AMD Radeon RX 5500M vs AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 Comparison

The AMD Radeon RX 5500M is decisively faster than the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 across every shared benchmark, with the gap ranging from roughly 62% to 68% depending on the API. The RX 5500M wins all three head-to-head tests, while the RX Vega 11, an integrated graphics processor, trails by margins that make it a non-contender for any task where the discrete GPU is available. The data shows a clear hierarchy: the RX 5500M is a dedicated mobile graphics solution built on newer 7nm silicon, whereas the RX Vega 11 is a 12nm IGP designed for basic visual output and light workloads.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins in the Geekbench Metal test?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 5500M wins decisively with a score of 50,359, compared to 17,086 for the AMD Radeon RX Vega 11. This represents a delta of -66.1% for the Vega 11, meaning the RX 5500M is nearly three times faster in this compute API.

Q: How large is the performance gap in OpenCL workloads?

A: The RX 5500M scores 38,725 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the RX Vega 11 scores 12,525. The delta is -67.7%, the largest margin of any test in the comparison, indicating the discrete GPU holds its biggest advantage in this particular compute workload.

Q: Does the RX Vega 11 have any advantage in the head-to-head benchmarks?

A: No. The RX Vega 11 loses all three available head-to-head tests. Its best relative performance comes in the Vulkan test, where it scores 13,543 against 35,693 for the RX 5500M, a delta of -62.1%.

Q: Are these GPUs from the same architectural generation?

A: No. The RX Vega 11 uses GCN 5.0 architecture on a 12nm process with the Picasso chip, while the RX 5500M uses RDNA 1.0 architecture on a 7nm process with the Navi 14 chip. The RX 5500M is also part of the Radeon RX 5000 series.

Q: What is the transistor count difference between the two?

A: The RX 5500M has 6,400 million transistors on a 158 mm² die, while the RX Vega 11 has 4,940 million transistors on a 210 mm² die. The RX 5500M achieves a higher transistor density of 40.5M / mm² versus 23.5M / mm² for the RX Vega 11.

Q: Which GPU offers dedicated video memory?

A: Only the RX 5500M features dedicated memory, with 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus delivering 224.0 GB/s bandwidth. The RX Vega 11 uses system-shared memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent" and no dedicated VRAM of its own.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent fundamentally different design philosophies and manufacturing generations. The RX Vega 11 is built on the older GCN 5.0 architecture, using the Picasso chip fabricated on a 12nm process by GlobalFoundries. This is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 15W TDP, designed to share system memory and rely on the motherboard for display outputs. Its die size is 210 mm², which is physically larger than the RX 5500M's die despite containing fewer transistors — 4,940 million versus 6,400 million. The transistor density tells the story: the RX Vega 11 packs 23.5M transistors per mm², while the RX 5500M achieves 40.5M / mm² on TSMC's 7nm process.

The RX 5500M uses the newer RDNA 1.0 architecture with the Navi 14 chip. This architecture shift brings a different execution model, with the RX 5500M featuring 1,408 shading units, 88 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 render output units (ROPs). The RX Vega 11 has 704 shading units, 44 TMUs, and only 8 ROPs. The ROP count difference is particularly stark — the RX 5500M has four times the pixel throughput capability, which directly impacts fill-rate-bound scenarios. The RX 5500M also operates with a PCIe 4.0 x8 bus interface, whereas the RX Vega 11 uses an IGP bus interface with no dedicated connection.

Memory architecture diverges completely. The RX 5500M has 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The RX Vega 11 has no dedicated memory of its own; it uses system-shared memory, with bandwidth described as "System Dependent." Clock speeds also differ significantly: the RX Vega 11 has a base clock of 300 MHz and boost of 1400 MHz, while the RX 5500M runs at a base of 1375 MHz, a game clock of 1448 MHz, and a boost of 1645 MHz. The RX 5500M also supports Vulkan 1.4, while the RX Vega 11 is limited to Vulkan 1.3, though both support DirectX 12 (12_1) and OpenGL 4.6.

The Verdict

The benchmark data is unambiguous: the AMD Radeon RX 5500M is the superior GPU for any compute or graphics workload measured. It wins all three head-to-head benchmarks with deltas ranging from -62.1% to -67.7% against the RX Vega 11. The RX 5500M's average benchmark score of 13,356 places it in the 54th percentile of all GPUs, while the RX Vega 11's average of 14,385 places it in the 56th percentile — but this apparent contradiction is explained by the fact that the RX Vega 11's percentile is inflated by its IGP-class rivals, whereas the RX 5500M competes against a broader field that includes older discrete parts.

The RX 5500M should be chosen by anyone who needs a discrete mobile GPU capable of handling modern gaming and compute tasks. Its 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, 224.0 GB/s bandwidth, and 4.632 TFLOPS of FP32 performance make it a legitimate entry-level discrete solution. The RX Vega 11, by contrast, is an integrated solution with 1.971 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, no dedicated memory, and a 15W TDP that is clearly meant for power-constrained systems where discrete graphics are not an option. The data shows that the RX 5500M is roughly 2.3 times faster in FP32 throughput, and its nearest rivals include the AMD FirePro M6100 and Radeon Pro 555X, whereas the RX Vega 11's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN and GTX 965M.

