AMD Radeon RX 6550S vs Intel Arc A380E Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database does not contain recorded benchmark scores for either the AMD Radeon RX 6550S or the Intel Arc A380E. Both entries show an average benchmark score of zero and no rival listings, and the head-to-head benchmark table is empty. Consequently, the wins count for each part is zero. This means the comparison must rely entirely on architectural and specification data rather than measured performance deltas.

Without empirical scores, the relative performance cannot be expressed as a percentage advantage in any workload. What the recorded data does show is the theoretical peak throughput for each GPU. The AMD part reaches 4.915 TFLOPS FP32, while the Intel part reaches 4.096 TFLOPS FP32. That difference suggests the AMD GPU holds a roughly 20% lead in raw shader throughput. However, the Intel GPU has a wider memory bus and higher memory bandwidth, which could offset that advantage in memory-bound scenarios. The absence of benchmark data means these remain theoretical observations, not confirmed results.

The pixel rate figures also differ. The RX 6550S outputs 76.80 GPixel/s, while the Arc A380E outputs 64.00 GPixel/s. Similarly, the texture rate for the AMD part is 153.6 GTexel/s versus 128.0 GTexel/s for the Intel part. Both GPUs share the same shading unit count (1024) and the same TMU count (64), so the clock speed differences drive the throughput gap. The RX 6550S boosts to 2400 MHz, whereas the Arc A380E maintains a flat 2000 MHz across base and boost. That 400 MHz difference explains the higher fill rates and FP32 output for the AMD GPU.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Radeon RX 6550S uses the Navi 24 chip built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture, produced on a 6 nm process at TSMC. The Intel Arc A380E uses the DG2-128 chip built on the Xe-HPG architecture, also produced on a 6 nm process at TSMC. Both share the same foundry and process node, but the transistor counts diverge. The AMD chip contains 5,400 million transistors on a 107 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 50.5 million per mm². The Intel chip contains 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die, with a transistor density of 45.9 million per mm². The Intel die is about 47% larger in area and holds about 33% more transistors, but the AMD die achieves a higher packing density.

The memory subsystems differ substantially. The RX 6550S has 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus, yielding 128.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Arc A380E has 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus, yielding 186.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel part provides 50% more memory capacity and roughly 45% more bandwidth. The AMD memory clock runs at 2000 MHz with 16 Gbps effective, while the Intel memory clock runs at 1937 MHz with 15.5 Gbps effective. Despite the slightly lower memory clock, the wider bus gives Intel the bandwidth advantage.

Ray tracing hardware also differs. The AMD GPU includes 16 ray tracing cores, while the Intel GPU includes 8. This suggests the AMD part has double the RT core count, though the architectural implementation of ray tracing differs between RDNA 2.0 and Xe-HPG. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

The power and form factor characteristics are distinct. The RX 6550S has a TDP of 50 W, uses an integrated form factor (IGP), and requires no power connectors. The Arc A380E has a TDP of 75 W, uses a single-slot form factor, also requires no power connectors, but lists a suggested PSU of 250 W. The AMD part is clearly designed for mobile integration, while the Intel part is a discrete card with physical dimensions of 254 mm length, 127 mm height, and 20 mm width.

The bus interface also differs. The RX 6550S uses PCIe 4.0 x4, while the Arc A380E uses PCIe 4.0 x8. The Intel card thus has double the PCIe lane width, which can matter for bandwidth-sensitive workloads that exceed the card's onboard memory. Display outputs vary as well: the AMD GPU's outputs are listed as portable device dependent, while the Intel card provides 4x DisplayPort 2.0.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more memory bandwidth?

A: The Intel Arc A380E has 186.0 GB/s of bandwidth, compared to 128.0 GB/s for the AMD Radeon RX 6550S. The Intel card uses a 96-bit bus with 6 GB of GDDR6, while the AMD card uses a 64-bit bus with 4 GB of GDDR6.

Q: What is the difference in FP32 compute throughput?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6550S delivers 4.915 TFLOPS FP32, while the Intel Arc A380E delivers 4.096 TFLOPS FP32. The AMD part leads by approximately 20% in raw shader performance, based on its higher boost clock of 2400 MHz versus 2000 MHz.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same graphics APIs?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. There is no difference in API feature levels between the two.

Q: Which GPU has more ray tracing cores?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6550S has 16 ray tracing cores, while the Intel Arc A380E has 8. The AMD part has double the RT core count, though the architectural efficiency of those cores may differ.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6550S has a TDP of 50 W and uses an IGP form factor with no power connectors. The Intel Arc A380E has a TDP of 75 W, is a single-slot card with no power connectors, and lists a suggested PSU of 250 W.

