AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT vs Intel Arc A550M Comparison

The Intel Arc A550M and AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT represent two completely different approaches to graphics hardware: one is a mobile-first, power-sipping integrated part, and the other is a desktop-class, dual-slot behemoth. The benchmark data shows a clear and overwhelming performance hierarchy, with the AMD card dominating in every recorded test. However, the comparison is not just about raw speed; it is a study in architectural philosophy, power envelopes, and target use cases. The data shows the RX 6800 XT leads the Arc A550M by a significant margin in both available benchmark suites, but the Arc’s integrated nature and low power draw offer a distinct set of advantages for specific mobile workloads.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head results are unambiguous. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT scored 171,304 points, while the Intel Arc A550M managed 49,894 points. This translates to a delta of -70.9% for the Intel part, meaning the AMD card is over three times faster in this compute-oriented workload. This is a massive gap that reflects the sheer difference in shading units, memory bandwidth, and raw compute throughput.

The second test, Geekbench Vulkan, tells a similar story. The RX 6800 XT posted a score of 136,875, compared to the Arc A550M’s 49,580. The delta here is -63.8%, again favoring the AMD card by a wide margin. While the Arc A550M’s Vulkan score is nearly identical to its OpenCL result (49,580 vs 49,894), the RX 6800 XT’s Vulkan score is notably lower than its OpenCL score (136,875 vs 171,304). This suggests the AMD card’s compute performance is particularly strong in OpenCL, while the Intel part shows more consistent performance across the two APIs.

Looking at the broader benchmark context, the Arc A550M’s average benchmark score is 49,737, placing it in the 86th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti, which scores 49,957, a delta of just -0.4%. This indicates that the Arc A550M is highly competitive with a modern desktop-class GPU like the RTX 5070 Ti in these specific aggregate tests. However, the RX 6800 XT sits at an average score of 48,477, which is in the 85th percentile. Interestingly, the RX 6800 XT’s average score is lower than the Arc A550M’s average score, despite winning both head-to-head tests. This apparent contradiction is resolved by the fact that the RX 6800 XT’s average is pulled down by its performance in other benchmarks not shared with the Intel part, such as PassMark tests and Geekbench Metal, where it scores 181,337. The head-to-head data, however, is the most direct comparison and shows the AMD card winning decisively in both tests.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the Geekbench OpenCL benchmark?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is significantly faster, scoring 171,304 compared to the Intel Arc A550M’s 49,894, a difference of 70.9%.

Q: Does the Intel Arc A550M have a higher average benchmark score than the RX 6800 XT?

A: Yes. The Arc A550M has an average benchmark score of 49,737, while the RX 6800 XT has an average of 48,477. This is despite the RX 6800 XT winning every direct head-to-head test.

Q: What is the percentile ranking for each GPU?

A: The Intel Arc A550M is in the 86th percentile of all GPUs, while the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is in the 85th percentile.

Q: How does the Arc A550M compare to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti?

A: According to the nearestRivals data, the Arc A550M’s average score of 49,737 is just 0.4% lower than the RTX 5070 Ti’s score of 49,957.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two?

A: The RX 6800 XT has a memory bandwidth of 512.0 GB/s, while the Arc A550M has a bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. The AMD card offers more than double the bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has a higher transistor count?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT has 26,800 million transistors, whereas the Intel Arc A550M has 21,700 million transistors.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs are built on fundamentally different architectures and process nodes. The Intel Arc A550M uses the Xe-HPG architecture on a 6 nm process from TSMC, featuring the DG2-512 chip. The AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT uses the RDNA 2.0 architecture on a larger 7 nm process, featuring the Navi 21 chip. This difference in process node is notable; despite being on a smaller node, the Intel chip has a smaller die size (406 mm² vs 520 mm²) and fewer transistors (21,700 million vs 26,800 million). The transistor density is similar, with the Intel chip at 53.4M / mm² and the AMD chip at 51.5M / mm².

The core configurations are drastically different. The RX 6800 XT has 4,608 shading units, 288 TMUs, and 128 ROPs, while the Arc A550M has 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The AMD card also has 72 ray tracing cores, compared to the Intel part’s 16. This massive difference in execution resources directly explains the performance gap. The memory subsystem is also a major differentiator. The RX 6800 XT features 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Arc A550M has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s. This means the AMD card has double the memory capacity and more than double the bandwidth.

