NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 vs NVIDIA GeForce MX550 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 are both end-of-life Turing-based discrete GPUs from NVIDIA, yet they target very different segments of the market. The data shows a fascinating split in their benchmark performance. While the GTX 1630 takes a decisive victory in the OpenCL compute workload, the MX550 fights back with a commanding lead in Vulkan graphics performance, making the choice between them highly dependent on the specific application.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark results reveal a stark contrast in the strengths of these two cards. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, which often reflects raw compute throughput and general-purpose processing power, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 emerges as the clear winner. It scores 24,858 points compared to the MX550's 20,372 points. This represents an 18% advantage for the GTX 1630, a substantial margin that indicates its superior ability to handle tasks that rely heavily on parallel processing outside of pure gaming.

However, the tables turn completely when looking at the Geekbench Vulkan test, which is a more accurate indicator of graphics API performance in modern games and applications. Here, the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 dominates, scoring 32,469 points against the GTX 1630's 23,695 points. This is a massive 37% lead for the MX550, flipping the narrative from the OpenCL results. The MX550's exceptional Vulkan performance suggests it is better optimized for modern, low-level graphics APIs that maximize frame rates and reduce CPU overhead.

The overall average benchmark scores further illustrate this division. The MX550 accumulates an average score of 26,421, placing it in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon 860M, scores 26,401, a negligible 0.1% difference, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 is only 0.3% behind with a score of 26,331. On the other hand, the GTX 1630's average score is 24,277, which places it in the 70th percentile. Its closest competitor is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti, which scores 24,236, a mere 0.2% difference. The data shows that while the MX550 holds a roughly 8.8% higher average benchmark score than the GTX 1630, its performance profile is far less consistent, excelling in one major test while falling behind in another.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in compute-heavy workloads?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 is significantly faster in the Geekbench OpenCL test, scoring 24,858 points compared to the MX550's 20,372, an 18% difference. This suggests it has an edge in tasks that leverage raw parallel processing power.

Q: Which GPU performs better in modern graphics APIs like Vulkan?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 is the clear winner in the Geekbench Vulkan test, achieving a score of 32,469 against the GTX 1630's 23,695. This represents a substantial 37% advantage, indicating superior performance in applications that use this low-level API.

Q: How do their overall benchmark scores compare?

A: The MX550 has a higher average benchmark score of 26,421, compared to the GTX 1630's 24,277. This makes the MX550 more comparable to high-end cards like the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary, which scores 26,553, while the GTX 1630 sits near the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER in performance, which scores 24,170.

Q: What is the difference in memory capacity between the two cards?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 comes with 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, while the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 has only 2 GB of the same memory type. This difference can impact performance in texture-heavy applications and higher resolutions.

Q: Do both cards have the same power requirements?

A: No, there is a significant difference. The MX550 has a TDP of 25 W, while the GTX 1630 has a TDP of 75 W. The GTX 1630 also suggests a 250 W power supply for the system, while the MX550 does not have a suggested PSU listed and is considered an IGP form factor, meaning it is designed for thin and light laptops.

Q: Are these GPUs based on the same architecture?

A: Yes, both the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 are built on the Turing architecture and use a 12 nm process node. They also share the same die size of 200 mm² and contain 4,700 million transistors.

Architecture Differences

Despite sharing the same fundamental Turing architecture and manufacturing process, there are key architectural differences that explain their divergent benchmark results. Both chips, the TU117SB in the MX550 and the TU117 in the GTX 1630, are built on a 12 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 200 mm² and 4,700 million transistors. However, the configuration of the execution units within these chips differs significantly.

The MX550 features a much higher number of shading units, with 1,024, double the 512 found in the GTX 1630. This gives the MX550 a theoretical peak FP32 performance of 2.703 TFLOPS, compared to the GTX 1630's 1.828 TFLOPS. Interestingly, the MX550's FP16 performance is identical to its FP32 at 2.703 TFLOPS (a 1:1 ratio), while the GTX 1630's FP16 performance is double its FP32 at 3.656 TFLOPS (a 2:1 ratio). This suggests the GTX 1630's architecture is wired for faster half-precision math, which is often used in AI and some compute tasks.

The texture mapping units (TMUs) and render output units (ROPs) are identical at 32 and 16, respectively. However, the clock speeds are very different. The GTX 1630 runs at a much higher base clock of 1740 MHz and a boost clock of 1785 MHz, versus the MX550's 1065 MHz base and 1320 MHz boost. This higher clock speed allows the GTX 1630 to achieve a higher pixel rate of 28.56 GPixel/s and texture rate of 57.12 GTexel/s, compared to the MX550's 21.12 GPixel/s and 42.24 GTexel/s, despite having the same number of ROPs and TMUs. Neither GPU includes dedicated ray tracing (RT) or tensor cores.

Specification Differences

The most obvious difference lies in the memory configuration. The GTX 1630 offers 4 GB of GDDR6 memory, while the MX550 is limited to 2 GB. Both use a 64-bit memory bus and achieve the same 96.00 GB/s bandwidth, with memory running at 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective). This means the GTX 1630 has double the memory capacity without sacrificing bandwidth.

Power and physical characteristics also separate the two. The MX550 is a low-power part with a 25 W TDP, designed for an IGP (Integrated Graphics Processor) slot width, meaning it is meant to be soldered onto a motherboard in a thin laptop. It has no power connectors and its display outputs are described as "Portable Device Dependent". In contrast, the GTX 1630 is a more traditional, single-slot discrete card with a 75 W TDP and a suggested PSU of 250 W. It has no power connectors, but features a standard set of display outputs: 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, and 1x DisplayPort 1.4a. Its physical dimensions are listed as 145 mm in length, 69 mm in height, and 18 mm in width.

The bus interface is another key difference. The MX550 uses a PCIe 4.0 x8 connection, while the GTX 1630 uses the older PCIe 3.0 x16 standard. While the x16 connection on the GTX 1630 offers more lanes, the newer PCIe 4.0 standard on the MX550 provides a higher bandwidth per lane, potentially offering better performance in data transfer scenarios despite having fewer lanes. Both support DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Their release dates are also different, with the MX550 launching on 2021-12-16 and the GTX 1630 on 2022-06-27.

The Verdict

The benchmark data paints a clear picture of two GPUs with distinct personalities. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 is the stronger choice for users prioritizing raw compute power and memory capacity. Its 18% lead in OpenCL performance, coupled with double the VRAM (4 GB vs 2 GB), makes it the more capable card for general-purpose computing tasks and applications that require large textures or data sets. Its higher clock speeds also give it an edge in pixel and texture fill rates.

Conversely, the NVIDIA GeForce MX550 is the winner for graphics-centric workloads, specifically those utilizing the Vulkan API. Its 37% performance lead in the Vulkan benchmark is a massive advantage, suggesting it will deliver higher frame rates in modern games. Its lower 25 W TDP also makes it a far more efficient solution, ideal for slim laptops where power draw and heat are primary concerns. The MX550's average benchmark score of 26,421 also places it in a higher performance tier than the GTX 1630's 24,277.

Ultimately, the choice depends on the use case. For a user looking for a dedicated graphics card for a desktop PC where power is not a constraint and compute performance or higher VRAM is needed, the GTX 1630 is the better option. However, for a user who needs a GPU for a thin and light laptop and prioritizes modern graphics API performance, the MX550 offers superior results in a significantly more power-efficient package. The MX550's higher average score and massive Vulkan advantage make it the better overall graphics processor, despite its lower compute showing and smaller memory pool.