NVIDIA T1000 8 GB vs NVIDIA T550 Mobile Comparison

The NVIDIA T1000 8 GB and NVIDIA T550 Mobile are both Turing-architecture professional GPUs built on the same TU117 chip, yet they are engineered for fundamentally different environments. The T1000 is a single-slot desktop card with 8 GB of VRAM, while the T550 is a power-sipping mobile part with 4 GB. Benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the choice between them depends heavily on form factor and workload requirements, as the data reveals distinct strengths in raw compute versus memory capacity.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in raw compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA T550 Mobile has higher raw compute throughput. It delivers 3.410 TFLOPS FP32 and 6.820 TFLOPS FP16, compared to the T1000's 2.500 TFLOPS FP32 and 5.000 TFLOPS FP16. This comes from the T550's 1024 shading units versus the T1000's 896.

Q: How do they compare in the shared Geekbench Vulkan benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA T1000 8 GB wins the head-to-head Vulkan test with a score of 34561, beating the T550 Mobile's 30801 by 12.2%. Despite the T550's higher theoretical FP32, the T1000's larger memory bus and bandwidth appear to give it an edge in this specific graphics workload.

Q: What is the memory configuration difference?

A: The T1000 has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, yielding 160.0 GB/s bandwidth. The T550 Mobile has 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus, producing 96.00 GB/s. The T1000's memory operates at 10 Gbps effective, while the T550's runs at 12 Gbps effective.

Q: Are these cards suitable for the same physical systems?

A: No. The T1000 is a 156 mm single-slot card requiring a 250 W suggested PSU with no power connectors. The T550 Mobile is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) designed for laptops, drawing only 23 W and having portable-device-dependent display outputs.

Q: Which GPU has a better overall benchmark percentile ranking?

A: The T1000 ranks in the 79th percentile against all GPUs, while the T550 Mobile sits in the 77th percentile. However, the T550's average benchmark score of 33161 is lower than the T1000's 34561, reflecting the T550's mixed results across OpenCL and Vulkan tests.

Q: Do they share the same API support and process technology?

A: Yes. Both support DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Both are built on TSMC's 12 nm process with 4,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 23.5M per mm².

Architecture Differences

Despite sharing the TU117 chip, the Turing architecture, and the 12 nm TSMC process, these two GPUs diverge significantly in their implementation. Both have identical transistor counts of 4,700 million and die sizes of 200 mm², but the mobile variant reconfigures the execution resources. The T550 Mobile increases the shading unit count to 1024 and texture mapping units to 64, while the T1000 operates with 896 shading units and 56 TMUs. Both maintain 32 ROPs.

Clock behavior is another key architectural split. The T1000 runs at a 1065 MHz base and 1395 MHz boost, while the T550 Mobile shares the same 1065 MHz base but boosts much higher to 1665 MHz. This 270 MHz boost advantage, combined with more shaders, explains the T550's 36% higher FP32 throughput (3.410 TFLOPS vs 2.500 TFLOPS). Memory architecture also differs fundamentally: the T1000 uses a 128-bit bus with 8 GB, whereas the T550 uses a 64-bit bus with 4 GB. The T550 compensates with faster 12 Gbps effective memory versus the T1000's 10 Gbps, but the narrower bus limits total bandwidth.

Neither GPU includes ray tracing cores or tensor cores, keeping them as pure rasterization and compute parts. Both support identical API feature levels, including DirectX 12_1, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, meaning software compatibility is effectively the same. The T1000's desktop orientation is reflected in its display outputs (4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a), while the T550's mobile nature makes display connectivity dependent on the host laptop.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single direct comparison available is the Geekbench Vulkan test, where the NVIDIA T1000 8 GB decisively beats the NVIDIA T550 Mobile. The T1000 scores 34561 against the T550's 30801, a 12.2% advantage. This result is notable because the T550 has superior theoretical compute (3.410 TFLOPS vs 2.500 TFLOPS FP32), yet loses in actual graphics workload performance. The likely explanation lies in memory bandwidth: the T1000's 160.0 GB/s is 67% higher than the T550's 96.00 GB/s, and its 128-bit bus allows better data throughput for graphics-heavy tasks.

Looking at broader benchmark context, the T1000's average score of 34561 places it in the 79th percentile, with its nearest rival being the NVIDIA A2 at 34690 (0.4% faster) and the AMD Radeon HD 7970 at 34541 (0.1% slower). The T550 Mobile's average score of 33161 places it in the 77th percentile, with its closest competitor being the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile at 33170 (0.0% difference). This means the T550's Vulkan score of 30801 is actually below its own OpenCL score of 35521, suggesting the T550 performs better in compute-oriented OpenCL workloads than in graphics-oriented Vulkan tasks.