Q: When were these GPUs released?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6550S was released on January 3, 2023. The Intel Arc A380E was released on March 31, 2024. The Intel card is listed as end-of-life, while the AMD card remains in active production.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the AMD Radeon RX 6550S and the Intel Arc A380E:

• Chip: Navi 24 (AMD) versus DG2-128 (Intel)
• Architecture: RDNA 2.0 versus Xe-HPG
• Generation: Navi Mobile (RX 6000M) versus Alchemist (Arc 3)
• Transistors: 5,400 million versus 7,200 million
• Die Size: 107 mm² versus 157 mm²
• Transistor Density: 50.5M per mm² versus 45.9M per mm²
• Base Clock: 2000 MHz versus 2000 MHz (same)
• Boost Clock: 2400 MHz versus 2000 MHz
• Game Clock: 2170 MHz versus not applicable
• Memory Clock: 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective) versus 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective)
• Memory Size: 4 GB versus 6 GB
• Memory Bus Width: 64 bit versus 96 bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 128.0 GB/s versus 186.0 GB/s
• Pixel Rate: 76.80 GPixel/s versus 64.00 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 153.6 GTexel/s versus 128.0 GTexel/s
• FP32 Performance: 4.915 TFLOPS versus 4.096 TFLOPS
• FP16 Performance: 9.830 TFLOPS versus 8.192 TFLOPS
• Ray Tracing Cores: 16 versus 8
• TDP: 50 W versus 75 W
• Slot Width: IGP versus Single-slot
• Suggested PSU: Not listed versus 250 W
• Bus Interface: PCIe 4.0 x4 versus PCIe 4.0 x8
• Display Outputs: Portable Device Dependent versus 4x DisplayPort 2.0
• Dimensions: Not listed versus 254 mm x 127 mm x 20 mm
• Production Status: Active versus End-of-life
• Release Date: January 3, 2023 versus March 31, 2024
• Predecessor: Polaris Mobile versus Xe Graphics
• Successor: Not listed versus Battlemage

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 6550S wins in raw compute throughput. Its FP32 output of 4.915 TFLOPS exceeds the Intel part's 4.096 TFLOPS by a meaningful margin. The pixel rate of 76.80 GPixel/s and texture rate of 153.6 GTexel/s are both higher than the Intel card's respective 64.00 GPixel/s and 128.0 GTexel/s. The higher boost clock of 2400 MHz contributes directly to these wins. Additionally, the AMD GPU has double the ray tracing cores (16 versus 8), which may provide an advantage in ray-traced workloads, though no benchmark data confirms this. The lower TDP of 50 W versus 75 W means the AMD part is more power-efficient on paper, and its IGP form factor suits integrated or mobile designs where space is constrained.

The Intel Arc A380E wins in memory capacity and bandwidth. Its 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus delivers 186.0 GB/s, compared to the AMD card's 4 GB and 128.0 GB/s. This gives Intel a clear lead for workloads that scale with memory size or bandwidth, such as high-resolution textures or larger datasets. The PCIe 4.0 x8 interface doubles the lane width versus the AMD card's x4 interface, which can reduce bottlenecks when transferring data between the GPU and system memory. The Intel card also provides four DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, making it suitable for multi-monitor setups, whereas the AMD GPU's outputs depend on the host device. The Intel card is a discrete single-slot unit with defined dimensions, which may be easier to integrate into a standard desktop chassis than a mobile-oriented IGP part.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the AMD Radeon RX 6550S is the stronger choice for compute-heavy tasks that rely on shader throughput, fill rates, and ray tracing capability. It delivers more FP32 performance, higher pixel and texture rates, and double the RT core count compared to the Intel Arc A380E. Its lower TDP and IGP form factor make it suitable for power-constrained or integrated designs.

The Intel Arc A380E is the better option for memory-sensitive workloads. Its 6 GB frame buffer and 186.0 GB/s bandwidth provide more headroom for large textures and data sets. The wider PCIe 4.0 x8 interface and four DisplayPort 2.0 outputs make it more flexible for desktop integration and multi-display configurations. Its discrete single-slot design and defined physical dimensions simplify installation.

The production status differs significantly. The AMD part remains active, while the Intel part is end-of-life with a successor, Battlemage, already listed. This suggests the Intel card is at the end of its availability cycle, whereas the AMD card is still in production. For users seeking a current part, the RX 6550S has the advantage of ongoing availability. For users needing more memory and bandwidth in a discrete form factor, the Arc A380E offers those specifications despite its end-of-life status. The absence of benchmark scores means these conclusions rest on architectural and specification analysis rather than measured performance.