AMD Radeon RX 6800 vs NVIDIA GeForce MX550 Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head data in the database covers two compute-focused tests, and in both, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 decisively outperforms the NVIDIA GeForce MX550. The largest margin appears in the Geekbench Vulkan benchmark, where the RX 6800 scores 115,107 against the MX550’s 32,469. That translates to a 254.5% advantage for the AMD card, meaning it delivers more than three times the performance in this API-driven workload. This is a generational gap in compute throughput, reflecting the fundamental positioning of the two products.

In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the RX 6800 again takes the win, scoring 24,508 versus the MX550’s 20,372. The delta here is 20.3%, a much narrower margin than in Vulkan, but still a clear victory for the AMD part. The OpenCL result shows that while the MX550 is competitive in certain compute scenarios, it cannot match the raw execution resources of the RX 6800. The database records 2 wins for the AMD card and 0 for the NVIDIA part, making the overall head-to-head outcome unambiguous.

Looking at broader benchmark averages reinforces this picture. The RX 6800 holds an average benchmark score of 30,095 across all recorded tests, while the MX550 averages 26,421. That is a 13.9% gap in favor of the AMD card in aggregate performance. The RX 6800 also sits in the 75th percentile of all GPUs, while the MX550 sits in the 72nd percentile, placing both above the median but with the AMD card ranking higher overall. The nearest rivals data for the RX 6800 shows it trading blows with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Ti (0.5% ahead), the RTX 5070 Mobile (0.6% ahead), and the RTX 2080 Ti (1% ahead), while sitting 1.1% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6700. The MX550, by contrast, is nearly tied with the AMD Radeon 860M (0.1% ahead), the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (0.3% ahead), and sits 0.5% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary, while trailing the NVIDIA RTX A4000 by 1%.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is vast, starting with the manufacturing process. The RX 6800 uses a 7 nm node at TSMC, while the MX550 uses a 12 nm node, also from TSMC. This process advantage alone explains much of the performance and efficiency gap. The RX 6800 packs 26,800 million transistors on a 520 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 51.5 million per mm². The MX550, in contrast, has 4,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die, for a density of 23.5 million per mm². The AMD chip has more than five times the transistor count and more than double the density.

The core configurations differ just as dramatically. The RX 6800 features 3,840 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation pipelines. The MX550 has 1,024 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. That means the AMD card has 3.75 times the shader count, 7.5 times the TMUs, and 6 times the ROPs. The RX 6800 also includes 60 ray tracing cores, a feature the MX550 lacks entirely, as it has no RT cores and no tensor cores. The AMD card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the MX550 only reaches DirectX 12 (12_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4.

Memory is another major differentiator. The RX 6800 comes with 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The MX550 has just 2 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus, for 96.00 GB/s. That is a 5.33x difference in memory bandwidth, which heavily impacts high-resolution textures and larger datasets. Clock speeds also favor the AMD card: the RX 6800 has a base clock of 1700 MHz and a boost of 2105 MHz, while the MX550 runs at 1065 MHz base and 1320 MHz boost. The RX 6800 also has a game clock of 1815 MHz, a figure the MX550 does not report.

The compute throughput numbers are stark. The RX 6800 delivers 16.17 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the MX550 delivers 2.703 TFLOPS. That is a 5.98x advantage for the AMD card. In FP16, the RX 6800 hits 32.33 TFLOPS using a 2:1 ratio, while the MX550 manages 2.703 TFLOPS at a 1:1 ratio. Pixel and texture rates follow the same trend: the RX 6800 processes 202.1 GPixel/s and 505.2 GTexel/s, versus 21.12 GPixel/s and 42.24 GTexel/s for the MX550. Power consumption is also in different leagues, with the RX 6800 rated at 250 W TDP and the MX550 at just 25 W, a 10x difference.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture: the AMD Radeon RX 6800 is a high-performance desktop GPU designed for demanding workloads, while the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 is a low-power mobile chip meant for thin-and-light laptops. The benchmark results show the RX 6800 leading by 20.3% in OpenCL and a massive 254.5% in Vulkan. In terms of raw specifications, the RX 6800 has nearly 6 times the FP32 throughput, over 5 times the memory bandwidth, and 8 times the VRAM capacity. The MX550’s only advantage is its 25 W TDP, which makes it suitable for systems without discrete power connectors, as it is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) form factor with no external power requirements.

The percentile rankings confirm that both cards are above average, but the RX 6800 sits higher at the 75th percentile versus the MX550’s 72nd. The nearest rival data for the RX 6800 shows it competing with RTX 30-series and 20-series desktop cards, while the MX550 is grouped with integrated graphics and mid-range mobile parts. The verdict from the database is straightforward: pick the RX 6800 if you need desktop-class performance, ray tracing support, and large memory capacity. Pick the MX550 if you need a low-power, portable solution with modest compute capability. There is no scenario in the recorded data where the MX550 outperforms the RX 6800.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins in the Geekbench Vulkan test?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6800 wins with a score of 115,107 versus the NVIDIA GeForce MX550’s 32,469, a 254.5% advantage.

Q: How much faster is the RX 6800 in OpenCL?

A: The RX 6800 scores 24,508 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the MX550 scores 20,372, giving the AMD card a 20.3% lead.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference?

A: The RX 6800 has 16 GB of GDDR6 memory, while the MX550 has 2 GB of GDDR6, an 8x difference in capacity.

Q: Does the MX550 support ray tracing?

A: No, the MX550 has no ray tracing cores. The RX 6800 includes 60 ray tracing cores.

Q: What are the TDP ratings for each card?

A: The RX 6800 has a TDP of 250 W, while the MX550 has a TDP of 25 W, a 10x difference in power draw.

Q: How do their average benchmark scores compare?

A: The RX 6800 has an average benchmark score of 30,095, while the MX550 averages 26,421, a 13.9% gap.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 6800 wins in every recorded benchmark category. It dominates in compute-heavy tests like Vulkan and OpenCL, and its architectural advantages in shading units, TMUs, ROPs, and memory bandwidth make it the clear choice for gaming, content creation, and any GPU-accelerated workload. The 60 ray tracing cores enable hardware-accelerated ray tracing, which the MX550 cannot do. The 16 GB VRAM allows for large textures and multi-tasking with multiple GPU applications. The 512.0 GB/s bandwidth ensures smooth performance at high resolutions.

The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 wins in the power efficiency category, with a 25 W TDP that requires no power connectors and fits in an IGP form factor. This makes it suitable for ultraportable laptops where battery life and thermal limits are paramount. Its 2 GB VRAM is sufficient for basic display output, light photo editing, and older or less demanding games. The MX550’s 12 nm process node, while older, still delivers functional compute performance, as shown by its 20,372 OpenCL score, which is within 20% of the RX 6800 in that specific test.

For use cases, the RX 6800 is the pick for desktop workstations, gaming rigs, and any scenario requiring high frame rates, ray tracing, or large memory buffers. The MX550 is the pick for everyday laptops, office productivity, media playback, and light creative work where battery life matters more than raw throughput. The database shows no overlap in their intended roles: the RX 6800 is a dual-slot, 267 mm card with dual 8-pin power connectors and a 600 W recommended PSU, while the MX550 is a portable device with no dimensions listed and no power connector requirements.