AMD Radeon HD 6550A
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon HD 6550A Specifications
Radeon HD 6550A GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon HD 6550A 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.
HD 6550A Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon HD 6550A'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 HD 6550A by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon HD 6550A Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon HD 6550A'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 HD 6550A by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the HD 6550A, 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.
HD 6550A Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon HD 6550A 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.
TeraScale 2 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon HD 6550A is built on AMD's TeraScale 2 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 HD 6550A will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon HD 6550A Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon HD 6550A 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 HD 6550A to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon HD 6550A by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon HD 6550A 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 HD 6550A. 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 HD 6550A Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon HD 6550A 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 HD 6550A by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon HD 6550A Benchmark Scores
No benchmark data available for this GPU.
About AMD Radeon HD 6550A
The AMD Radeon HD 6550A is a 40 nm mobile-oriented graphics processor built on the TeraScale 2 architecture, using the Pinewood chip. It integrates 627 million transistors on a 104 mm² die, with a transistor density of 6.0M/mm², and is classified under the All-In-One (HD 6000) generation. Its production status is end-of-life, with a release date of 2011-02-06. Benchmark data shows an average score of 0, placing it at the 50th percentile among all GPUs, a figure that reflects a median position in the overall performance distribution rather than a specific measured workload.
Memory Subsystem
The Radeon HD 6550A is equipped with 2 GB of GDDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a total memory bandwidth of 25.60 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 800 MHz, translating to 1600 Mbps effective. This configuration is notable for its capacity relative to its bandwidth: the 2 GB capacity is generous for the era, but the 25.60 GB/s bandwidth is the primary constraint when addressing high-resolution workloads. For resolutions beyond standard desktop settings, the limited bandwidth will cause fill-rate and memory-throughput bottlenecks, as the pixel rate of 4.400 GPixel/s and texture rate of 13.20 GTexel/s further cap the card's ability to push large framebuffers. In practice, high-resolution gaming or texture-heavy applications will be constrained by this memory subsystem, making the card more appropriate for moderate settings at lower resolutions where the 25.60 GB/s can be utilized efficiently. The 128-bit bus width is a moderate figure, and when combined with GDDR3's lower effective data rates compared to faster memory types, the card cannot sustain the data throughput required for high-detail, high-resolution scenes. The 2 GB capacity does provide headroom for larger texture pools, but the bandwidth ceiling means that capacity will rarely be fully exploited without stuttering.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The Radeon HD 6550A does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores; both fields are null in the specification. Consequently, hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not supported, and no AI-accelerated features are available. The feature set relies entirely on the TeraScale 2 architecture's traditional rasterization pipeline. In terms of API support, the card exposes DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4, but lacks Vulkan support. This means that modern applications relying on Vulkan for lower-level hardware access will not run natively, while DirectX 11 and OpenGL 4.4 workloads are supported. The absence of tensor cores also precludes any machine-learning-based upscaling or denoising, leaving the card dependent on raw compute. The FP32 throughput is 528.0 GFLOPS, which is a modest figure that aligns with its target market. The shading unit count of 480, along with 24 texture mapping units and 8 ROPs, defines a fixed-function pipeline that cannot adapt to newer rendering techniques such as ray-traced shadows or reflections. The card's feature set is firmly rooted in the DirectX 11 generation, with no path forward for Vulkan-exclusive titles.
Who Should Consider It
Given the benchmark data, which shows an average score of 0 and a 50th percentile rank, the Radeon HD 6550A sits at the median of the GPU landscape. This suggests it is not a high-performance part but rather a balanced entry-level offering. The card's 480 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 8 ROPs provide a baseline for light 3D rendering. The 35 W TDP makes it suitable for systems with limited thermal headroom, particularly all-in-one (AIO) desktops, as indicated by the generation classification "All-In-One (HD 6000)" and the MXM-A (3.0) bus interface. The display outputs are marked as "Portable Device Dependent," meaning the card is designed for integrated or proprietary display configurations rather than standard monitor outputs. Users running legacy applications, office productivity, or older games at moderate settings will find the card adequate. However, for high-resolution gaming or modern AAA titles, the 25.60 GB/s bandwidth and 528.0 GFLOPS compute are insufficient. The recommendation is to use this card for 2D workloads, basic video playback, or older DirectX 11 titles at reduced settings. It is not suited for high-refresh or high-resolution scenarios, and its 4.400 GPixel/s pixel rate limits fill-rate intensive effects like heavy particle systems or high-detail shadows.
How It Compares
The FACT PACK does not include any entries in the nearestRivals array, so no specific rival comparisons with names, scores, or deltaPct values are available. The only positional reference is the 50th percentile rank against all GPUs, which indicates a median standing in the overall distribution. Without rival data, a detailed head-to-head analysis cannot be performed. The card's performance characteristics, such as the 528.0 GFLOPS FP32 and 4.400 GPixel/s pixel rate, can be qualitatively assessed against the broader market, but no quantitative deltas are provided. Therefore, this section must defer to the percentile as the sole comparative metric, noting that the card occupies a middle ground in the historical GPU hierarchy. The absence of rival entries means that any claims about being ahead of or behind specific competing products cannot be substantiated from the given data.
FAQ
Q: What type of memory does the AMD Radeon HD 6550A use?
A: It uses 2 GB of GDDR3 memory with a 128-bit bus, providing a bandwidth of 25.60 GB/s.
Q: Does the card support Vulkan?
A: No. The API list includes DirectX 11.2 (11_0) and OpenGL 4.4, but Vulkan is not supported.
Q: What is the thermal design power (TDP) of this card?
A: The TDP is 35 W, making it a low-power part suitable for compact or AIO systems.
Q: What is the process node and transistor count?
A: The card is fabricated on a 40 nm process at TSMC, containing 627 million transistors on a 104 mm² die.
Q: Does the Radeon HD 6550A have dedicated ray tracing cores?
A: No. The specification lists null for both RT cores and tensor cores, so hardware-accelerated ray tracing is not available.
Q: What is the release date of this product?
A: The release date is 2011-02-06, and the production status is end-of-life.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon HD 6550A
Looking for a similar graphics card from NVIDIA? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 offers comparable performance and features in the NVIDIA lineup.
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