AMD Radeon 550X
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon 550X Specifications
GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon 550X GPU core specifications define its raw processing power for graphics and compute workloads. Shading units (also called CUDA cores, stream processors, or execution units depending on manufacturer) handle the parallel calculations required for rendering. TMUs (Texture Mapping Units) process texture data, while ROPs (Render Output Units) handle final pixel output. Higher shader counts generally translate to better GPU benchmark performance, especially in demanding games and 3D applications.
550X Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon 550X's performance in GPU benchmarks and real-world gaming. The base clock represents the minimum guaranteed frequency, while the boost clock indicates peak performance under optimal thermal conditions. Memory clock speed affects texture loading and frame buffer operations. The Radeon 550X by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon 550X Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon 550X's memory capacity determines how well it handles high-resolution textures and multiple displays. Memory bandwidth, measured in GB/s, affects how quickly data moves between the GPU and VRAM. Higher bandwidth improves performance in memory-intensive scenarios like 4K gaming. The memory bus width and type (GDDR6, GDDR6X, HBM) significantly influence overall GPU benchmark scores.
Radeon 550X by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the 550X, reducing the need to fetch data from slower VRAM. L1 and L2 caches store frequently accessed data close to the compute units. AMD's Infinity Cache (L3) dramatically increases effective bandwidth, improving GPU benchmark performance without requiring wider memory buses. Larger cache sizes help maintain high frame rates in memory-bound scenarios and reduce power consumption by minimizing VRAM accesses.
550X Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon 550X against other graphics cards. FP32 (single-precision) performance, measured in TFLOPS, indicates compute capability for gaming and general GPU workloads. FP64 (double-precision) matters for scientific computing. Pixel and texture fill rates determine how quickly the GPU can render complex scenes. While real-world GPU benchmark results depend on many factors, these specifications help predict relative performance levels.
GCN 4.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon 550X is built on AMD's GCN 4.0 architecture, which defines how the GPU processes graphics and compute workloads. The manufacturing process node affects power efficiency, thermal characteristics, and maximum clock speeds. Smaller process nodes pack more transistors into the same die area, enabling higher performance per watt. Understanding the architecture helps predict how the 550X will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon 550X determine PSU requirements and thermal management needs. TDP (Thermal Design Power) indicates the heat output under typical loads, guiding cooler selection. Power connector requirements ensure adequate power delivery for stable operation during demanding GPU benchmarks. The suggested PSU wattage accounts for the entire system, not just the graphics card. Efficient power delivery enables the Radeon 550X to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon 550X by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon 550X are critical for case compatibility. Card length, height, and slot width determine whether it fits in your chassis. The PCIe interface version affects bandwidth for communication with the CPU. Display outputs define monitor connectivity options, with modern cards supporting multiple high-resolution displays simultaneously. Verify these specifications against your case and motherboard before purchasing to ensure a proper fit.
AMD API Support
Graphics and compute APIs
API support determines which games and applications can fully utilize the AMD Radeon 550X. DirectX 12 Ultimate enables advanced features like ray tracing and variable rate shading. Vulkan provides cross-platform graphics capabilities with low-level hardware access. OpenGL remains important for professional applications and older games. CUDA (NVIDIA) and OpenCL enable GPU compute for video editing, 3D rendering, and scientific applications. Higher API versions unlock newer graphical features in GPU benchmarks and games.
Radeon 550X Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon 550X is manufactured by AMD as part of their graphics card lineup. Release date and launch pricing provide context for comparing GPU benchmark results with competing products from the same era. Understanding the product lifecycle helps evaluate whether the Radeon 550X by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
About AMD Radeon 550X
The AMD Radeon 550X is an entry-level discrete GPU built on the 14 nm process node at GlobalFoundries, utilizing the Lexa chip based on the GCN 4.0 architecture. It belongs to the Polaris (RX 500X) generation and is positioned in the database with a benchmark percentile of 43, meaning it outperforms just under half of all GPUs tracked. The sole benchmark score recorded for this card is 8749 points in Geekbench OpenCL, which serves as the reference point for all relative comparisons in this analysis.
