AMD Radeon Pro 5500M

The AMD Radeon Pro 5500M is a mobile workstation GPU built on the RDNA 1.0 architecture, using the Navi 14 chip fabricated on TSMC’s 7 nm process. It integrates 6,400 million transistors on a 158 mm² die, with a transistor density of 40.5 million per square millimeter. Released on November 12, 2019, it is now end-of-life. The card operates with a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 1450 MHz, delivering 4.454 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 8.909 TFLOPS of FP16 via a 2:1 ratio. Its average benchmark score is 11986, placing it at the 50th percentile of all GPUs. The following analysis details its memory subsystem, feature set, power requirements, competitive positioning, and benchmark results, all derived exclusively from the provided data.

Memory Subsystem

The Radeon Pro 5500M comes equipped with 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, yielding a memory bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s. The memory operates at a 1500 MHz base clock with 12 Gbps effective data rate. This configuration is modest for high-resolution workloads, as the 128-bit bus width inherently limits peak throughput compared to wider interfaces. At 4K resolutions, texture-heavy scenes and large frame buffers will stress the 192.0 GB/s bandwidth, potentially causing bottlenecks in scenarios where the GPU must stream geometry and textures simultaneously. For 1440p gaming or professional 3D rendering, the 8 GB capacity is adequate for most current assets, but the bandwidth figure suggests that the card is better suited to 1080p or lighter 1440p tasks rather than extreme 4K ultra settings. In compute workloads, the pixel rate of 46.40 GPixel/s and texture rate of 139.2 GTexel/s complement the memory bandwidth, though the overall throughput remains constrained by the narrow bus. The 12 Gbps effective memory speed partially compensates for the 128-bit interface, but rivals with larger buses or faster memory will outperform it in memory-intensive applications. For a mobile workstation part, this memory subsystem prioritizes power efficiency over raw capacity, which aligns with its 85 W TDP classification.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The Radeon Pro 5500M does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as these are absent from the FACT PACK specifications. Instead, it relies on the RDNA 1.0 architecture’s standard compute units for all rendering tasks, which means ray tracing, if supported, would be handled via shader-based methods rather than hardware acceleration. The card supports DirectX 12 (12_1), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, providing broad API compatibility for modern applications. The absence of tensor cores also means no dedicated AI acceleration for features like DLSS or similar upscaling techniques; any such functionality would depend on the host system’s CPU or software. The pixel rate of 46.40 GPixel/s and texture rate of 139.2 GTexel/s indicate solid rasterization capabilities for its class, but the lack of RT/tensor hardware places it firmly in the traditional rasterization era. In practical terms, users should expect feature-level support for DirectX 12_1 titles and Vulkan-based games, but not hardware-accelerated ray tracing or neural network-based enhancements. The 4.454 TFLOPS FP32 throughput is sufficient for compute shaders and general GPU workloads, but the card’s feature set is dated relative to newer architectures that include dedicated RT cores. For professional applications that rely on OpenGL 4.6 compatibility, this GPU remains viable, though its Vulkan 1.4 support is a modern addition.

Power and Cooling

The Radeon Pro 5500M has a TDP of 85 W, which is a modest power draw for a mobile GPU. It requires no external power connectors, as indicated by the "None" field for power connectors, meaning it draws all power through the PCIe slot. The bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x8, which provides sufficient bandwidth for the GPU’s data transfer needs, though an x16 interface would offer headroom for future workloads. There is no suggested PSU listed in the FACT PACK, so power supply recommendations are not provided; however, the 85 W TDP suggests that a typical laptop or small-form-factor system can handle it without additional power cabling. The lack of a slot width or dimension specifications indicates it is designed primarily for portable devices, as its display outputs are listed as "Portable Device Dependent." Cooling requirements are not explicitly stated, but an 85 W TDP generally allows for a capable air cooler, especially in a mobile chassis where thermal solutions are tailored to the form factor. The 7 nm process node contributes to efficiency, and the 6,400 million transistors on a 158 mm² die indicate a dense design that benefits from lower voltage operation. For system integrators, the absence of power connectors simplifies installation, but the PCIe 4.0 x8 interface must be supported by the host platform to achieve full performance. The card’s end-of-life status suggests that replacement parts may become scarce, but its power profile remains manageable for legacy systems.

