AMD Radeon RX 6550M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile Comparison

The benchmark data presents a decisive, though not uniform, picture: the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile is the significantly faster GPU in raw compute, but the AMD Radeon RX 6550M holds a higher overall percentile ranking. This apparent contradiction stems from different benchmark methodologies and the specific workloads they measure. The data shows a clear generational and architectural shift, with NVIDIA delivering a massive performance advantage in the single available head-to-head test, while AMD’s older, smaller chip still manages to outperform in aggregate statistical placement.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available in the data is the Geekbench OpenCL test, and the result is a landslide victory for the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile. The RTX 5050 Mobile scores 84,171 points, which is 49.5% higher than the RX 6550M’s score of 42,536. This is not a marginal win; it is a near-doubling of the compute performance as measured by this specific OpenCL workload. The deltaPct of -49.5 for the RX 6550M indicates that its score is roughly half that of its rival, a stark margin that dwarfs any other comparison in the data.

However, the broader benchmark picture tells a more nuanced story. Despite losing the only head-to-head test, the AMD Radeon RX 6550M has a higher average benchmark score across all recorded tests. Its average is 46,702, placing it in the 85th percentile of all GPUs. In contrast, the RTX 5050 Mobile’s average score is 43,268, which lands it in the 83rd percentile. This means that when considering a wider range of workloads beyond the single OpenCL test, the RX 6550M’s performance profile is statistically superior, even though its peak compute in that one test is far lower.

The nearest rival data further highlights the RX 6550M’s position. Its average score is nearly identical to the Intel Arc A530M (46,614, a 0.2% difference) and the AMD Radeon RX 5600M (46,601, a 0.2% difference). It is also 1.4% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX A2000 and 1.6% ahead of the RTX 5880 Ada Generation. This suggests that in the aggregate, the RX 6550M is a well-balanced performer that trades blows with a wide range of competing hardware. The RTX 5050 Mobile, on the other hand, is statistically clustered with different hardware, including the NVIDIA Quadro M6000 24 GB (0% difference), the RTX 4070 SUPER (0.1% difference), and the RTX 4090 Mobile (-0.9% difference). The data indicates that while the RTX 5050 Mobile excels in the OpenCL test, its overall benchmark profile is more inconsistent, pulling its average down.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6550M has a higher average benchmark score of 46,702, compared to the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile’s 43,268.

Q: Which GPU wins the Geekbench OpenCL test?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile wins decisively, scoring 84,171 versus the AMD Radeon RX 6550M’s 42,536, a delta of 49.5%.

Q: How do the GPUs compare in terms of overall GPU percentile ranking?

A: The AMD Radeon RX 6550M is ranked higher, sitting in the 85th percentile of all GPUs, while the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile is in the 83rd percentile.

Q: What is the closest rival to the AMD Radeon RX 6550M based on average score?

A: The Intel Arc A530M is its closest rival, with an average score of 46,614, a mere 0.2% difference from the RX 6550M’s score.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile has 2,560 shading units, while the AMD Radeon RX 6550M has 1,024.

Q: Which GPU has a higher memory bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile has a significantly higher memory bandwidth of 384.0 GB/s, while the AMD Radeon RX 6550M has 144.0 GB/s.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two mobile GPUs is vast, reflecting different design philosophies and generational leaps. The AMD Radeon RX 6550M is built on the RDNA 2.0 architecture, using the Navi 24 chip on a 6 nm process from TSMC. It is a smaller, older design with 5,400 million transistors on a 107 mm² die. In contrast, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile is based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, using the GB207 chip on a more advanced 5 nm process, also from TSMC. This newer design packs a significantly higher 16,900 million transistors into a 149 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 113.4M / mm² versus the AMD’s 50.5M / mm².

The compute resources are also starkly different. The RTX 5050 Mobile has 2,560 shading units, 80 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 80 tensor cores, alongside 20 ray tracing cores. The RX 6550M, by comparison, has 1,024 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 16 ray tracing cores, with no tensor cores listed. This gives NVIDIA a massive advantage in parallel compute and dedicated AI acceleration. The memory subsystems are equally divergent. NVIDIA uses 8 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 384.0 GB/s of bandwidth. AMD uses 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus, resulting in 144.0 GB/s. This four-fold difference in memory capacity and nearly three-fold difference in bandwidth are critical for modern game and compute workloads.

