AMD Radeon RX 6550S vs Intel Arc Pro B390 Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Radeon RX 6550S and Intel Arc Pro B390 are both integrated-class mobile GPUs with no benchmark scores recorded in the database, so direct performance comparisons rely entirely on their architectural and specification data. The RX 6550S targets users who need a compact, low-power solution with dedicated graphics memory, while the Arc Pro B390 appeals to those who prioritize raw compute throughput and a newer fabrication process.

The RX 6550S carries a 50 W TDP, making it the more power-conscious choice for thin-and-light portable systems. It uses 4 GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, delivering 128.0 GB/s of bandwidth. This configuration suits applications where consistent memory latency and bandwidth matter more than peak theoretical compute.

The Arc Pro B390 draws 80 W and relies on System Shared memory, meaning its bandwidth is System Dependent. It offers substantially higher FP32 and FP16 throughput, along with a 3 nm process node from Intel. For workloads that scale with shading units and raw floating-point performance, the Arc Pro B390 holds the advantage on paper. The RX 6550S remains the pick for users who want predictable memory behavior and lower power draw in an integrated form factor.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher peak clock speed?

A: The Intel Arc Pro B390 boosts to 2500 MHz, while the AMD Radeon RX 6550S boosts to 2400 MHz. However, the RX 6550S has a much higher base clock at 2000 MHz compared to the Arc Pro B390's 300 MHz base.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same DirectX version?

A: Yes, both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: How do their memory configurations differ?

A: The RX 6550S uses 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus with 128.0 GB/s bandwidth. The Arc Pro B390 uses System Shared memory with System Dependent bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The Intel Arc Pro B390 has 1536 shading units, compared to 1024 on the AMD Radeon RX 6550S.

Q: What process nodes do these GPUs use?

A: The RX 6550S uses TSMC's 6 nm process, while the Arc Pro B390 uses Intel's 3 nm process.

Q: Are both GPUs currently in production?

A: Yes, both have Active production status. The RX 6550S was released on 2023-01-03, and the Arc Pro B390 on 2026-01-26.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Radeon RX 6550S belongs to the Radeon RX 6000 series and uses the Navi 24 chip built on RDNA 2.0 architecture. It comes from the Navi Mobile generation (RX 6000M) and succeeds Polaris Mobile. The chip contains 5,400 million transistors on a 107 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 50.5M per mm². This is a mature design focused on efficiency within a 50 W envelope.

The Intel Arc Pro B390 uses the Panther Lake chip with Xe3-LPG architecture, part of the Arc Graphics-WM (Panther Lake) generation. Its transistor count and die size are listed as unknown in the database. It replaces HD Graphics-WM and uses Intel's 3 nm process, a significant node advantage over AMD's 6 nm process. The architecture emphasizes higher compute throughput per clock, as reflected in its shading unit count and FP32 output.

Both GPUs are integrated parts with IGP slot width and no power connectors. They share identical API support: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Display outputs are Portable Device Dependent for both. The RX 6550S uses a PCIe 4.0 x4 bus interface, while the Arc Pro B390 uses an IGP bus interface, reflecting its fully integrated nature.

The RX 6550S includes 16 ray tracing cores, while the Arc Pro B390 has 12. Neither has tensor cores. The RX 6550S has more texture mapping units (64 vs 48) and more ROPs (32 vs 24). These differences suggest the AMD part allocates more silicon to fixed-function rasterization, while Intel concentrates on raw shading throughput.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every measurable specification except API support, slot width, power connector requirement, and production status.

• Process Node: AMD uses 6 nm (TSMC); Intel uses 3 nm (Intel)
• Transistors: AMD has 5,400 million; Intel is unknown
• Die Size: AMD has 107 mm²; Intel is unknown
• Base Clock: AMD 2000 MHz; Intel 300 MHz
• Boost Clock: AMD 2400 MHz; Intel 2500 MHz
• Game Clock: AMD 2170 MHz; Intel has none listed
• Memory Size: AMD 4 GB GDDR6; Intel System Shared
• Memory Type: AMD GDDR6; Intel System Shared
• Bus Width: AMD 64 bit; Intel System Shared
• Memory Bandwidth: AMD 128.0 GB/s; Intel System Dependent
• Memory Clock: AMD 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective); Intel System Shared
• Shading Units: AMD 1024; Intel 1536
• TMUs: AMD 64; Intel 48
• ROPs: AMD 32; Intel 24
• Ray Tracing Cores: AMD 16; Intel 12
• Pixel Rate: AMD 76.80 GPixel/s; Intel 60.00 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: AMD 153.6 GTexel/s; Intel 120.0 GTexel/s
• FP32: AMD 4.915 TFLOPS; Intel 7.680 TFLOPS
• FP16: AMD 9.830 TFLOPS (2:1); Intel 15.36 TFLOPS (2:1)
• TDP: AMD 50 W; Intel 80 W
• Bus Interface: AMD PCIe 4.0 x4; Intel IGP
• Release Date: AMD 2023-01-03; Intel 2026-01-26
• Predecessor: AMD Polaris Mobile; Intel HD Graphics-WM

