NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q vs NVIDIA T550 Mobile Comparison

The NVIDIA T550 Mobile and NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q represent two distinct eras of GPU design, one a modern low-power mobile part and the other a high-power datacenter relic. The data shows a surprisingly narrow contest, with the older GRID card edging out the newer T550 in the only shared benchmark, despite vast differences in their underlying architectures and power envelopes.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The single direct comparison available between these two GPUs is the Geekbench Vulkan test. In this metric, the NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q scores 31,220, while the NVIDIA T550 Mobile scores 30,801. This gives the GRID card a 1.3% advantage, making it the clear winner in this head-to-head matchup. While a 1.3% lead is within the margin of noise for many real-world workloads, the data is unambiguous: the GRID M60-1Q outperforms the T550 Mobile in raw Vulkan compute.

This result is notable because of the stark contrast in the cards' specifications. The GRID M60-1Q is built on the older Maxwell 2.0 architecture with a 28 nm process, while the T550 Mobile uses the newer Turing architecture on a 12 nm node. The GRID card compensates for its older design with sheer scale, packing 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, versus the T550 Mobile's 1,024 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The GRID's higher raw throughput numbers—4.825 TFLOPS FP32 versus 3.410 TFLOPS—help explain its benchmark victory.

However, the context of these scores matters. The T550 Mobile's average benchmark score across all tests is 33,161, which includes a Geekbench OpenCL score of 35,521. The GRID M60-1Q's average is 31,220, based solely on its Vulkan result. This discrepancy suggests that the T550 Mobile may be more versatile across different API workloads, even if it loses the specific Vulkan test.

The percentile rankings reinforce this interpretation. The T550 Mobile sits in the 77th percentile of all GPUs, while the GRID M60-1Q is in the 76th percentile. These are essentially equivalent performance tiers, separated by a fraction of a percentage point in overall capability. The nearest rival data for the T550 Mobile shows it trading blows with the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile (0% delta), AMD Radeon Pro 570 (-0.1%), NVIDIA P104-100 (0.5%), and NVIDIA T600 Mobile (1%). The GRID M60-1Q, meanwhile, sits alongside the NVIDIA Quadro M5000 (0%), GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER (0.4%), RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell (-1%), and TITAN RTX (-1.4%).

Where Each One Wins

The GRID M60-1Q wins in the pure compute benchmark, but the T550 Mobile demonstrates advantages in other areas that point to different use cases. The T550 Mobile's superior average benchmark score of 33,161 versus 31,220 indicates it performs better across a broader range of tests, particularly in OpenCL where it scores 35,521. This suggests the T550 Mobile is the better all-rounder for mixed workloads that utilize different compute APIs.

The T550 Mobile's architectural efficiency is its primary strength. With a 23 W TDP and integrated form factor (IGP), it achieves 3.410 TFLOPS FP32. The GRID M60-1Q, by contrast, draws 225 W and requires a dual-slot cooler with a single 8-pin power connector, yet only delivers 4.825 TFLOPS FP32. The performance-per-watt calculation heavily favors the T550 Mobile, which delivers roughly 0.148 TFLOPS per watt versus the GRID's 0.021 TFLOPS per watt.

Memory bandwidth tells a different story. The GRID M60-1Q's 256-bit bus and GDDR5 memory deliver 160.4 GB/s, significantly outpacing the T550 Mobile's 64-bit GDDR6 solution at 96.00 GB/s. This bandwidth advantage could make the GRID card more responsive in memory-intensive tasks despite its lower clock speeds (557 MHz base, 1178 MHz boost versus 1065 MHz base, 1665 MHz boost for the T550).

The pixel and texture rates also favor the GRID card. It achieves 75.39 GPixel/s and 150.8 GTexel/s, while the T550 Mobile manages 53.28 GPixel/s and 106.6 GTexel/s. These metrics suggest the GRID M60-1Q is better suited for fill-rate-limited scenarios, even though its 1 GB memory capacity is a severe limitation for modern workloads.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear trade-off between raw compute capability and practical efficiency. The NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q wins the only head-to-head benchmark, but its 1 GB memory capacity and 225 W power draw make it a challenging choice for most applications. The T550 Mobile, despite losing the Vulkan test, offers a more balanced profile with better average scores, modern GDDR6 memory, and a form factor that fits into integrated systems.

For users prioritizing maximum compute throughput regardless of power or size constraints, the GRID M60-1Q's 1.3% Vulkan lead is the deciding factor. Its 4.825 TFLOPS FP32 and 160.4 GB/s bandwidth provide measurable advantages in sustained compute workloads. However, the 1 GB memory limit is a critical bottleneck that will likely cause failures in any application requiring more than a single gigabyte of frame buffer.

The T550 Mobile is the more sensible choice for mobile workstations and compact systems. Its 4 GB GDDR6 memory is four times larger, its Turing architecture supports modern features, and its 23 W TDP allows for fanless or low-profile cooling solutions. The 77th percentile ranking versus the GRID's 76th suggests that in the broader universe of GPU benchmarks, the T550 Mobile is marginally more capable overall.

