AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT vs Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT and Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics represent two fundamentally different approaches to GPU design, yet they compete in the same performance neighborhood. The data shows a single direct head-to-head benchmark, but the surrounding specification sheets and rival comparisons reveal a clear hierarchy. The RX 5500 XT is a discrete, power-hungry card from the Radeon RX 5000 series, while the Iris Xe MAX is a low-power integrated graphics solution (IGP) from Intel’s Xe Graphics generation. Their average benchmark scores are close, but the nature of that performance diverges sharply.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the result is decisive. The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT scores 46,965, while the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics manages 14,315. This translates to a delta of 228.1%, meaning the RX 5500 XT is more than three times faster in this compute-oriented workload. That is a massive gap, and it sets the tone for the entire comparison. The RX 5500 XT does not merely edge out the Iris Xe MAX; it overwhelms it in raw throughput.

However, the story is not entirely one-sided when looking at broader benchmark aggregates. The RX 5500 XT has an average benchmark score of 14,692 across eleven tests, while the Iris Xe MAX has an average of 14,315 from a single Geekbench OpenCL run. The difference here is only 2.6%, which suggests that in some synthetic tests, the Intel part might be closer than the OpenCL result implies. Yet, the RX 5500 XT’s other scores—like its Passmark G3D score of 9,083 and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1,032—show strength in gaming and DirectX workloads where the Iris Xe MAX has no comparable data. The single OpenCL result for Intel is its only data point, so any inference about its gaming performance is speculative.

The RX 5500 XT also holds a slight edge in its percentile ranking, sitting at the 57th percentile of all GPUs, versus the Iris Xe MAX’s 56th percentile. That one-point difference indicates they occupy nearly the same tier in the broader market, but the head-to-head compute result shows that tier placement can be misleading. The delta in OpenCL is so large that it likely skews the averages if both were tested across identical suites. The data implies that the RX 5500 XT is the clear winner in raw number crunching, but the Iris Xe MAX’s efficiency profile might make it more suitable for specific constrained environments.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT has an average benchmark score of 14,692, compared to the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics’ 14,315. This gives the AMD card a 2.6% advantage in aggregate performance.

Q: How much faster is the RX 5500 XT in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The RX 5500 XT scores 46,965 versus 14,315 for the Iris Xe MAX, making it 228.1% faster in that specific compute test.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same DirectX and Vulkan versions?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, according to the API listings.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference between the two?

A: Both have 4 GB of memory on a 128-bit bus, but the RX 5500 XT uses GDDR6 with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the Iris Xe MAX uses LPDDR4X with 68.26 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has a higher transistor density?

A: The RX 5500 XT has a transistor density of 40.5M per mm², while the Iris Xe MAX’s transistor density is not listed in the data.

Q: Are both GPUs considered end-of-life?

A: Yes, both the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT and the Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics are listed with an “End-of-life” production status.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is stark. The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT is built on the Navi 14 chip using RDNA 1.0 architecture, fabricated on a 7 nm process at TSMC. It contains 6,400 million transistors on a 158 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 40.5M per mm². In contrast, the Intel Iris Xe MAX uses the DG1 chip with Generation 12.1 architecture, built on a 10 nm process at Intel. Its die size is 95 mm², but the transistor count and density are not provided. This means the AMD chip packs significantly more transistors into a larger area, while Intel’s design is smaller but less densely packed per the available data.

The shading resources differ dramatically. The RX 5500 XT has 1,408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 raster output units (ROPs). The Iris Xe MAX has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. This nearly halved execution resource count explains the large OpenCL delta. Clock speeds also differ: the RX 5500 XT has a base clock of 1607 MHz, a boost clock of 1845 MHz, and a game clock of 1717 MHz. The Iris Xe MAX has a base clock of just 300 MHz and a boost clock of 1650 MHz, with no game clock specified. The low base clock for Intel suggests aggressive power-saving behavior, while the boost clock is closer to AMD’s figures.

The memory subsystems are also architecturally distinct. The RX 5500 XT uses GDDR6 memory at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective), while the Iris Xe MAX uses LPDDR4X at 2133 MHz (4.3 Gbps effective). Both have a 128-bit bus, but the resulting bandwidth is 224.0 GB/s for AMD versus 68.26 GB/s for Intel. That is a 3.3x difference in memory bandwidth, which directly impacts texture and pixel throughput. The RX 5500 XT achieves a pixel rate of 59.04 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 162.4 GTexel/s, while the Iris Xe MAX manages 39.60 GPixel/s and 79.20 GTexel/s.

