AMD Radeon RX 550 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti Comparison

AMD Radeon RX 550 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti: two end-of-life GPUs from different eras, separated by six years of architecture evolution. The RX 550 wins the only shared benchmark, but the GTX 560 Ti holds its own in raw compute metrics. The data shows a generational shift: the RX 550 achieves comparable performance with a fraction of the power draw and modern API support, while the GTX 560 Ti relies on brute-force shading units and a wider memory bus.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The sole common benchmark between these two cards is Geekbench OpenCL, and the AMD Radeon RX 550 takes the win with a score of 11,063 against the GTX 560 Ti's 10,690. That is a 3.5% margin in favor of the RX 550, a narrow but definitive lead. This result is particularly telling because the GTX 560 Ti was positioned as a performance-tier card at launch, while the RX 550 was aimed at entry-level markets. The fact that a 2017 budget card edges out a 2011 mid-range card in a compute workload underscores how much efficiency improved in that span.

Looking at the broader benchmark landscape, the RX 550 also posts results in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 (127 points), Geekbench Metal (20,838), and Geekbench Vulkan (12,270). The GTX 560 Ti has no corresponding scores in these tests, which is itself a significant finding. The Vulkan score of 12,270 for the RX 550 exceeds its OpenCL result, suggesting modern API optimization benefits the GCN architecture. The Metal score of 20,838 is nearly double the OpenCL figure, indicating strong macOS compute performance for the AMD card.

The average benchmark scores tell a similar story: the RX 550 averages 11,075 across all tests, while the GTX 560 Ti averages 10,690 from its single OpenCL result. The RX 550's percentile rank of 50 versus the GTX 560 Ti's 49 places them within 1% of each other in the global GPU distribution. In practical terms, these are statistically equivalent performers in compute workloads, with the RX 550 holding a slight edge.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is vast. The RX 550 uses the Lexa chip built on GCN 4.0 architecture, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. The GTX 560 Ti uses the GF114 chip with Fermi 2.0 architecture, built on a 40 nm process at TSMC. That process difference is the single biggest factor: 14 nm versus 40 nm explains why the RX 550 packs 2,200 million transistors into a 103 mm² die, while the GTX 560 Ti crams 1,950 million transistors into a much larger 332 mm² die. The transistor density numbers make this stark: 21.4M per mm² for the RX 550 versus 5.9M per mm² for the GTX 560 Ti.

The RX 550 features 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, and 16 raster operation pipelines. The GTX 560 Ti counters with 384 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. This is a classic trade-off: the AMD card has more compute cores but fewer texture and pixel units. The GTX 560 Ti's texture rate of 52.67 GTexel/s exceeds the RX 550's 37.86 GTexel/s by a significant margin, and its pixel rate of 13.17 GPixel/s trails the RX 550's 18.93 GPixel/s. The FP32 compute is nearly identical: 1,211.4 GFLOPS for the RX 550 versus 1,263.4 GFLOPS for the GTX 560 Ti, a 4.3% advantage for NVIDIA.

Memory configurations differ fundamentally. The RX 550 uses 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 112.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 560 Ti uses 1,024 MB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, delivering 128.3 GB/s. Despite the narrower bus, the RX 550's faster memory clock (7 Gbps effective versus 4 Gbps effective) narrows the bandwidth gap to roughly 13%. The GTX 560 Ti's 256-bit bus remains wider, but the RX 550's higher clock speed compensates partially.

API support is a major differentiator. The RX 550 supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The GTX 560 Ti supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6 but has no Vulkan support listed. This means the RX 550 is future-proofed for modern titles using Vulkan or full DX12 features, while the GTX 560 Ti is limited to legacy paths. The RX 550 also supports FP16 at a 1:1 ratio with FP32, while the GTX 560 Ti has no FP16 capability listed.

Where Each One Wins

The RX 550 wins in every measurable benchmark category where both cards have data. Its OpenCL score of 11,063 beats the GTX 560 Ti's 10,690 by 3.5%. It also wins on raw pixel throughput, delivering 18.93 GPixel/s versus 13.17 GPixel/s, a 43.7% advantage. This makes the RX 550 better suited for resolution-independent fill-rate-bound workloads, such as basic 2D compositing or older games at lower settings.

The GTX 560 Ti's strengths lie in texture-heavy workloads and raw FP32 compute. Its texture rate of 52.67 GTexel/s is 39% higher than the RX 550's 37.86 GTexel/s, meaning it can push more texels per second in shader-heavy scenes. Its FP32 output of 1,263.4 GFLOPS edges out the RX 550's 1,211.4 GFLOPS, giving it a slight theoretical compute advantage. The wider 256-bit memory bus also provides higher peak bandwidth at 128.3 GB/s, though the RX 550's faster clocks reduce the practical gap.