The GRID M60-1Q's nearest rivals include the TITAN RTX and RTX 4070 Ti SUPER, which are far more powerful cards, yet the GRID holds its own within 1.4% of their scores. This indicates the GRID card's compute potential is real, but its age and memory constraints limit its practical utility. The T550 Mobile's rivals, including the RTX 3050 Mobile, represent more contemporary competition where it performs on par.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The NVIDIA T550 Mobile has a higher average benchmark score of 33,161 compared to the NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q's 31,220.

Q: What is the performance difference in the Geekbench Vulkan test?

A: The NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q scores 31,220 versus the T550 Mobile's 30,801, giving the GRID card a 1.3% advantage in this specific test.

Q: How do the memory configurations compare?

A: The T550 Mobile has 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus with 96.00 GB/s bandwidth. The GRID M60-1Q has 1 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 160.4 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has better performance per watt?

A: The T550 Mobile delivers 3.410 TFLOPS at 23 W TDP, while the GRID M60-1Q delivers 4.825 TFLOPS at 225 W TDP, making the T550 Mobile significantly more power-efficient.

Q: What are the nearest rivals for each GPU?

A: The T550 Mobile's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile (0% delta), AMD Radeon Pro 570 (-0.1%), and NVIDIA P104-100 (0.5%). The GRID M60-1Q's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA Quadro M5000 (0%), GeForce RTX 4070 Ti SUPER (0.4%), and RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell (-1%).

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q has 2,048 shading units, double the T550 Mobile's 1,024 shading units.

Architecture Differences

The NVIDIA T550 Mobile uses the TU117 chip based on the Turing architecture, manufactured on a 12 nm process by TSMC. This chip contains 4,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 23.5 million per square millimeter. The Turing architecture supports modern features like concurrent floating-point and integer execution, though this specific chip lacks dedicated RT cores and tensor cores. The T550 Mobile's generation is listed as Quadro Turing-M (Tx000), succeeding the Quadro Pascal-M and preceding Ampere-MW.

The NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q uses the GM204 chip based on the Maxwell 2.0 architecture, also manufactured by TSMC but on an older 28 nm process. This chip contains 5,200 million transistors on a much larger 398 mm² die, resulting in a lower transistor density of 13.1 million per square millimeter. The GRID card belongs to the GRID (Mx) generation and was released on August 29, 2015. It has no predecessor or successor listed in the data.

Both GPUs support the same API levels: DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. However, the T550 Mobile supports FP16 with a 2:1 ratio, delivering 6.820 TFLOPS, while the GRID M60-1Q has no FP16 data listed. The T550 Mobile also uses faster GDDR6 memory at 12 Gbps effective versus the GRID's 5 Gbps GDDR5.

The T550 Mobile's production status is end-of-life, as is the GRID M60-1Q's. Neither card has a launch MSRP listed. The T550 Mobile uses a PCIe 3.0 x16 interface and has portable device-dependent display outputs. The GRID M60-1Q also uses PCIe 3.0 x16 but has no display outputs, reflecting its datacenter-oriented design.

Specification Differences

The most significant specification differences between the two GPUs are in their memory subsystems. The T550 Mobile offers 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 64-bit bus, while the GRID M60-1Q offers only 1 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus. This results in the GRID card having higher bandwidth (160.4 GB/s versus 96.00 GB/s) but far less capacity.

The clock speeds differ dramatically. The T550 Mobile runs at 1065 MHz base and 1665 MHz boost, while the GRID M60-1Q runs at 557 MHz base and 1178 MHz boost. The T550 Mobile's memory runs at 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective), while the GRID's memory runs at 1253 MHz (5 Gbps effective).

The compute configurations are also distinct. The T550 Mobile has 1,024 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs, delivering 3.410 TFLOPS FP32. The GRID M60-1Q has 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 64 ROPs, delivering 4.825 TFLOPS FP32. The pixel rates are 53.28 GPixel/s for the T550 and 75.39 GPixel/s for the GRID, with texture rates of 106.6 GTexel/s and 150.8 GTexel/s respectively.

Power and physical specifications show the largest divide. The T550 Mobile has a 23 W TDP, uses an IGP slot width, and requires no power connectors. The GRID M60-1Q has a 225 W TDP, uses a dual-slot cooler, requires a single 8-pin power connector, and lists a suggested PSU of 550 W. The GRID card is 267 mm (10.5 inches) long, while the T550 Mobile's dimensions are not specified.

The process technology differences are stark: 12 nm for the T550 Mobile versus 28 nm for the GRID M60-1Q. The transistor counts are 4,700 million and 5,200 million respectively, with die sizes of 200 mm² and 398 mm². The T550 Mobile's higher transistor density of 23.5M per mm² versus 13.1M per mm² reflects its more advanced manufacturing process.