are 232 mm² versus 200 mm².

Clock speeds show a split: the RX 480 has a higher base clock (1,120 MHz versus 1,065 MHz), but the T550 Mobile has a much higher boost clock (1,665 MHz versus 1,266 MHz). Memory clocks are 2000 MHz (8 Gbps effective) for AMD versus 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective) for NVIDIA, though the RX 480's 256-bit bus dwarfs the T550 Mobile's 64-bit bus, resulting in 256.0 GB/s versus 96.00 GB/s bandwidth.

Memory capacity is 8 GB GDDR5 versus 4 GB GDDR6. The RX 480 has 2,304 shading units, 144 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, while the T550 Mobile has 1,024 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. Pixel rates are 40.51 GPixel/s for AMD versus 53.28 GPixel/s for NVIDIA, but texture rates favor AMD at 182.3 GTexel/s versus 106.6 GTexel/s.

FP32 compute is 5.834 TFLOPS for the RX 480 versus 3.410 TFLOPS for the T550 Mobile. FP16 is 5.834 TFLOPS (1:1) for AMD versus 6.820 TFLOPS (2:1) for NVIDIA. TDP is 150 W versus 23 W. The RX 480 is dual-slot with a 6-pin connector and 450 W suggested PSU; the T550 Mobile is IGP with no connectors. Display outputs are 1x HDMI 2.0b plus 3x DisplayPort 1.4a versus portable-device-dependent. The RX 480 measures 240 mm by 95 mm by 35 mm, while the T550 Mobile has no listed dimensions. The RX 480 carries a 229 USD launch MSRP; the T550 Mobile has no listed launch price.