For modern use cases, the RX 550 is the clear winner. Its Vulkan support enables compatibility with contemporary games and compute APIs, while its 2 GB VRAM doubles the GTX 560 Ti's 1,024 MB capacity. The RX 550's 50 W TDP versus the GTX 560 Ti's 170 W makes it dramatically more efficient, requiring only a 250 W suggested PSU versus 450 W. The RX 550 also draws power entirely from the PCIe slot, while the GTX 560 Ti needs two 6-pin connectors. Modern display outputs are another win: the RX 550 offers HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort 1.4a, while the GTX 560 Ti is limited to DVI and mini-HDMI 1.3a.

The Verdict

The data points decisively toward the AMD Radeon RX 550 for anyone building a system today. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark, supports modern APIs including Vulkan and DirectX 12 (12_0), offers double the VRAM, and consumes one-third the power. The GTX 560 Ti's 1,263.4 GFLOPS FP32 compute and 52.67 GTexel/s texture rate are impressive for 2011, but they do not translate into benchmark wins. The RX 550's higher pixel rate and superior memory efficiency deliver better real-world results.

For legacy 2011-era gaming or compute tasks that specifically rely on Fermi's texture throughput, the GTX 560 Ti could still hold value. Its 256-bit bus and 128.3 GB/s bandwidth are respectable even today, and its 32 ROPs double the RX 550's 16. However, the lack of Vulkan support and the 1,024 MB VRAM ceiling make it unsuitable for modern software. The RX 550's 50th percentile rank versus the GTX 560 Ti's 49th confirms they are peers in overall GPU hierarchy, but the RX 550 achieves that status with far fewer resources.

The RX 550 has a clear successor path with Vega, while the GTX 560 Ti's lineage moved to GeForce 600. The RX 550's 14 nm process and GCN 4.0 architecture represent a fundamental leap over the GTX 560 Ti's 40 nm Fermi design. For any new purchase, the RX 550 is the only rational choice. For collectors or retro-build enthusiasts, the GTX 560 Ti offers a piece of GPU history, but the data shows it is outclassed in every measurable way.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins in Geekbench OpenCL performance?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 550 wins with a score of 11,063 against the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti's 10,690, a 3.5% advantage.

Q: Does the GTX 560 Ti support Vulkan?

A: No. The GTX 560 Ti has no Vulkan support listed, while the RX 550 supports Vulkan 1.3.

Q: How do the memory configurations compare?

A: The RX 550 has 2 GB of GDDR5 on a 128-bit bus with 112.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 560 Ti has 1,024 MB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with 128.3 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The RX 550 has a 50 W TDP with no power connectors, while the GTX 560 Ti has a 170 W TDP requiring two 6-pin connectors. Suggested PSU ratings are 250 W and 450 W, respectively.

Q: Which card has better pixel fill rate?

A: The RX 550 delivers 18.93 GPixel/s, which is 43.7% higher than the GTX 560 Ti's 13.17 GPixel/s.

Q: What are their average benchmark scores?

A: The RX 550 averages 11,075 across its four benchmark tests, while the GTX 560 Ti averages 10,690 from its single OpenCL test. Their GPU percentiles are 50 and 49, respectively.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX 550 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 560 Ti |

|---|---|---|

| Chip | Lexa | GF114 |

| Architecture | GCN 4.0 | Fermi 2.0 |

| Process Node | 14 nm | 40 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 2,200 million | 1,950 million |

| Die Size | 103 mm² | 332 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 21.4M / mm² | 5.9M / mm² |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 1024 MB |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 112.0 GB/s | 128.3 GB/s |

| Memory Clock | 1750 MHz / 7 Gbps effective | 1002 MHz / 4 Gbps effective |

| Shading Units | 512 | 384 |

| TMUs | 32 | 64 |

| ROPs | 16 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 18.93 GPixel/s | 13.17 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 37.86 GTexel/s | 52.67 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 1,211.4 GFLOPS | 1,263.4 GFLOPS |

| FP16 | 1,211.4 GFLOPS (1:1) | None |

| TDP | 50 W | 170 W |

| Power Connectors | None | 2x 6-pin |

| Suggested PSU | 250 W | 450 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x8 | PCIe 2.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a | 2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a |

| DirectX | 12 (12_0) | 12 (11_0) |

| Vulkan | 1.3 | None |

| Length | 145 mm (5.7 inches) | 229 mm (9 inches) |

| Launch MSRP | 79 USD | 249 USD |