AMD Radeon RX 550X vs NVIDIA Quadro K4200 Comparison

The Verdict

The benchmark data clearly favors the NVIDIA Quadro K4200 in both recorded tests. The Quadro K4200 wins the OpenCL test with a score of 12313 against the Radeon RX 550X's 9662, a 27.4% advantage. In Vulkan, the margin narrows but the Quadro still leads, posting 12482 versus 11299, a 10.5% difference. The database records 2 wins for the Quadro K4200 and 0 for the Radeon RX 550X in their head-to-head comparison.

For users prioritizing raw compute performance in these specific workloads, the Quadro K4200 is the clear choice. Its average benchmark score of 12398 places it at the 52nd percentile among all GPUs, while the RX 550X sits at 10481 and the 49th percentile. The Quadro also sits closer to stronger rivals: it trails the NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm by just 1.8%, whereas the RX 550X trails the AMD Radeon RX 6600S by 1.4% and the AMD Radeon R9 M275X by 1%.

However, the Radeon RX 550X is not without its merits in the data. It consumes only 50 W TDP versus 108 W for the Quadro, requires no power connectors, and carries a longer production viability in terms of API support, including DirectX 12 (12_0), Vulkan 1.3, and HDMI 2.0b. The Quadro, by contrast, supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175. Users who need modern API compatibility or lower power draw may find the RX 550X more suitable, provided they accept the compute performance deficit.

Architecture Differences

The two cards come from fundamentally different design eras and philosophies. The NVIDIA Quadro K4200 is built on the Kepler architecture using the GK104 chip, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 3,540 million transistors into a 294 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.0 million per mm². This is a professional workstation card from the Quadro Kepler (Kx200) generation, released in July 2014.

The AMD Radeon RX 550X uses the GCN 4.0 architecture with the Lexa chip, fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries. It contains 2,200 million transistors on a much smaller 103 mm² die, achieving a higher transistor density of 21.4 million per mm². This card belongs to the Polaris (RX 500X) generation and was released in December 2018, over four years after the Quadro.

The compute resources differ substantially. The Quadro K4200 features 1,344 shading units, 112 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units. The RX 550X has 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. Despite having fewer units, the RX 550X runs at higher clocks: 1100 MHz base and 1183 MHz boost, compared to the Quadro's 771 MHz base and 784 MHz boost.

API support shows a generational gap. The Quadro supports DirectX 12 (11_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.2.175. The RX 550X supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The RX 550X also offers FP16 compute at 1,211.4 GFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while the Quadro lists no FP16 capability. The Quadro's FP32 throughput is 2.107 TFLOPS, notably higher than the RX 550X's 1,211.4 GFLOPS.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two recorded benchmark tests paint a consistent picture. In Geekbench OpenCL, the Quadro K4200 scores 12313 against the RX 550X's 9662. This 27.4% margin is substantial and reflects the Quadro's much higher shading unit count and FP32 throughput. The Quadro's 2.107 TFLOPS FP32 performance and 172.8 GB/s memory bandwidth give it a clear edge in compute-heavy OpenCL workloads.

In Geekbench Vulkan, the gap narrows considerably. The Quadro scores 12482 versus 11299 for the RX 550X, a 10.5% advantage. This smaller delta suggests that the RX 550X's newer architecture and better Vulkan implementation (1.3 versus 1.2.175) help it close some of the raw compute gap. The RX 550X also runs at significantly higher clocks, which likely contributes to its relatively stronger Vulkan showing.

The Quadro's average benchmark score of 12398 places it just 1.8% behind the NVIDIA Tesla K20Xm and 2.5% behind the AMD Radeon RX 7600M XT. It is 3.3% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960A. The RX 550X's average of 10481 sits 0.8% ahead of the NVIDIA Tesla C2075, 1.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 6500M, but 1% behind the AMD Radeon R9 M275X and 1.4% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6600S.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ across nearly every major specification category. The Quadro K4200 uses a 256-bit memory bus with 172.8 GB/s bandwidth, while the RX 550X uses a 128-bit bus with 96.00 GB/s. Both have 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, but the Quadro's memory runs at 1350 MHz (5.4 Gbps effective) versus the RX 550X's 1500 MHz (6 Gbps effective). The wider bus gives the Quadro a decisive bandwidth advantage despite lower memory clocks.