How It Compares

The Radeon Pro 5500M sits in a competitive landscape defined by four nearest rivals based on average benchmark scores. Its average score of 11986 is nearly identical to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960A, which scores 12002, a delta of -0.1%. This places the two cards in the same performance tier, with the Radeon Pro 5500M effectively matching the GTX 960A in overall benchmarks. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670 scores 12014, representing a -0.2% delta, again indicating a statistical tie. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 scores 12045, a -0.5% delta, meaning the Radeon Pro 5500M is slightly behind but within a negligible margin. The AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT scores 11897, giving a delta of 0.7%, which shows the Radeon Pro 5500M is marginally ahead of this rival. These deltas are all under 1%, so the Radeon Pro 5500M offers no meaningful performance advantage or disadvantage against any of these four cards in aggregate benchmarks. However, the Radeon Pro 5500M’s 8 GB VRAM is double that of some older rivals like the GTX 960A and GTX 670, which typically have 2 GB or 4 GB configurations, providing a capacity advantage in memory-heavy workloads despite similar raw scores. The RX 6500 XT, despite being newer, trails slightly in average score, suggesting that the Radeon Pro 5500M holds its own against modern entry-level offerings.

Benchmark Performance

The benchmark data reveals a consistent performance profile across different API tests. In Geekbench Metal, the Radeon Pro 5500M scores 37142, while its OpenCL score is 36764 and Vulkan score is 35134. These scores indicate that Metal is the strongest API for this GPU, likely due to its macOS-oriented design, with OpenCL trailing by approximately 1% and Vulkan by about 5.4% relative to Metal. Passmark tests show a different picture: DirectX 9 scores 96, DirectX 10 scores 36, DirectX 11 scores 42, and DirectX 12 scores 29. The DirectX 9 score is remarkably high relative to newer API versions, suggesting legacy driver optimization, while DirectX 12 performance is the weakest, scoring 29. This pattern implies that the card excels in older API environments but struggles with modern DirectX 12 workloads, which may be a concern for current gaming titles. The Passmark G2D score of 648 and G3D score of 6732 indicate that 2D tasks are handled adequately, while 3D performance is moderate. The GPU compute score of 3240 is modest, reflecting the lack of dedicated compute accelerators. Comparing to rivals, the Radeon Pro 5500M is -0.1% behind the GTX 960A, -0.2% behind the GTX 670, -0.5% behind the GTX 960, and +0.7% ahead of the RX 6500 XT. These deltas are all within a 1.2% spread, meaning that in real-world usage, the differences are imperceptible. The average benchmark score of 11986 places it at the 50th percentile, confirming it as a mid-range performer. For users prioritizing Metal performance, the Geekbench Metal score of 37142 is a standout, but for DirectX 12 gaming, the Passmark score of 29 suggests significant limitations.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the AMD Radeon Pro 5500M?

A: The memory bandwidth is 192.0 GB/s, derived from 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with a 12 Gbps effective data rate.

Q: Does the Radeon Pro 5500M support hardware ray tracing?

A: No, the FACT PACK lists no ray tracing cores or tensor cores, so ray tracing would rely on shader-based methods rather than dedicated hardware acceleration.

Q: What is the TDP of the Radeon Pro 5500M and does it require external power connectors?

A: The TDP is 85 W, and the power connectors field is listed as "None," meaning it draws power solely through the PCIe slot without additional cabling.

Q: How does the Radeon Pro 5500M compare to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 in average benchmark score?

A: The Radeon Pro 5500M has an average score of 11986, which is -0.5% behind the GTX 960’s score of 12045, indicating a negligible performance difference.

Q: What is the best-performing API for the Radeon Pro 5500M based on benchmarks?

A: The Geekbench Metal score of 37142 is the highest among its benchmark results, followed by OpenCL at 36764 and Vulkan at 35134, suggesting Metal is the most optimized API.

Q: Is the Radeon Pro 5500M still in production?

A: No, the production status is listed as "End-of-life," with a release date of November 12, 2019, meaning it is no longer manufactured.