AMD Radeon Pro W5500X
AMD graphics card specifications and benchmark scores
At a Glance
AMDAMD Radeon Pro W5500X Specifications
Radeon Pro W5500X GPU Core
Shader units and compute resources
The AMD Radeon Pro W5500X 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.
Pro W5500X Clock Speeds
GPU and memory frequencies
Clock speeds directly impact the Radeon Pro W5500X'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 Pro W5500X by AMD dynamically adjusts frequencies based on workload, temperature, and power limits to maximize performance while maintaining stability.
AMD's Radeon Pro W5500X Memory
VRAM capacity and bandwidth
VRAM (Video RAM) is dedicated memory for storing textures, frame buffers, and shader data. The Radeon Pro W5500X'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 Pro W5500X by AMD Cache
On-chip cache hierarchy
On-chip cache provides ultra-fast data access for the Pro W5500X, 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.
Pro W5500X Theoretical Performance
Compute and fill rates
Theoretical performance metrics provide a baseline for comparing the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X 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.
RDNA 1.0 Architecture & Process
Manufacturing and design details
The AMD Radeon Pro W5500X is built on AMD's RDNA 1.0 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 Pro W5500X will perform in GPU benchmarks compared to previous generations.
AMD's Radeon Pro W5500X Power & Thermal
TDP and power requirements
Power specifications for the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X 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 Pro W5500X to maintain boost clocks without throttling.
Radeon Pro W5500X by AMD Physical & Connectivity
Dimensions and outputs
Physical dimensions of the AMD Radeon Pro W5500X 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 Pro W5500X. 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 Pro W5500X Product Information
Release and pricing details
The AMD Radeon Pro W5500X 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 Pro W5500X by AMD represents good value at current market prices. Predecessor and successor information aids in tracking generational improvements and planning future upgrades.
Radeon Pro W5500X Benchmark Scores
geekbench_metalSource
Geekbench Metal tests GPU compute using Apple's Metal API. This shows how AMD Radeon Pro W5500X performs in macOS and iOS applications that leverage GPU acceleration. Metal provides low-overhead access to Apple silicon GPUs.
Top 5 Performers
Top 5 PerformersNearby Performers
Nearby PerformersAbout AMD Radeon Pro W5500X
The AMD Radeon Pro W5500X is a workstation-oriented GPU built on the 7 nm Navi 14 chip with RDNA 1.0 architecture, featuring 6,400 million transistors on a 158 mm² die. It pairs 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth, and its compute capabilities include 5.398 TFLOPS of FP32 throughput and 10.80 TFLOPS of FP16 (2:1). The card uses an Apple MPX interface, outputs 2x HDMI 2.0b, and carries a launch MSRP of 599 USD. It is now end-of-life, having been released on 2019-12-10, and its sole published benchmark is a Geekbench Metal score of 57661, placing it in the 89th percentile of all GPUs.
Benchmark Performance
The Geekbench Metal score of 57661 is the single data point for this card, and it lands in the 89th percentile among all GPUs — a strong showing for a workstation product. Against its nearest rivals, the W5500X is essentially tied with the NVIDIA P102-100 and the AMD Radeon RX 5600 OEM, posting a 0.1% advantage over both. That margin is negligible in real-world terms; the three cards occupy the same performance tier. The Intel Arc A580 sits slightly ahead, with the W5500X trailing it by 0.2%, while the Intel Arc A570M leads by a more noticeable 1.0% margin. These deltas indicate that the W5500X is not a class leader in raw Metal compute, but it is firmly competitive with mid-range desktop GPUs from its era.
The 89th percentile ranking is worth emphasizing: despite being a professional card with a modest TDP of 125 W and a suggested PSU of 300 W, it outperforms the vast majority of GPUs in the benchmark database. The FP32 throughput of 5.398 TFLOPS and pixel rate of 56.22 GPixel/s suggest that the card can handle demanding compute and raster workloads, though the single benchmark limits deeper analysis. The texture rate of 168.7 GTexel/s and 96 TMUs further support its capability in texture-heavy scenes.
Who Should Consider It
The W5500X is designed for macOS environments, given its Apple MPX bus interface and the use of Geekbench Metal as the benchmark. Users running Metal-accelerated applications on a Mac — such as 3D rendering, video editing, or machine learning inference — will find this card adequate for 1080p and 1440p workloads. The 8 GB VRAM and 224.0 GB/s bandwidth are sufficient for high-resolution textures and moderate dataset sizes, but the 128-bit bus may become a bottleneck at 4K with heavy asset streaming. The FP16 performance of 10.80 TFLOPS (2:1) suggests that workloads leveraging half-precision compute will see a boost, though the card's FP32 rate is more relevant for general graphics.