Physical specifications diverge sharply. The Quadro is a single-slot card measuring 241 mm (9.5 inches) in length and 111 mm (4.4 inches) in height, requiring a 1x 6-pin power connector and a 300 W suggested PSU. The RX 550X is a dual-slot card at 145 mm (5.7 inches) in length, requires no power connectors, and has a 250 W suggested PSU. The Quadro's TDP is 108 W, more than double the RX 550X's 50 W.

The bus interface also differs: the Quadro uses PCIe 2.0 x16, while the RX 550X uses PCIe 3.0 x8. Display outputs vary as well, with the Quadro offering 1x DVI and 2x DisplayPort 1.2, while the RX 550X provides 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0b, and 1x DisplayPort 1.4a. The RX 550X's newer display outputs support higher bandwidth standards.

FAQ

Q: Which card has higher raw compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K4200. It scores 12313 in OpenCL and 12482 in Vulkan, compared to 9662 and 11299 for the AMD Radeon RX 550X. Its FP32 throughput is 2.107 TFLOPS versus 1,211.4 GFLOPS for the RX 550X.

Q: Which card consumes less power?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 550X, with a 50 W TDP compared to the Quadro K4200's 108 W. The RX 550X also requires no power connectors, while the Quadro needs a 1x 6-pin connector.

Q: Do both cards support the same DirectX version?

A: No. The Quadro K4200 supports DirectX 12 (11_0), while the AMD Radeon RX 550X supports DirectX 12 (12_0). The RX 550X has a higher feature level.

Q: Which card has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K4200 has 1,344 shading units, compared to 512 for the AMD Radeon RX 550X. The Quadro also has 112 TMUs and 32 ROPs versus 32 TMUs and 16 ROPs on the RX 550X.

Q: Is the RX 550X's Vulkan support better?

A: Yes. The RX 550X supports Vulkan 1.3, while the Quadro K4200 supports Vulkan 1.2.175. This newer API support likely contributes to the RX 550X's relatively smaller deficit in the Vulkan benchmark.

Q: Which card has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA Quadro K4200, with 172.8 GB/s over a 256-bit bus. The AMD Radeon RX 550X offers 96.00 GB/s over a 128-bit bus, despite having a higher effective memory clock of 6 Gbps versus 5.4 Gbps.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA Quadro K4200 wins decisively in compute-heavy workloads. Its 27.4% OpenCL advantage and 10.5% Vulkan advantage make it the stronger choice for tasks that stress raw shading power, texture throughput, and memory bandwidth. The Quadro's 2.107 TFLOPS FP32 performance, 87.81 GTexel/s texture rate, and 21.95 GPixel/s pixel rate all exceed the RX 550X's corresponding figures of 1,211.4 GFLOPS, 37.86 GTexel/s, and 18.93 GPixel/s. The 172.8 GB/s memory bandwidth also gives it a substantial edge in bandwidth-sensitive workloads.

The AMD Radeon RX 550X wins on efficiency and modern feature support. Its 50 W TDP is less than half the Quadro's 108 W, and it needs no auxiliary power connectors. The RX 550X also supports DirectX 12 (12_0), Vulkan 1.3, HDMI 2.0b, and DisplayPort 1.4a, all of which are newer than the Quadro's equivalents. Its 14 nm process and higher transistor density (21.4M per mm² versus 12.0M per mm²) reflect a more modern manufacturing approach. For compact builds or systems with limited power delivery, the RX 550X's 145 mm length and connector-free design are practical advantages.

The data suggests a clear performance hierarchy, but the choice depends on the use case. Users who need maximum compute performance in OpenCL or Vulkan should select the Quadro K4200. Users who prioritize low power consumption, modern API support, and newer display outputs should consider the RX 550X, accepting its lower benchmark scores. The RX 550X's Vulkan score of 11299 is still respectable, and its 1.2% lead over the AMD Radeon RX 6500M in average score shows it remains competitive within its own performance tier.