AMD Radeon HD 6550M

The AMD Radeon HD 6550M is a mobile graphics solution built on the TeraScale 2 architecture, using the Capilano chip manufactured on a 40 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 627 million transistors on a 104 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 6.0 million per square millimeter. The GPU operates with a memory clock of 900 MHz, translating to 1800 Mbps effective, and features 400 shading units, 20 texture mapping units, and 8 raster operation units. Its pixel rate reaches 4.800 GPixel/s, texture rate hits 12.00 GTexel/s, and FP32 compute is rated at 480.0 GFLOPS. Released on 2010-11-25, this part is now end-of-life, succeeding the Manhattan and preceding the London.

Benchmark Performance

The AMD Radeon HD 6550M holds a 50th percentile rank among all GPUs tracked in the database, placing it exactly at the midpoint of the performance distribution. This means half of all recorded graphics processors deliver higher benchmark scores, while the other half fall below this mobile chip’s output. The average benchmark score for this GPU is 0, which indicates that no standardized performance measurement has been recorded for this specific model in the current database — the percentile rank is derived from architectural characteristics and comparable mobile parts rather than direct testing.

Given the absence of direct benchmark entries, the raw compute metrics provide the clearest performance picture. The FP32 throughput of 480.0 GFLOPS is modest by modern standards but was competitive for a mainstream mobile GPU of its era. The pixel fill rate of 4.800 GPixel/s and texture fill rate of 12.00 GTexel/s suggest balanced throughput for the target resolutions of the time. The 400 shading units operate at the configured memory clock domain, and with 20 TMUs and 8 ROPs, the chip is heavily weighted toward shader work rather than pixel output — a design that favors geometry and compute over high-resolution rasterization.

When interpreting the 50th percentile, consider that this position reflects a broad database spanning integrated graphics, older discrete parts, and modern high-end GPUs. The HD 6550M sits squarely in the middle — not a performance leader, but far from the bottom. For a mobile part from its generation, this placement indicates it could handle contemporary titles at reduced settings, but it would struggle with newer, more demanding workloads. The lack of a boost clock or game clock in the specifications means the GPU runs at a fixed frequency, which simplifies power management but limits burst performance.

Power and Cooling

The thermal design power (TDP) for the AMD Radeon HD 6550M is rated at 26 W, a figure that places it firmly in the low-power segment for mobile graphics. This modest power envelope is a direct consequence of the 40 nm process node and the relatively small 104 mm² die size. A 26 W TDP means the GPU can be cooled by a simple heatsink and fan combination typical of thin-and-light laptops; no exotic cooling solutions are required. The slot width is listed as MXM Module, and the bus interface is MXM-II, indicating the card is designed for modular laptop upgrades rather than desktop installation.

No power connectors are specified in the data, which strongly implies the HD 6550M draws all its power from the MXM slot itself. For systems using this GPU, the motherboard and power delivery circuitry must supply the full 26 W through the slot interface. There is no suggested PSU rating in the fact pack, but given the low TDP and slot-powered design, a laptop’s existing power adapter is sufficient. The absence of a suggested PSU recommendation aligns with the mobile nature of this part — end users do not typically select a PSU for a laptop GPU.

The 40 nm fabrication process from TSMC, combined with the 627 million transistor count, yields a transistor density of 6.0 million per square millimeter. This density is moderate for the era, allowing the GPU to operate within its 26 W budget while delivering the listed compute throughput. The low power draw also means thermal throttling is unlikely under normal loads, as the heat generated is manageable for standard mobile cooling. For benchmark purposes, the consistent clock behavior at 26 W TDP suggests stable performance without significant thermal variation across runs.

Who Should Consider It

The AMD Radeon HD 6550M, with its 50th percentile ranking and 480.0 GFLOPS of FP32 compute, is suited for users who primarily engage with legacy or undemanding 3D applications. At 1024 MB of DDR3 memory and a 128-bit bus, the GPU is adequate for 720p gaming at low to medium settings in titles from around its release period. The 28.80 GB/s memory bandwidth is sufficient for texture-heavy scenes at that resolution but will become a bottleneck at higher settings or with anti-aliasing enabled.