Specification Differences

Several key specifications separate these two GPUs. The process node differs: AMD uses 7 nm, Intel uses 10 nm. The foundries are different—TSMC for AMD, Intel for Intel. The die size is 158 mm² for the RX 5500 XT versus 95 mm² for the Iris Xe MAX. Transistor count is 6,400 million for AMD, while Intel’s is not listed. Power consumption is a major divider: the RX 5500 XT has a TDP of 130 W, while the Iris Xe MAX is rated at just 25 W. The RX 5500 XT requires a dual-slot cooler and a 1x 8-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 300 W. The Iris Xe MAX is an IGP with no power connectors and a suggested PSU of 200 W.

The bus interface is identical—PCIe 4.0 x8—but the display outputs differ entirely. The RX 5500 XT has 1x HDMI 2.0b and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, while the Iris Xe MAX has no outputs, as it is an integrated part. The RX 5500 XT has a length of 180 mm (7.1 inches), while the Iris Xe MAX has no listed dimensions. The release dates also differ: the RX 5500 XT launched on 2019-12-11, while the Iris Xe MAX launched on 2020-10-30. The RX 5500 XT has a launch MSRP of 169 USD, while the Iris Xe MAX has no launch MSRP listed. The RX 5500 XT’s predecessor is Vega and successor is Navi II, while the Iris Xe MAX’s predecessor is Graphics and successor is Alchemist.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT wins decisively in raw compute performance. Its Geekbench OpenCL score is 228.1% higher than the Iris Xe MAX’s, and it also holds advantages in pixel rate (59.04 vs 39.60 GPixel/s) and texture rate (162.4 vs 79.20 GTexel/s). Its FP32 throughput is 5.196 TFLOPS versus 2.534 TFLOPS, and its FP16 output is 10.39 TFLOPS versus 5.069 TFLOPS. The RX 5500 XT also has a much higher memory bandwidth at 224.0 GB/s versus 68.26 GB/s, which benefits bandwidth-sensitive workloads like high-resolution textures and compute shaders. Its average benchmark score of 14,692 is higher, and it has a broader benchmark suite, including 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 and multiple Passmark DirectX tests, where it shows strength. The RX 5500 XT is the clear choice for any task that requires sustained computational throughput, such as gaming at higher settings or GPU-accelerated rendering.

The Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics wins in efficiency and form factor. Its TDP of 25 W is drastically lower than the RX 5500 XT’s 130 W, making it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where power and heat are constraints. Its 95 mm² die size is smaller, and its base clock of 300 MHz suggests aggressive power gating. The Iris Xe MAX has no display outputs, meaning it is designed to work alongside a CPU’s integrated graphics or as a compute accelerator in a system with a separate display path. Its average benchmark score of 14,315 is close to the RX 5500 XT’s average, and its percentile ranking of 56 versus 57 shows that in aggregate, it is not far behind. For users who need a modest GPU for light compute tasks without the power draw of a discrete card, the Iris Xe MAX is the more practical option. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti (with a delta of 0.3%), indicating it performs in a surprisingly high tier for its power envelope.

The Verdict

The data makes the verdict clear for most users: the AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT is the superior performer. Its 228.1% lead in Geekbench OpenCL is the single largest delta in the entire comparison, and it also leads in every throughput metric—FP32, FP16, pixel rate, texture rate, and memory bandwidth. Its average benchmark score of 14,692 is higher than the Iris Xe MAX’s 14,315, and its 57th percentile ranking edges out Intel’s 56th. The RX 5500 XT is the only one of the two with display outputs, making it a complete standalone graphics solution. Its 4 GB of GDDR6 memory at 224.0 GB/s is far more capable than the Iris Xe MAX’s LPDDR4X at 68.26 GB/s. For gaming, rendering, or any compute-heavy workload, the RX 5500 XT is the only rational choice, provided the 130 W TDP and dual-slot footprint are acceptable.

The Intel Iris Xe MAX Graphics, however, is not without its merits. Its 25 W TDP is a fraction of the RX 5500 XT’s 130 W, and its 95 mm² die size is smaller. Its average benchmark score of 14,315 is within 2.6% of the AMD card’s average, and its nearest rival list includes the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Ti, which is a high-performance card. This suggests that for a 25 W part, the Iris Xe MAX delivers remarkable efficiency. It is an IGP with no display outputs, so it is meant for systems where the CPU handles display and this GPU accelerates specific tasks. The data indicates that for users who prioritize low power consumption and a compact footprint over raw speed, the Iris Xe MAX is a viable option. But for anyone who needs a GPU that can handle demanding workloads today, the RX 5500 XT is the decisive winner. The benchmark numbers do not lie: one is a full-fledged discrete card, and the other is an efficiency-focused accelerator.