Memory Subsystem
The Radeon 550X comes equipped with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 128-bit bus interface. This configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 112.0 GB/s, with the memory operating at 1750 MHz (7 Gbps effective). For a card in this performance tier, the memory allocation is modest by modern standards, and the 128-bit bus width inherently limits the data throughput available to the GPU cores.
At high resolutions, this memory subsystem presents a clear constraint. The 2 GB frame buffer is sufficient for 1080p gaming with reduced texture quality and shadow settings, but it will become a bottleneck in scenarios where large texture packs or high-resolution rendering targets demand more capacity. The 112.0 GB/s bandwidth is adequate for the card’s compute throughput, yet it does not provide headroom for aggressive anti-aliasing or high-detail settings at 1440p or above. Benchmark results indicate that the card’s overall score of 8749 is consistent with a GPU designed for 1080p-class workloads rather than high-resolution rendering, where memory pressure would degrade performance noticeably.
The combination of 2 GB capacity and 128-bit bus width means that users should treat this as a 1080p-oriented solution. The pixel rate of 19.49 GPixel/s and texture rate of 38.98 GTexel/s further suggest that the card’s fill rates are aligned with lower-resolution output. For any workload exceeding 1080p, the memory subsystem will likely be the first limiting factor, as the GPU’s compute resources cannot compensate for insufficient frame buffer space.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The Radeon 550X does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as these hardware blocks are absent from the specification. This is consistent with its GCN 4.0 architecture, which predates the dedicated RT and AI acceleration hardware found in later GPU generations. Consequently, any ray tracing workload would need to rely on software-based implementations, which would incur a significant performance penalty given the card’s modest compute resources.
In terms of API support, the card is compatible with DirectX 12 (feature level 12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. This API coverage ensures broad compatibility with modern game engines and applications that utilize these graphics interfaces. The Vulkan 1.3 support is particularly relevant for titles that leverage this low-overhead API to extract maximum performance from available hardware, though the absence of dedicated RT cores means that hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not a feature of this product.
The FP32 compute throughput is 1,247.2 GFLOPS, with FP16 performance rated identically at 1,247.2 GFLOPS (1:1 ratio). This 1:1 FP16 to FP32 ratio indicates that the card does not offer the enhanced FP16 throughput found in some competing architectures, which limits its utility for machine learning inference tasks that benefit from reduced-precision arithmetic. The API support and compute capabilities make this card suitable for traditional rasterization workloads, but not for ray tracing or advanced AI-accelerated features.
Power and Cooling
The Radeon 550X is rated for a thermal design power (TDP) of 50 W, which classifies it as a very low-power discrete GPU. The card requires no auxiliary power connectors, drawing all its power from the PCIe slot. The suggested power supply rating is 250 W, which is exceptionally modest and allows this card to be installed in systems with basic power supplies without concern.
The physical design is a dual-slot card with a length of 145 mm (5.7 inches). This compact form factor, combined with the low TDP, makes the card suitable for small form factor builds or legacy systems with limited power delivery capabilities. The absence of external power connectors simplifies installation, as no additional cabling is required beyond the PCIe slot itself.
Cooling the 50 W TDP is a straightforward task for a dual-slot design, which typically employs a modest heatsink and fan combination. The low power envelope means that thermal output is minimal, and the card should operate quietly under typical loads. The PCIe 3.0 x8 bus interface is sufficient for this performance class, as the bandwidth available through eight lanes is not a bottleneck for the card’s compute throughput or memory bandwidth.
How It Compares
The Radeon 550X sits in a tight cluster of GPUs with nearly identical benchmark scores, as evidenced by its nearest rivals. Against the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile, the 550X scores 8749 versus 8746, a delta of 0%. This places the two cards at statistical parity, though the RTX 3050 A Mobile is a mobile part while the 550X is a desktop card. The performance equivalence suggests that the 550X can match a modern mobile GPU in OpenCL compute workloads.