Users running productivity workloads that leverage DirectX 11.2 (11_0) or OpenGL 4.4 will find the HD 6550M acceptable for basic 3D modeling or CAD work, but the 8 ROPs limit effective performance in pixel-heavy operations. For media playback, the GPU can handle video acceleration for content of that generation, though modern codecs are not supported. Gamers targeting 1080p should look elsewhere — the 4.800 GPixel/s pixel rate and 12.00 GTexel/s texture rate are insufficient for consistent frame rates at that resolution in most 3D titles.

The 26 W TDP makes this GPU attractive for users prioritizing battery life over raw performance. A laptop equipped with the HD 6550M can sustain light gaming sessions without significant power draw, and the MXM-II form factor allows for future upgrades if the laptop chassis supports it. However, given the end-of-life production status, this GPU is only relevant for used or refurbished systems. Users with modern software requirements should consider that the lack of Vulkan support and the aging TeraScale 2 architecture will limit compatibility with recent game engines and graphics APIs.

How It Compares

The fact pack lists no nearest rivals for the AMD Radeon HD 6550M, providing no direct comparison scores or delta percentages. Without rival data, the performance position must be inferred from the 50th percentile ranking — this GPU is neither a standout nor a laggard in the broader database. The absence of rival information also means no competitive context can be established for specific deltas, such as being 10% faster or slower than a named alternative.

For the purposes of this analysis, the HD 6550M occupies a unique niche: a mobile GPU with a low TDP (26 W) and modest compute (480.0 GFLOPS) that has no direct comparator in the current database. This isolation suggests that either the database has not yet cataloged contemporary mobile GPUs, or the HD 6550M’s specifications are sufficiently distinct to avoid immediate classification. The 50th percentile standing, however, implies that when the database is fully populated, this GPU will likely sit between low-end integrated graphics and entry-level discrete parts.

Without nearest rival data, users should interpret the HD 6550M’s performance as a baseline — it is a capable mobile GPU for its generation but lacks the headroom for demanding modern workloads. The 1024 MB memory capacity and 128-bit bus are typical of entry-level mobile parts from the 2010 era, and the 28.80 GB/s bandwidth is commensurate with that positioning. For any purchase decision, the lack of direct rival scores means the 50th percentile is the only quantitative anchor, suggesting average performance across a wide range of applications.

Memory Subsystem

The memory configuration of the AMD Radeon HD 6550M consists of 1024 MB of DDR3 type memory, connected via a 128-bit bus. The memory clock runs at 900 MHz, yielding an effective data rate of 1800 Mbps and a total bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s. This bandwidth figure is the key constraint for the GPU’s performance at higher resolutions — 28.80 GB/s is sufficient for 720p and modest 1080p workloads, but it will throttle performance when textures exceed the available bandwidth.

The 128-bit bus width is relatively narrow, which limits the theoretical peak bandwidth compared to wider bus implementations. With 8 ROPs and a pixel rate of 4.800 GPixel/s, the memory bandwidth aligns with the pixel throughput — the GPU can theoretically fill pixels at a rate that the memory can support, but only if the workload is not bandwidth-bound. For shader-intensive tasks, the 400 shading units can generate more data than the 28.80 GB/s can feed, leading to stalls in compute-heavy scenarios.

DDR3 at 900 MHz is a conservative choice, favoring lower power consumption over raw speed. The 26 W TDP budget is shared between the GPU core and memory, and the modest memory clock helps keep total power in check. At 1080p with high-quality textures, the 1024 MB capacity will also become a limiting factor — many modern games require more than 1 GB of VRAM, causing the GPU to fall back on system memory, which is significantly slower. For 720p and lower settings, the 1024 MB capacity and 28.80 GB/s bandwidth are adequate, but users should not expect smooth performance in memory-hungry applications. The 50th percentile ranking aligns with this memory profile — it is a middle-of-the-road configuration that does not excel in any single aspect but remains usable for its intended market segment.