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

No benchmark scores exist in the database for either GPU, and the head-to-head benchmark array is empty. The percentileVsAllGpus field for both is 50, indicating a mid-tier placement, but this is not based on actual measured scores. The avgBenchmarkScore for both is 0, confirming the absence of recorded performance data. The winsA and winsB counters are both 0, reflecting that no direct comparison tests have been logged.

Without measured results, the specification differences provide the only basis for comparison. The Arc Pro B390 delivers 56% higher FP32 throughput (7.680 TFLOPS vs 4.915 TFLOPS) and 56% higher FP16 throughput (15.36 TFLOPS vs 9.830 TFLOPS). It also holds a 4% boost clock advantage (2500 MHz vs 2400 MHz) and a 50% shading unit advantage (1536 vs 1024). These figures point toward substantial compute-bound performance advantages for the Intel part.

The RX 6550S counters with a 28% higher pixel rate (76.80 GPixel/s vs 60.00 GPixel/s) and a 28% higher texture rate (153.6 GTexel/s vs 120.0 GTexel/s). It has 33% more TMUs (64 vs 48) and 33% more ROPs (32 vs 24). Its base clock is 2000 MHz against Intel's 300 MHz, which means the AMD part maintains higher minimum performance under sustained loads. The RX 6550S also has 33% more ray tracing cores (16 vs 12).

Memory bandwidth is a decisive split: the RX 6550S has a fixed 128.0 GB/s, while the Arc Pro B390's bandwidth is System Dependent, meaning it varies with the host system's memory configuration. For workloads that require consistent memory throughput, the AMD part offers predictable performance. For workloads that rely on compute throughput and can tolerate shared memory variability, the Intel part has the theoretical edge.

Where Each One Wins

AMD Radeon RX 6550S wins in:

• Rasterization throughput: higher pixel rate (76.80 GPixel/s) and texture rate (153.6 GTexel/s)
• Ray tracing core count: 16 vs 12
• Fixed memory bandwidth: 128.0 GB/s dedicated GDDR6 vs System Dependent shared memory
• Power efficiency: 50 W TDP vs 80 W
• Sustained performance: 2000 MHz base clock provides a high floor
• Compact integration: PCIe 4.0 x4 interface and established mobile generation

Intel Arc Pro B390 wins in:

• Compute throughput: 7.680 TFLOPS FP32 and 15.36 TFLOPS FP16
• Shading unit count: 1536 vs 1024
• Peak clock: 2500 MHz boost vs 2400 MHz
• Process node: 3 nm vs 6 nm, indicating newer manufacturing technology
• Memory flexibility: System Shared memory can scale with system RAM capacity
• Higher TDP budget: 80 W allows more sustained compute headroom

The RX 6550S suits systems where power draw is constrained and where dedicated graphics memory is necessary for stable frame pacing or compute workloads that do not tolerate shared memory contention. Its higher base clock and fixed bandwidth make it a dependable choice for thin laptops with limited cooling.

The Arc Pro B390 suits workloads that are heavily compute-bound, such as FP32 or FP16 processing, where the 50% shading unit advantage and 56% FP32 throughput advantage can translate into faster execution. Its 3 nm process suggests better architectural efficiency per transistor, though the transistor count is unknown. The System Shared memory model means performance scales with the quality and speed of the host system's RAM, so users with fast memory configurations stand to gain more from this GPU.

The data indicates a clear split: the RX 6550S is the rasterization-focused, power-efficient integrated GPU with predictable memory behavior, while the Arc Pro B390 is the compute-focused, higher-throughput option that depends on system memory for bandwidth. Neither GPU has recorded benchmark scores, so these conclusions derive strictly from the specification differences documented in the database.