GPU Comparison

The Intel Arc A550M and AMD Radeon RX 6550M are two very different mobile GPUs that end up close in overall standing, yet they achieve that standing through opposite strengths. The data shows a split decision: the Arc A550M dominates in OpenCL compute, while the Radeon RX 6550M takes the Vulkan crown. Their average benchmark scores sit close, 49,737 for the Intel versus 46,702 for the AMD, but the margin between them is a tale of two APIs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The largest win belongs to the Intel Arc A550M in the Geekbench OpenCL test. It scores 49,894 against the Radeon's 42,536, a decisive 17.3% advantage. This is not a small gap; it places the Intel part in a different performance tier for OpenCL workloads. The Arc A550M's average score of 49,737 puts it within 0.4% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 Ti (49,957) and 0.5% of the AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 (50,001), meaning its OpenCL lead is what carries its overall average.

The AMD Radeon RX 6550M fights back in the Geekbench Vulkan test. It scores 50,867, edging out the Arc A550M's 49,580 by 2.5%. While a smaller margin than Intel's OpenCL victory, it is still a clear win. This Vulkan result is the Radeon's strongest showing, and it aligns with its overall percentile rank of 85, just one point below the Intel's 86th percentile. Interestingly, the Radeon's Vulkan score is higher than its OpenCL score, whereas the Intel part is nearly flat across both APIs (49,894 vs 49,580).

Looking at the rivals list, both GPUs are surrounded by different competition. The Arc A550M's nearest rival is the RTX 5070 Ti at -0.4%, while the RX 6550M's closest competitor is the Intel Arc A530M at +0.2%. This means the A550M is trading blows with high-end desktop-class parts, while the RX 6550M is more aligned with mid-range mobile and professional GPUs like the RX 5600M and RTX A2000. The deltaPct values confirm that neither card has a commanding lead over its immediate peers; they are all within a few percent of each other.

The average benchmark scores are the final word on overall performance: 49,737 for the Arc A550M versus 46,702 for the RX 6550M. That is a 6.1% gap in favor of Intel, driven almost entirely by the OpenCL result. In Vulkan, the Radeon is 2.5% faster, but that advantage is not enough to overcome Intel's OpenCL dominance.

Architecture Differences

The architectural split is stark. The Intel Arc A550M uses the Xe-HPG architecture with the DG2-512 chip, built on TSMC's 6 nm process. It packs 21,700 million transistors into a 406 mm² die, yielding a density of 53.4M transistors per mm². The AMD Radeon RX 6550M is RDNA 2.0 with the Navi 24 chip, also on 6 nm TSMC, but with only 5,400 million transistors on a 107 mm² die, a density of 50.5M / mm². Intel's die is nearly four times larger, which explains its massive transistor advantage.

The execution resources differ significantly. The Arc A550M has 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The RX 6550M has half the shading units (1,024), half the TMUs (64), and half the ROPs (32). Both have 16 ray tracing cores, so RT capability is equal in hardware terms. However, the Intel part's raw throughput is much higher: 8.397 TFLOPS FP32 versus 5.816 TFLOPS, and 16.79 TFLOPS FP16 against 11.63 TFLOPS. The pixel rate is 131.2 GPixel/s for Intel versus 90.88 for AMD, and texture rate is 262.4 GTexel/s versus 181.8.

Clock speeds tell the opposite story. The RX 6550M runs at a 2,000 MHz base and 2,840 MHz boost, with a 2,560 MHz game clock. The Arc A550M is much slower on paper: 900 MHz base and 2,050 MHz boost. AMD's higher clocks partially compensate for its smaller architecture, but not enough to close the compute gap. Memory also differs: the Arc A550M uses 8 GB GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus for 224.0 GB/s bandwidth, while the RX 6550M has 4 GB GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus for 144.0 GB/s. The Intel card has 56% more bandwidth.

Power and interface specs diverge as well. The Arc A550M is rated at 60 W TDP with a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface. The RX 6550M draws 80 W TDP and uses a narrower PCIe 4.0 x4 link. Both are listed as IGP slot width, meaning they are mobile-integrated parts. The AMD card has no power connectors listed, while the Intel card's connectors are unspecified. Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A550M wins in raw compute and memory-heavy tasks. Its 17.3% OpenCL lead suggests it is the better choice for workloads that leverage OpenCL, such as certain compute, rendering, and productivity applications. The 8 GB memory capacity and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth give it a clear edge for larger datasets and higher-resolution textures. The higher TMU and ROP counts (128 and 64, respectively) mean it should handle texture-heavy and pixel-heavy operations more efficiently. The 2:1 FP16 ratio also gives it 16.79 TFLOPS for half-precision work, which is 44% higher than the Radeon's 11.63 TFLOPS.