The AMD Radeon Pro WX 5100 is a workstation-oriented card that scores 8761, representing a delta of -0.1% relative to the 550X. This difference is negligible and indicates that the 550X performs within 0.1% of this professional-grade product. The proximity of these scores highlights the 550X’s competitive compute capability despite its entry-level positioning.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 scores 8713, yielding a delta of 0.4% in favor of the 550X. This is a modest but measurable lead, meaning the 550X outperforms the GTX 1650 by roughly half a percentage point in the recorded Geekbench OpenCL test. While this difference is small in absolute terms, it demonstrates that the 550X can edge out a popular budget gaming GPU in compute workloads.
The NVIDIA Quadro P2200 scores 8671, with a delta of 0.9% favoring the 550X. This represents the largest performance gap among the listed rivals, with the 550X leading by nearly a full percentage point. The Quadro P2200 is a professional visualization card, and the 550X’s slight advantage in this benchmark indicates that the latter holds up well against higher-tier workstation products in raw compute performance.
Who Should Consider It
The Radeon 550X is best suited for users targeting 1080p resolution with moderate settings. Its 2 GB VRAM and 112.0 GB/s bandwidth are adequate for esports titles and older games at this resolution, where the card’s fill rates of 19.49 GPixel/s and texture rate of 38.98 GTexel/s can be utilized effectively. The 50 W TDP and lack of power connectors make it an accessible upgrade for office desktops or entry-level gaming rigs with limited power supplies.
For users considering 1440p or higher resolutions, the data suggests this card is not recommended. The 2 GB frame buffer will cause texture thrashing and stuttering in modern titles, and the compute score of 8749 places it far below the performance required for smooth high-resolution gaming. Similarly, users interested in ray tracing should look elsewhere, as the absence of dedicated RT cores means this feature is unsupported at practical performance levels.
The card’s position in the 43rd percentile of all GPUs indicates it is an entry-level solution. It suits users who prioritize low power consumption and simple installation over raw performance. The 250 W PSU recommendation allows it to be paired with nearly any power supply, and the dual-slot, 145 mm length ensures compatibility with most cases. For 1080p gaming at medium settings or general compute tasks, the 550X offers a balanced profile, but it is not a future-proof investment given its end-of-life production status.
FAQ
Q: What is the memory capacity and type of the AMD Radeon 550X?
A: The card features 2 GB of GDDR5 memory with a 128-bit bus width and a memory bandwidth of 112.0 GB/s.
Q: Does the Radeon 550X support hardware ray tracing?
A: No, the card does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, so hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported.
Q: What power supply is recommended for the Radeon 550X?
A: The suggested PSU rating is 250 W, and the card requires no auxiliary power connectors, drawing power solely from the PCIe slot.
Q: How does the Radeon 550X compare to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650?
A: The 550X scores 8749 in Geekbench OpenCL, which is 0.4% higher than the GTX 1650’s score of 8713.
Q: What is the TDP of the Radeon 550X?
A: The thermal design power is rated at 50 W, making it a very low-power discrete GPU.
Q: Which API versions are supported by the Radeon 550X?
A: The card supports DirectX 12 (feature level 12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.
Detailed benchmark scores and charts for the AMD Radeon 550X are below.
Benchmark Scores
geekbench_openclSource
Geekbench OpenCL tests GPU compute performance using the cross-platform OpenCL API. This shows how AMD Radeon 550X handles parallel computing tasks like video encoding and scientific simulations. OpenCL is widely supported across different GPU vendors and platforms. Higher scores benefit applications that leverage GPU acceleration for non-graphics workloads.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby Performersgeekbench_vulkanSource
Geekbench Vulkan tests GPU compute using the modern low-overhead Vulkan API. This shows how AMD Radeon 550X performs with next-generation graphics and compute workloads.
Top 5 Performers
Nearby Performers
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