NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti vs NVIDIA GeForce MX550 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti represent two very different approaches to GPU design, separated by eight years of architectural evolution. The MX550 is a modern, power-sipping Turing-based mobile chip, while the GTX 780 Ti is a legendary, high-power Kepler-based desktop flagship. The benchmark data shows a fascinating split: the GTX 780 Ti dominates in traditional compute, while the MX550 wins decisively in modern graphics APIs.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce MX550 has a higher average score of 26,421 compared to the GTX 780 Ti's 24,236. This places the MX550 at the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, while the GTX 780 Ti sits at the 70th percentile.

Q: How do the two cards compare in Geekbench OpenCL performance?

A: The GTX 780 Ti is significantly faster in OpenCL, scoring 27,326 versus the MX550's 20,372. This represents a 25.4% advantage for the older card in this compute-oriented test.

Q: What about Vulkan performance?

A: The MX550 is the clear winner in Vulkan, scoring 32,469 against the GTX 780 Ti's 27,238. The MX550 leads by 19.2% in this modern graphics API, which is particularly relevant for gaming workloads.

Q: What are the TDP differences between these cards?

A: The MX550 has a remarkably low TDP of 25 W, while the GTX 780 Ti consumes 250 W. That is a tenfold difference in power draw, making the MX550 dramatically more efficient despite its smaller silicon.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The GTX 780 Ti has 2,880 shading units, nearly triple the MX550's 1,024. However, the MX550's newer Turing architecture allows it to achieve competitive results in certain workloads despite fewer cores.

Q: What memory configurations do these cards use?

A: The MX550 has 2 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 780 Ti has 3 GB of GDDR5 on a 384-bit bus with 336.6 GB/s bandwidth.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is substantial. The MX550 uses the TU117SB chip built on Turing architecture at TSMC's 12 nm process node, while the GTX 780 Ti uses the GK110B chip on Kepler architecture at 28 nm. This process difference is significant: the MX550 packs 4,700 million transistors into a 200 mm² die for a density of 23.5M transistors per mm², whereas the GTX 780 Ti contains 7,080 million transistors on a much larger 561 mm² die, achieving only 12.6M transistors per mm².

The MX550's newer architecture delivers key advantages. It supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.4, while the GTX 780 Ti is limited to DirectX 12 (11_1) and Vulkan 1.2.175. Both cards support OpenGL 4.6. The MX550 also uses a more efficient PCIe 4.0 x8 interface compared to the GTX 780 Ti's PCIe 3.0 x16, though the older card's wider bus may compensate in some scenarios.

Clock speeds tell an interesting story. The MX550 runs at a base of 1065 MHz and boosts to 1320 MHz, significantly higher than the GTX 780 Ti's 875 MHz base and 928 MHz boost. However, the GTX 780 Ti compensates with vastly more compute resources: 2,880 shading units, 240 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units, versus the MX550's 1,024 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. This explains the GTX 780 Ti's higher theoretical pixel rate of 55.68 GPixel/s and texture rate of 222.7 GTexel/s, compared to the MX550's 21.12 GPixel/s and 42.24 GTexel/s.

The FP32 compute output favors the older card as well: the GTX 780 Ti delivers 5.345 TFLOPS versus the MX550's 2.703 TFLOPS. Notably, the MX550 supports FP16 at a 1:1 ratio with FP32, while the GTX 780 Ti has no listed FP16 capability. The MX550 also benefits from faster memory: 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective) GDDR6 versus 1753 MHz (7 Gbps effective) GDDR5, though the GTX 780 Ti's wider 384-bit bus gives it 3.5 times the bandwidth.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The two available head-to-head benchmarks reveal a clear generational split. In Geekbench OpenCL, the GTX 780 Ti wins decisively with a score of 27,326 against the MX550's 20,372, a 25.4% margin. This result aligns with the raw compute specifications: the GTX 780 Ti has nearly double the FP32 throughput and significantly more memory bandwidth, which are critical for compute workloads.

However, in Geekbench Vulkan, the MX550 flips the script. It scores 32,469 against the GTX 780 Ti's 27,238, winning by 19.2%. This is a remarkable outcome given the MX550's much smaller silicon and lower power envelope. The Turing architecture's modern feature set and optimized drivers for Vulkan clearly give the younger card an edge in this API. The MX550's support for Vulkan 1.4 versus the GTX 780 Ti's 1.2.175 likely contributes to this advantage.

The wins are split evenly at one apiece. The MX550's average benchmark score of 26,421 edges out the GTX 780 Ti's 24,236 by about 9%, primarily driven by the strong Vulkan result. The nearest rivals for each card provide context: the MX550 sits within 1% of the AMD Radeon 860M (26,401) and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 (26,331), while the GTX 780 Ti trades blows with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 (24,277) and AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT (24,442).

In practical terms, the OpenCL result suggests the GTX 780 Ti remains superior for GPU compute tasks like rendering or scientific workloads that leverage this API. The Vulkan result indicates the MX550 is better suited for modern gaming scenarios that utilize Vulkan, where its architectural efficiencies and newer driver optimizations provide tangible benefits.

The Verdict

The data paints a clear picture for different use cases. For compute-heavy workloads that rely on OpenCL, the GTX 780 Ti is the superior choice. Its 25.4% lead in that benchmark, combined with higher FP32 throughput and triple the memory bandwidth, makes it the stronger performer for tasks that leverage raw shader power.

For modern graphics workloads using Vulkan, the MX550 is the better option. Its 19.2% advantage in that benchmark, coupled with support for Vulkan 1.4 and a far lower 25 W TDP, makes it an attractive choice for efficiency-conscious systems. The MX550's higher average benchmark score (26,421 versus 24,236) suggests it is the more balanced performer overall.

The GTX 780 Ti's 250 W TDP and requirement for a 600 W power supply, plus its dual-slot form factor with 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin connectors, make it a demanding component. The MX550, by contrast, is an integrated-class solution with no power connectors and an IGP slot width, fitting into portable devices. The GTX 780 Ti's launch MSRP of 699 USD reflects its original flagship positioning, while the MX550 has no listed launch MSRP.

Ultimately, the GTX 780 Ti suits users who need maximum compute throughput and are willing to accommodate its power and size requirements. The MX550 suits users who prioritize modern API support, efficiency, and portability. Neither card is a universal winner; the correct choice depends entirely on workload.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce MX550 | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti |

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

| Chip | TU117SB | GK110B |

| Architecture | Turing | Kepler |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 28 nm |

| Transistors | 4,700 million | 7,080 million |

| Die Size | 200 mm² | 561 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 23.5M / mm² | 12.6M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 1065 MHz | 875 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1320 MHz | 928 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective) | 1753 MHz (7 Gbps effective) |

| Memory Size | 2 GB | 3 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |

| Memory Bus Width | 64 bit | 384 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 96.00 GB/s | 336.6 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 1024 | 2880 |

| TMUs | 32 | 240 |

| ROPs | 16 | 48 |

| Pixel Rate | 21.12 GPixel/s | 55.68 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 42.24 GTexel/s | 222.7 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 2.703 TFLOPS | 5.345 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 2.703 TFLOPS (1:1) | null |

| TDP | 25 W | 250 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | Dual-slot |

| Power Connectors | None | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |

| Suggested PSU | null | 600 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | Portable Device Dependent | 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 |

| DirectX | 12 (12_1) | 12 (11_1) |

| Vulkan | 1.4 | 1.2.175 |

| Release Date | 2021-12-16 | 2013-11-06 |

| Dimensions | null | 267 mm x 111 mm x 38 mm |

| Launch MSRP | null | 699 USD |