The T550 Mobile does have one benchmark win in its favor: its Geekbench OpenCL score of 35521 exceeds the T1000's Vulkan score of 34561. While these are different test suites, it indicates the T550's raw compute capability is substantial. However, in the only directly comparable test, the T1000 wins outright.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA T1000 8 GB | NVIDIA T550 Mobile |

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

| Chip | TU117 | TU117 |

| Generation | Quadro Turing (Tx000) | Quadro Turing-M (Tx000) |

| Process Node | 12 nm | 12 nm |

| Transistors | 4,700 million | 4,700 million |

| Die Size | 200 mm² | 200 mm² |

| Base Clock | 1065 MHz | 1065 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1395 MHz | 1665 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 10 Gbps effective | 12 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | 8 GB | 4 GB |

| Memory Bus | 128 bit | 64 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 160.0 GB/s | 96.00 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 896 | 1024 |

| TMUs | 56 | 64 |

| ROPs | 32 | 32 |

| Pixel Rate | 44.64 GPixel/s | 53.28 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 78.12 GTexel/s | 106.6 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 2.500 TFLOPS | 3.410 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 5.000 TFLOPS (2:1) | 6.820 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 50 W | 23 W |

| Slot Width | Single-slot | IGP |

| Power Connectors | None | None |

| Suggested PSU | 250 W | None |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a | Portable Device Dependent |

| Dimensions | 156 mm / 6.1 inches | None provided |

| Release Date | 2021-05-05 | None provided |

| Predecessor | Quadro Volta | Quadro Pascal-M |

| Successor | Workstation Ampere | Ampere-MW |

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA T1000 8 GB wins in scenarios that demand memory capacity and graphics throughput. Its 8 GB VRAM on a 128-bit bus provides 160.0 GB/s bandwidth, making it suitable for large textures, multi-monitor setups (4x mini-DisplayPort), and Vulkan-based applications. The 12.2% Vulkan benchmark victory over the T550 confirms its strength in graphics API workloads. The T1000's 79th percentile ranking, alongside rivals like the NVIDIA TITAN V (0.6% faster) and RTX A1000 (1% faster), positions it as a solid mid-range desktop workstation card.

The NVIDIA T550 Mobile wins in compute-heavy and power-constrained environments. Its 3.410 TFLOPS FP32 and 6.820 TFLOPS FP16 represent a 36% and 36% increase over the T1000 respectively, making it superior for raw number-crunching tasks. The T550's 23 W TDP is less than half the T1000's 50 W, making it far more efficient for laptop deployments. Its OpenCL score of 35521 exceeds the T1000's Vulkan score, suggesting strong compute performance. The T550 also benefits from a higher boost clock (1665 MHz vs 1395 MHz) and more texture units (64 vs 56), which improves texture-heavy workloads despite the lower memory bandwidth.

The T1000 holds the edge in memory-bound tasks and multi-display professional work. The T550 wins in portable compute and any application where power draw or physical space is at a premium. Neither has ray tracing or tensor cores, so AI acceleration and ray-traced rendering are off the table for both.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split: the NVIDIA T1000 8 GB is the superior graphics card, while the NVIDIA T550 Mobile is the superior compute chip. For desktop workstation users who need to drive multiple 4K displays, handle large datasets in VRAM, or run Vulkan-based professional applications, the T1000 is the obvious choice. Its 12.2% Vulkan win over the T550, combined with double the memory capacity and 67% more bandwidth, makes it the more versatile graphics solution.

For laptop manufacturers or users building ultra-compact systems, the T550 Mobile offers compelling advantages. Its 23 W power envelope allows for fanless or low-profile cooling designs, and its 3.410 TFLOPS FP32 performance beats the T1000 by 36% in raw compute. The T550's 77th percentile ranking is only slightly below the T1000's 79th, and its OpenCL score of 35521 demonstrates strong compute capability. The trade-off is clear: you sacrifice memory capacity (4 GB vs 8 GB) and graphics bandwidth (96.00 GB/s vs 160.0 GB/s) for a lighter, more power-efficient package with higher clock speeds.

The T1000 is end-of-life with a 2021 release date, as is the T550 Mobile. Both share identical API support and process technology, so software longevity is comparable. Ultimately, the choice comes down to form factor and workload priority. The T1000 wins for desktop graphics work; the T550 wins for mobile compute tasks. Benchmark results indicate the T1000 is the better all-rounder for graphics, but the T550's compute density is unmatched given its 23 W power draw.