Given its end-of-life status, this is not a card for new builds, but for existing Mac Pro or Mac systems that support Apple MPX, it offers a viable upgrade path over integrated graphics. The 125 W TDP means it will not stress a 300 W PSU, and the dual-slot cooler should fit most chassis. However, the 2x HDMI 2.0b outputs limit display connectivity — no DisplayPort or USB-C video out — so users with multiple high-refresh monitors may need adapters. The card's performance in the 89th percentile indicates it can handle 1440p gaming at high settings, but its professional focus and lack of modern feature set (no ray tracing or tensor cores) make it a poor choice for gamers seeking current-gen effects.
Ray Tracing and Feature Set
The W5500X has no dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores — the FACT PACK lists `rtCores` and `tensorCores` as null. This means ray tracing, if supported at all, must be handled via compute shaders, which is inefficient on RDNA 1.0 hardware. DirectX 12 support is limited to feature level 12_1, which excludes DirectX Raytracing (DXR) and Variable Rate Shading (VRS) — both require 12_2. Vulkan 1.4 is supported, but again, hardware-accelerated ray tracing in Vulkan relies on ray tracing extensions that are not available without dedicated RT cores. OpenGL 4.6 is present, which is sufficient for legacy CAD and professional applications.
The card's feature set is therefore best suited for traditional rasterization and compute workloads. The 32 ROPs and 56.22 GPixel/s pixel rate are adequate for 1080p and 1440p output, but the lack of hardware RT means it cannot compete with modern GPUs in ray-traced titles. For professional use, the absence of tensor cores also limits AI-accelerated features like DLSS or similar upscaling; any such functionality would rely on standard compute shaders.
FAQ
Q: Does the Radeon Pro W5500X support ray tracing?
A: No. The card has no dedicated ray tracing cores (rtCores are null), and its DirectX 12 feature level is 12_1, which does not include DXR.
Q: What is the memory configuration?
A: It has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is 1750 MHz, yielding 14 Gbps effective.
Q: What is the card's power requirement?
A: The TDP is 125 W, and the suggested PSU is 300 W. It uses a dual-slot cooler.
Q: Which display outputs are available?
A: The card provides 2x HDMI 2.0b outputs. There are no DisplayPort or USB-C video outputs.
Q: What is the benchmark performance relative to the Intel Arc A580?
A: The W5500X scores 57661 in Geekbench Metal, which is 0.2% lower than the Arc A580's average score of 57756.
Q: Is the card still in production?
A: No. It is end-of-life, with a release date of 2019-12-10.
How It Compares
Against the NVIDIA P102-100, the W5500X is 0.1% faster in Geekbench Metal (57661 vs 57601). This is a statistical tie, and both cards deliver near-identical compute performance. The P102-100 is a mining-oriented GPU, so the W5500X offers a more balanced feature set for professional use.
The AMD Radeon RX 5600 OEM is essentially the same performance level, with a 0.1% delta in favor of the W5500X (57599 vs 57661). Both are based on RDNA 1.0, so the similarity is expected. The W5500X's workstation drivers and Apple MPX interface differentiate it, but raw Metal performance is indistinguishable.
The Intel Arc A580 leads the W5500X by 0.2% (57756 vs 57661). That margin is within noise, but the Arc A580 also brings hardware ray tracing and modern features like XeSS, making it a more future-proof option if the workload can leverage those features. However, the W5500X's driver maturity and macOS compatibility may be more important for its target audience.
The Intel Arc A570M is 1.0% faster (58239 vs 57661). This is the largest gap among the listed rivals, yet still small in absolute terms. The A570M is a mobile GPU, so its performance is surprising, but the W5500X's advantage lies in its stable workstation drivers and professional support rather than raw speed.
Memory Subsystem
The W5500X features 8 GB of GDDR6 memory connected via a 128-bit bus. The memory clock runs at 1750 MHz, translating to 14 Gbps effective, which yields a total bandwidth of 224.0 GB/s. This configuration is adequate for 1080p and 1440p workloads, but the narrow bus width can limit performance at 4K resolutions when large textures and high-quality assets saturate the bus. For comparison, the card's pixel rate of 56.22 GPixel/s and texture rate of 168.7 GTexel/s indicate that the memory bandwidth is well matched to its shading and texturing capabilities — the card is not bandwidth-starved in typical workstation tasks.
The 8 GB capacity is sufficient for most professional applications, including 3D modeling and video editing, but may be tight for very large datasets or multi-monitor 4K setups. The FP16 throughput of 10.80 TFLOPS (2:1) suggests that half-precision compute can double performance, but this does not directly affect memory bandwidth. Overall, the memory subsystem is balanced for the card's intended role, though users planning to push 4K with heavy texture streaming should consider a GPU with a wider bus and more VRAM.
The NVIDIA Equivalent of Radeon Pro W5500X
Looking for a similar graphics card from NVIDIA? The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 TU104 offers comparable performance and features in the NVIDIA lineup.
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