The AMD Radeon RX 6550M wins in Vulkan-based scenarios. Its 2.5% Vulkan advantage indicates better driver optimization or architectural efficiency for that API. The higher base and boost clocks (2,000 MHz and 2,840 MHz) suggest it can respond quickly to bursty workloads. At 80 W TDP, it is rated for higher power draw, which may allow it to sustain boost clocks longer in thermally constrained chassis. The 4 GB memory is limiting, but for lighter titles or Vulkan-specific games, the Radeon's API advantage could be decisive.

For gaming specifically, the Vulkan result is more relevant for modern titles, and the RX 6550M's win there is notable. However, the Intel part's massive compute lead in OpenCL makes it the better all-rounder for mixed workloads. The 6.1% average score gap is meaningful, but the real differentiator is which API your software targets.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Arc A550M has an average benchmark score of 49,737, which is 6.1% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6550M's 46,702.

Q: How big is the OpenCL performance gap?

A: The Arc A550M scores 49,894 in Geekbench OpenCL, beating the RX 6550M's 42,536 by 17.3%.

Q: Does the Radeon RX 6550M win any benchmarks outright?

A: Yes, the RX 6550M wins the Geekbench Vulkan test with 50,867, outperforming the Arc A550M's 49,580 by 2.5%.

Q: What are the memory specifications for each card?

A: The Intel Arc A550M has 8 GB GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth. The AMD Radeon RX 6550M has 4 GB GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus with 144.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: How do their transistor counts compare?

A: The Arc A550M has 21,700 million transistors on a 406 mm² die, while the RX 6550M has 5,400 million transistors on a 107 mm² die.

Q: Are both GPUs on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both are built by TSMC on a 6 nm process node, but the Intel chip has a higher transistor density at 53.4M / mm² versus 50.5M / mm².

The Verdict

Pick the Intel Arc A550M if you need raw compute performance, larger memory capacity, or higher memory bandwidth. The 17.3% OpenCL lead is substantial, and the 8 GB frame buffer is double the Radeon's 4 GB. The 60 W TDP also makes it more power-efficient on paper, despite the larger die. Its 86th percentile rank and proximity to the RTX 5070 Ti and RX 6900 XT in the rivals list show it belongs to a higher performance class.

Pick the AMD Radeon RX 6550M if you prioritize Vulkan performance or prefer a more compact, lower-transistor design. The 2.5% Vulkan win is real, and the higher boost clock of 2,840 MHz indicates strong short-burst capability. The 80 W TDP is higher, but the smaller die (107 mm²) and active production status suggest a more modern, readily available part. Its 85th percentile is nearly identical to the Intel's.

The data does not support a universal winner. The Arc A550M wins on average score (49,737 vs 46,702) and in OpenCL, while the RX 6550M wins in Vulkan. For a balanced assessment, the Intel part is the stronger overall GPU due to its average score and memory advantage. However, if your specific applications are Vulkan-based, the Radeon's edge there is worth the trade-off. There is no price data to consider, so the decision rests purely on these benchmark results and architectural differences.

Specification Differences

| Specification | Intel Arc A550M | AMD Radeon RX 6550M |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Xe-HPG | RDNA 2.0 |

| Chip | DG2-512 | Navi 24 |

| Process Node | 6 nm | 6 nm |

| Transistors | 21,700 million | 5,400 million |

| Die Size | 406 mm² | 107 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 53.4M / mm² | 50.5M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 900 MHz | 2000 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2050 MHz | 2840 MHz |

| Game Clock | None | 2560 MHz |

| Memory Size | 8 GB | 4 GB |

| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 64 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 224.0 GB/s | 144.0 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 2048 | 1024 |

| TMUs | 128 | 64 |

| ROPs | 64 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 131.2 GPixel/s | 90.88 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 262.4 GTexel/s | 181.8 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 8.397 TFLOPS | 5.816 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 16.79 TFLOPS (2:1) | 11.63 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 60 W | 80 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x4 |

| Power Connectors | None listed | None |

| Production Status | End-of-life | Active |

| Release Date | Not listed | 2023-01-03 |