For users who must rely on integrated graphics, the RX Vega 11 is a capable IGP, but it is not in the same performance class as the RX 5500M. The choice is not close in any measured metric: the RX 5500M wins the Metal, OpenCL, and Vulkan tests by massive margins. Any system with the RX 5500M will deliver dramatically better performance in GPU-accelerated applications, and the only reason to select the RX Vega 11 is if the system form factor or power budget absolutely prohibits a discrete GPU.

Specification Differences

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX Vega 11 | AMD Radeon RX 5500M |

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

| Architecture | GCN 5.0 | RDNA 1.0 |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 7 nm |

| Foundry | GlobalFoundries | TSMC |

| Transistors | 4,940 million | 6,400 million |

| Die Size | 210 mm² | 158 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 23.5M / mm² | 40.5M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 300 MHz | 1375 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1400 MHz | 1645 MHz |

| Memory Size | System Shared | 4 GB |

| Memory Type | System Shared | GDDR6 |

| Memory Bus Width | System Shared | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | System Dependent | 224.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 704 | 1408 |

| TMUs | 44 | 88 |

| ROPs | 8 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 11.20 GPixel/s | 52.64 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 61.60 GTexel/s | 144.8 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 1.971 TFLOPS | 4.632 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 3.942 TFLOPS (2:1) | 9.265 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 15 W | 85 W |

| Bus Interface | IGP | PCIe 4.0 x8 |

| Vulkan Support | 1.3 | 1.4 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench Metal test shows the RX 5500M scoring 50,359 against the RX Vega 11's 17,086, a delta of -66.1%. This is the largest absolute point gap in the comparison, and it demonstrates the RX 5500M's superiority in Apple's Metal API, which is relevant for macOS-compatible workloads. The RX Vega 11's score of 17,086 is closer to its OpenCL result of 12,525 than to any RX 5500M figure, suggesting the IGP performs relatively consistently across compute APIs but at a much lower absolute level.

In Geekbench OpenCL, the RX 5500M scores 38,725 while the RX Vega 11 scores 12,525, yielding a delta of -67.7%. This is the largest percentage margin of any test, indicating that the RX 5500M's advantage is most pronounced in this particular compute workload. The OpenCL result aligns with the raw hardware differences: the RX 5500M has exactly twice the shading units (1,408 vs 704), twice the TMUs (88 vs 44), and 2.35 times the FP32 throughput (4.632 TFLOPS vs 1.971 TFLOPS). The memory bandwidth difference is even more extreme, with the RX 5500M delivering 224.0 GB/s versus the RX Vega 11's system-dependent shared memory.

The Geekbench Vulkan test shows the RX 5500M scoring 35,693 against the RX Vega 11's 13,543, a delta of -62.1%. This is the narrowest margin of the three tests, but still a massive advantage for the RX 5500M. The Vulkan result is notable because it is the only test where the RX Vega 11's score exceeds its OpenCL score, while the RX 5500M's Vulkan score is actually lower than its OpenCL score. This suggests the RX Vega 11's GCN architecture handles Vulkan relatively better than OpenCL, but the overall performance hierarchy remains unchanged.

The RX 5500M also has additional benchmark data that the RX Vega 11 lacks, including PassMark tests. The RX 5500M scores 5,848 in PassMark G3D, 2,316 in GPU Compute, and 414 in G2D. It also shows strong DirectX 9 performance with a score of 100, while DirectX 10 and 11 scores are 39 and 35 respectively, and DirectX 12 comes in at 28. These numbers are not comparable to the RX Vega 11 since the IGP has no PassMark results in the data, but they provide context for the RX 5500M's overall capability profile.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 5500M wins in every benchmark category where both GPUs have data. It is the clear choice for any application that leverages Metal, OpenCL, or Vulkan compute APIs. The RX 5500M's 4 GB of GDDR6 memory with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth makes it suitable for texture-heavy workloads and modern game assets, while its 52.64 GPixel/s pixel rate and 144.8 GTexel/s texture rate provide substantial fill-rate headroom. With 4.632 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, it can handle real-time graphics at playable settings in most titles, and its 9.265 TFLOPS of FP16 performance offers acceleration for applications that utilize half-precision math.

The RX Vega 11 wins in power efficiency and integration, with a 15W TDP compared to the RX 5500M's 85W. It requires no power connectors and uses system-shared memory, making it suitable for ultra-thin laptops and compact systems where discrete GPUs cannot physically fit. Its 1.971 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 3.942 TFLOPS of FP16 performance are sufficient for basic desktop compositing, video playback, and light productivity tasks. The RX Vega 11's 11.20 GPixel/s pixel rate and 61.60 GTexel/s texture rate are adequate for 2D workloads and older or less demanding 3D applications.

The use-case split is straightforward: the RX 5500M is for gaming, 3D rendering, video editing, and any GPU-accelerated compute task where performance matters. The RX Vega 11 is for basic system functionality, office productivity, media consumption, and scenarios where the power budget and thermal envelope are severely constrained. The RX 5500M's nearest rivals in the data — the AMD FirePro M6100, Radeon HD 8950M, Radeon Pro 555X, and Radeon Pro 555 — are all discrete mobile parts, underscoring its position in the dedicated GPU market. The RX Vega 11's nearest rivals — the NVIDIA GeForce GTX TITAN, GTX 965M, and Intel Iris Xe MAX — include another IGP (the Intel part), but the NVIDIA parts are discrete, which shows that the Vega 11's performance can sometimes approach older discrete solutions but not modern ones like the RX 5500M.