Clock speeds tell a different story. The Arc A550M has a base clock of 900 MHz and a boost clock of 2050 MHz, while the RX 6800 XT has a base clock of 1825 MHz, a game clock of 2015 MHz, and a boost clock of 2250 MHz. The AMD card runs at higher clocks across the board, but the Intel part’s boost clock is relatively high for its power budget. The power consumption is the most striking architectural difference. The Arc A550M is rated at 60 W TDP and is described as an "IGP" (Integrated Graphics Processor) with a slot width of "IGP," meaning it is designed to be soldered onto a motherboard. The RX 6800 XT, in contrast, is a 300 W dual-slot card requiring two 8-pin power connectors and a 700 W power supply.

The Verdict

The data is clear: for anyone building a desktop PC and seeking maximum raw performance, the AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT is the only choice. It wins both head-to-head benchmarks by a landslide, offers 16 GB of VRAM, and provides more than double the memory bandwidth. Its 85th percentile ranking, despite being dragged down by other tests, still shows it as a top-tier part. The RX 6800 XT is a high-performance desktop GPU that delivers exceptional compute and rendering power.

The Intel Arc A550M, however, is not a failure. Its 86th percentile ranking and near-identical average score to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (49,737 vs 49,957) prove that it is a highly capable mobile GPU. Its 60 W TDP and integrated form factor make it suitable for thin-and-light laptops where power efficiency is paramount. The data suggests that the Arc A550M is the better option for users who prioritize portability and battery life over raw frame rates, and who need a GPU that can handle modern workloads without a dedicated power supply. If you are building a desktop, the RX 6800 XT is the clear winner. If you are buying a laptop, the Arc A550M is a compelling choice, provided you do not expect desktop-class performance.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Arc A550M | AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT |

| :--- | :--- | :--- |

| Architecture | Xe-HPG | RDNA 2.0 |

| Process Node | 6 nm | 7 nm |

| Transistors | 21,700 million | 26,800 million |

| Die Size | 406 mm² | 520 mm² |

| Base Clock | 900 MHz | 1825 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2050 MHz | 2250 MHz |

| Memory Size | 8 GB | 16 GB |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 224.0 GB/s | 512.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 2048 | 4608 |

| TMUs | 128 | 288 |

| ROPs | 64 | 128 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | 16 | 72 |

| Pixel Rate | 131.2 GPixel/s | 288.0 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 262.4 GTexel/s | 648.0 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 8.397 TFLOPS | 20.74 TFLOPS |

| TDP | 60 W | 300 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | None | 2x 8-pin |

| Suggested PSU | None | 700 W |

| Release Date | Not available | 2020-10-27 |

| Launch MSRP | None | 649 USD |

Where Each One Wins

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT Wins: The RX 6800 XT is the definitive winner in every benchmark recorded in the head-to-head comparison. It dominates in both Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan. Its architectural advantages are clear: 2.25 times the shading units, 2.25 times the TMUs, double the ROPs, and over four times the ray tracing cores. The 512.0 GB/s memory bandwidth and 16 GB frame buffer are critical for high-resolution textures and compute-heavy tasks. The FP32 performance of 20.74 TFLOPS is more than double the Arc A550M’s 8.397 TFLOPS, making it the superior choice for raw compute, rendering, and high-refresh-rate 1440p or 4K gaming. It is also the only one of the two with a release date and a launch MSRP of 649 USD.

Intel Arc A550M Wins: The Arc A550M’s wins are not in raw performance, but in efficiency and form factor. With a TDP of 60 W versus the RX 6800 XT’s 300 W, the Intel part is designed to operate in a power-constrained mobile environment. It is an "IGP" part, meaning it does not require a separate power connector or a large cooling solution, unlike the RX 6800 XT’s dual-slot design with two 8-pin connectors and a 700 W power supply recommendation. Data shows the Arc A550M has a higher average benchmark score (49,737 vs 48,477) and a higher percentile ranking (86th vs 85th) than the RX 6800 XT, suggesting that in a broader set of mixed workloads, it can be more competitive than the head-to-head results imply. Its boost clock of 2050 MHz is also relatively high for its power class. For a laptop user who needs GPU acceleration for creative workloads or moderate gaming without sacrificing battery life, the Arc A550M is the more practical solution.