NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M Comparison

The data clearly separates these two NVIDIA GPUs: the GeForce GTX 770M is the decisive winner, outperforming the GeForce GTX 550 Ti by 49.2% in the only shared benchmark. The GTX 770M is the newer, faster, and more power-efficient part, while the GTX 550 Ti, despite its higher power draw and larger physical footprint, offers no performance advantage in the available data.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M is the superior graphics processor. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, the GTX 770M scores 8552, while the GTX 550 Ti scores 5731. This is a 49.2% advantage for the GTX 770M, a massive margin that leaves no ambiguity about which GPU is faster.

The GTX 770M also holds a higher position in the overall GPU landscape. It sits at the 35th percentile of all GPUs, and its average benchmark score of 6000 places it in the company of the AMD Radeon RX 6400 (6001) and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Server (5996), with a deltaPct of 0% and 0.1%, respectively. The GTX 550 Ti, in contrast, is at the 33rd percentile, with an average score of 5731. It competes with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX (5721) and the Intel Iris Pro Graphics P6300 (5712), showing it is a full tier below the GTX 770M in performance.

Given this data, the choice is clear. Users seeking the higher-performing GPU should select the GTX 770M. The GTX 550 Ti, while a functional part in its own right, is outclassed in every measurable performance metric provided. The GTX 770M is the pick for any workload where raw compute power is the priority.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent different generations of NVIDIA architecture. The GTX 770M is built on the Kepler architecture, specifically the GK106 chip, while the GTX 550 Ti uses the older Fermi 2.0 architecture with the GF116 chip. This generational gap is the primary driver of their performance disparity.

The manufacturing process also differs significantly. The GTX 770M is fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC, while the GTX 550 Ti uses a 40 nm process. This newer, smaller process node allows the GTX 770M to pack more transistors into a smaller area. The GTX 770M has 2,540 million transistors on a 221 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 11.5M per mm². The GTX 550 Ti has 1,170 million transistors on a larger 238 mm² die, resulting in a density of just 4.9M per mm². The GTX 770M's density is more than double that of the GTX 550 Ti, proof of the architectural and process advancements.

The feature set also differs. The GTX 770M supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 550 Ti does not list Vulkan support in the provided data. Both GPUs support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. This means the GTX 770M has access to a more modern graphics API, which can be crucial for compatibility with newer software titles.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and it is a one-sided affair. The GTX 770M scores 8552, while the GTX 550 Ti scores 5731. The deltaPct is 49.2%, meaning the GTX 770M is nearly half again as fast as the GTX 550 Ti in this compute-oriented workload.

This result is consistent with the substantial architectural differences. The GTX 770M has 960 shading units and 80 texture mapping units, while the GTX 550 Ti has only 192 shading units and 32 TMUs. The GTX 770M's raw compute throughput is also far higher, with an FP32 performance of 1.530 TFLOPS compared to the GTX 550 Ti's 691.2 GFLOPS. The GTX 770M's pixel rate of 15.94 GPixel/s and texture rate of 63.76 GTexel/s dwarf the GTX 550 Ti's 7.200 GPixel/s and 28.80 GTexel/s, respectively. These figures all point to the GTX 770M being fundamentally more capable at processing graphics and compute tasks.

There is no benchmark in the data where the GTX 550 Ti wins. The GTX 770M holds the sole victory in the head-to-head comparison, and the sheer magnitude of the win indicates that the GTX 550 Ti would struggle to compete in any other workload.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two GPUs reveal stark contrasts in almost every category. Here are the key fields where the two differ:

• Process Node: The GTX 770M uses a 28 nm process, while the GTX 550 Ti uses a larger 40 nm process.
• Transistors: The GTX 770M has 2,540 million transistors compared to the GTX 550 Ti's 1,170 million.
• Die Size: The GTX 770M's die is 221 mm², while the GTX 550 Ti's is 238 mm².
• Shading Units: The GTX 770M has 960 shading units; the GTX 550 Ti has only 192.
• TMUs: The GTX 770M has 80 texture mapping units, versus 32 on the GTX 550 Ti.
• FP32 Performance: The GTX 770M delivers 1.530 TFLOPS, while the GTX 550 Ti delivers 691.2 GFLOPS.
• Memory Size: The GTX 770M comes with 3 GB of GDDR5, while the GTX 550 Ti has 1024 MB.
• Memory Clock: The GTX 770M runs at 1002 MHz (4 Gbps effective), while the GTX 550 Ti runs at 1026 MHz (4.1 Gbps effective).
• TDP: The GTX 770M has a TDP of 75 W, significantly lower than the GTX 550 Ti's 116 W.
• Slot Width: The GTX 770M is an MXM Module, while the GTX 550 Ti is a Dual-slot card.
• Power Connectors: The GTX 770M requires none, while the GTX 550 Ti needs a 1x 6-pin connector.
• Bus Interface: The GTX 770M uses MXM-B (3.0), while the GTX 550 Ti uses PCIe 2.0 x16.
• Display Outputs: The GTX 770M's outputs are portable device dependent, while the GTX 550 Ti has 2x DVI and 1x mini-HDMI 1.3a.
• Vulkan Support: The GTX 770M supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 550 Ti has no Vulkan support listed.
• Release Date: The GTX 770M was released on 2013-05-29, while the GTX 550 Ti was released on 2011-03-14.
• Length: The GTX 550 Ti is 210 mm (8.3 inches) long; the GTX 770M's length is not specified.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster based on the benchmark data?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 770M is significantly faster. It scores 8552 in Geekbench OpenCL, compared to 5731 for the GTX 550 Ti, a 49.2% advantage.

Q: How do their power requirements compare?

A: The GTX 770M is far more power-efficient. It has a TDP of 75 W and requires no power connectors, whereas the GTX 550 Ti has a TDP of 116 W and requires a 1x 6-pin power connector.

Q: Do they support the same modern graphics APIs?

A: Both support DirectX 12 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.6. However, the GTX 770M also supports Vulkan 1.2.175, while the GTX 550 Ti does not list Vulkan support.

Q: What are the memory specifications for each card?

A: The GTX 770M has 3 GB of GDDR5 memory, while the GTX 550 Ti has 1024 MB. Both use a 192-bit memory bus, but the GTX 550 Ti has a slightly higher memory clock at 1026 MHz (4.1 Gbps effective) versus 1002 MHz (4 Gbps effective) for the GTX 770M.

Q: Which GPU has a higher overall performance percentile?

A: The GTX 770M is at the 35th percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 550 Ti is at the 33rd percentile.

Q: What is the form factor of each GPU?

A: The GTX 770M is an MXM Module, designed for laptops, while the GTX 550 Ti is a Dual-slot, 210 mm (8.3 inches) long desktop card that uses a PCIe 2.0 x16 interface.

Where Each One Wins

The data provides a clear-cut picture of where each GPU excels. The GTX 770M is the unequivocal winner in raw performance. Its 49.2% lead in the Geekbench OpenCL test, coupled with its higher shading unit count (960 vs 192), TMU count (80 vs 32), and FP32 throughput (1.530 TFLOPS vs 691.2 GFLOPS), makes it the superior choice for any compute-intensive application or modern gaming workload.

The GTX 550 Ti's wins are not in performance, but in specific hardware attributes. It has a slightly higher memory clock speed (1026 MHz vs 1002 MHz) and a marginally higher memory bandwidth (98.50 GB/s vs 96.19 GB/s), though these minor advantages do not translate into any performance benefit in the benchmark results. It also features a longer physical length and a fixed set of display outputs (2x DVI, 1x mini-HDMI), which may be more suitable for a traditional desktop setup. The GTX 550 Ti's launch MSRP was 149 USD, a figure that is only a historical data point, not a current advantage.

For users deciding between the two, the choice is driven by the GTX 770M's overwhelming performance lead. This is a case where the newer architecture, higher core counts, and greater memory capacity of the GTX 770M deliver a decisive victory. The GTX 550 Ti remains a legacy part that is outmatched in every meaningful performance metric recorded in this analysis.