The FP32 performance reflects the shading unit count, with NVIDIA’s 7.680 TFLOPS outpacing AMD’s 5.816 TFLOPS. Interestingly, NVIDIA’s FP16 performance is identical to its FP32 at 7.680 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while AMD’s FP16 is double its FP32 at 11.63 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio). This indicates different optimization strategies, with AMD potentially better suited for workloads that heavily use FP16. The bus interface also differs, with NVIDIA using the newer PCIe 5.0 x16 compared to AMD’s PCIe 4.0 x4. This provides the RTX 5050 Mobile with a significantly wider and faster data path to the CPU.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark data, the choice between these two GPUs depends on what metric is prioritized. For raw compute performance in the OpenCL workload, the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile is the unambiguous winner, with a score 49.5% higher than the AMD Radeon RX 6550M. This is a substantial lead that cannot be ignored, especially for users whose tasks are heavily dependent on this type of parallel processing.

However, the data also shows that the AMD Radeon RX 6550M is the better overall performer when looking at the average of all benchmark scores. Its higher average score (46,702 vs 43,268) and higher percentile ranking (85th vs 83rd) suggest a more consistent performance across a broader spectrum of tests. This could indicate that while the RTX 5050 Mobile peaks higher in one specific test, it may not sustain that advantage across other types of workloads. The data does not provide a clear winner; it provides a trade-off. The RTX 5050 Mobile is the choice for users who need maximum compute in the tested OpenCL scenario, while the RX 6550M is the choice for users seeking a more consistently high overall benchmark profile.

Specification Differences

The table below outlines the core specification differences between the two GPUs, excluding fields where they are identical or unspecified.

| Specification | AMD Radeon RX 6550M | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile |

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

| Architecture | RDNA 2.0 | Blackwell 2.0 |

| Process Node | 6 nm | 5 nm |

| Transistors | 5,400 million | 16,900 million |

| Die Size | 107 mm² | 149 mm² |

| Base Clock | 2000 MHz | 1020 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2840 MHz | 1500 MHz |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | 8 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR7 |

| Memory Bus | 64 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 144.0 GB/s | 384.0 GB/s |

| Memory Clock | 18 Gbps effective | 24 Gbps effective |

| Shading Units | 1024 | 2560 |

| TMUs | 64 | 80 |

| RT Cores | 16 | 20 |

| Tensor Cores | N/A | 80 |

| Pixel Rate | 90.88 GPixel/s | 48.00 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 181.8 GTexel/s | 120.0 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 5.816 TFLOPS | 7.680 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 11.63 TFLOPS (2:1) | 7.680 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 80 W | 50 W |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x4 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon RX 6550M demonstrates strengths in several specific areas based on the data. Its higher pixel rate (90.88 GPixel/s vs 48.00 GPixel/s) and texture rate (181.8 GTexel/s vs 120.0 GTexel/s) suggest it might be more efficient at fill-rate-bound tasks, such as traditional rasterization at lower resolutions. Its higher base and boost clocks (2000 MHz and 2840 MHz, respectively, versus 1020 MHz and 1500 MHz) also point to a design optimized for raw clock speed. Furthermore, its superior average benchmark score and percentile ranking indicate a more consistent overall performer in a wide variety of tasks, making it the safer choice for general-purpose use based on the aggregate data.

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 Mobile has its own distinct advantages. Its overwhelming victory in the Geekbench OpenCL test is its primary win, showcasing a massive lead in compute performance for that specific workload. Its larger memory capacity (8 GB vs 4 GB) and significantly higher bandwidth (384.0 GB/s vs 144.0 GB/s) provide a clear advantage for large datasets and high-resolution textures. The inclusion of 80 tensor cores gives it a feature that the AMD GPU lacks, enabling AI-accelerated workloads. Finally, its lower TDP of 50 W (versus 80 W) makes it a more power-efficient part, which is a crucial consideration for mobile devices where battery life and thermals are paramount. The RTX 5050 Mobile is the clear winner for users prioritizing compute power, memory capacity, and efficiency.