AMD Radeon RX 550X Mobile

The AMD Radeon RX 550X Mobile is an end-of-life mobile graphics processor built on the Polaris 23 chip using the GCN 4.0 architecture. Fabricated on a 14 nm process at GlobalFoundries, it packs 2,200 million transistors into a 103 mm² die. The database places it at the 50th percentile of all GPUs, indicating a median performance level, though the average benchmark score field is unpopulated (0). This analysis walks through the benchmark data, target usage scenarios, feature set, power requirements, and memory subsystem based strictly on the provided facts.

Benchmark Performance

The data shows the RX 550X Mobile occupies the 50th percentile among all GPUs in the database. This midpoint position means it outperforms half of the tracked graphics processors while trailing the other half. Since the nearestRivals list is empty, no specific competitor deltas can be calculated from the provided facts. The aggregate benchmark score is recorded as 0, which serves as a placeholder rather than a measured result. The raw compute throughput is 1.505 TFLOPS for FP32 operations. The texture rate reaches 47.04 GTexel/s, while the pixel rate is 18.82 GPixel/s. These rates derive from the 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 render output units. The base clock runs at 1100 MHz, boosting to 1176 MHz, a modest increase. The FP16 performance is identical at 1.505 TFLOPS due to a 1:1 ratio. The 50th percentile ranking, combined with a 50 W TDP, suggests a part designed for mainstream mobile workloads. The clock behavior indicates a thermally limited design, as the boost headroom is minimal. The 14 nm process node at GlobalFoundries is a mature technology. The transistor density is 21.4 million per square millimeter. The die size of 103 mm² is relatively small. The 2,200 million transistor count is modest. The 50th percentile placement means the GPU is neither a low-end outlier nor a high-end performer. The FP32 throughput is the primary metric for shader performance. The pixel rate indicates the ROP throughput. The texture rate shows the TMU efficiency. Without benchmark scores from the database, the percentile is the sole performance indicator. The data implies that the RX 550X Mobile can handle light gaming and multimedia tasks.

Who Should Consider It

Given the 2 GB GDDR5 memory and 64-bit bus, the RX 550X Mobile is suited for standard-resolution gaming at low to medium detail settings in less demanding titles. The 48.00 GB/s bandwidth is a critical constraint, as modern games with high-resolution textures will quickly exhaust the available memory bandwidth. The 1.505 TFLOPS FP32 throughput places it in the entry-level segment. Users running esports titles or older games will find acceptable frame rates at reduced settings. The display outputs are listed as portable device dependent, meaning the actual connectors vary by laptop model. The PCIe 3.0 x8 interface provides a moderate connection to the host system. The production status is end-of-life, so this GPU appears in legacy or refurbished laptops. For high-resolution gaming, the 2 GB VRAM will be insufficient. The 50th percentile ranking suggests it handles lower resolutions with ease in older titles. The data indicates this is not a part for high-refresh-rate or ultra-settings gaming. It is more appropriate for light productivity, video playback, and casual gaming. The 50 W TDP means it fits into laptops with modest cooling solutions. The 640 shading units provide enough compute for basic shader effects. The 40 TMUs handle texture filtering adequately for older games. The 16 ROPs limit the fill rate for high resolutions. The 2 GB capacity is a hard limit for modern game installations. Users who play games with large open worlds will encounter texture streaming issues. The 48.00 GB/s bandwidth is lower than what entry-level desktop GPUs offer. The PCIe 3.0 x8 interface may bottleneck data transfers in some scenarios.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The RX 550X Mobile has no dedicated ray tracing cores, as the rtCores field is null. Similarly, the tensorCores field is null, indicating no hardware acceleration for AI-based workloads. The architecture is GCN 4.0, which does not include dedicated RT hardware. In terms of API support, the GPU supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. This means it can run games using these modern APIs, but ray tracing effects will be handled in software. The FP16 performance is 1:1 with FP32, so there is no advantage for half-precision workloads. The feature set is therefore limited to traditional rasterization. The 14 nm process node at GlobalFoundries is an older manufacturing technology. The transistor density is 21.4 million per square millimeter. The lack of RT and tensor cores means the GPU relies entirely on its shading units. The DirectX 12_0 feature level allows for basic DX12 features. The Vulkan 1.3 support ensures compatibility with modern titles. The OpenGL 4.6 support covers legacy applications. The 1.505 TFLOPS FP16 performance matches FP32. The GCN 4.0 architecture is a mature design. The 2,200 million transistors are allocated across the 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The lack of tensor cores means no hardware-accelerated upscaling. The lack of RT cores means no hardware-accelerated shadows or reflections. The 14 nm process limits the clock speeds achievable. The boost clock of 1176 MHz is relatively low. The base clock of 1100 MHz is close to the boost. The API support is up-to-date for the 2018 release period.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory bandwidth of the RX 550X Mobile?

A: The memory bandwidth is 48.00 GB/s, derived from a 64-bit bus and 6 Gbps effective GDDR5 memory.

Q: Does this GPU support hardware ray tracing?

A: No. The rtCores field is null, meaning there are no dedicated ray tracing cores on this Polaris 23 chip.

Q: What is the TDP of this mobile GPU?

A: The TDP is listed as 50 W, which is a moderate power draw for a mobile part.

Q: What APIs are supported?

A: It supports DirectX 12 (12_0), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.

Q: How much VRAM does it have and what type?

A: It has 2 GB of GDDR5 memory.

Q: What is the process node and foundry?

A: The process node is 14 nm, and the foundry is GlobalFoundries.

Q: What is the bus interface?

A: The bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x8.

Q: When was it released?

A: The release date is April 10, 2018.

Power and Cooling

The RX 550X Mobile has a TDP of 50 W. This is a relatively low power envelope, suitable for thin and light laptops. The power connectors field is listed as "None", meaning the GPU draws all its power from the motherboard rather than requiring auxiliary power cables. The suggested PSU field is null, so no specific power supply unit recommendation is available. The slot width is listed as "IGP", which indicates an integrated form factor, typically soldered onto the motherboard. The cooling solution is not specified in the fact pack, but the 50 W TDP implies a modest cooling requirement. The 14 nm process node contributes to power efficiency. The lack of power connectors simplifies laptop design. The data shows that thermal management is a key consideration given the small boost clock headroom. The end-of-life status means replacement parts may be scarce. The 2,200 million transistors running at 1100 MHz base and 1176 MHz boost produce the 50 W thermal output. The 103 mm² die size is small, which helps with heat dissipation. The IGP slot width indicates that the GPU is not a discrete card. The absence of a suggested PSU means laptop manufacturers determine power delivery. The 50 W TDP is shared with the rest of the laptop's components.

Memory Subsystem

The memory subsystem consists of 2 GB of GDDR5 memory. The bus width is 64 bits, which is narrow compared to mainstream desktop GPUs. The memory clock runs at 1500 MHz, translating to 6 Gbps effective. The resulting bandwidth is 48.00 GB/s. This bandwidth is a significant bottleneck for high-resolution gaming. At standard resolutions, the 2 GB capacity limits texture quality and may cause stuttering in modern games. At higher resolutions, the VRAM capacity and bandwidth will be severely inadequate. The 64-bit bus means that memory operations are less efficient than wider buses. The 48.00 GB/s figure is the aggregate transfer rate across the entire bus. For comparison, the pixel rate is 18.82 GPixel/s, which means the GPU can fill pixels faster than it can fetch texture data. This mismatch suggests that the GPU is texture-bound. The 2 GB capacity is also a limiting factor for multi-monitor setups. The memory type is GDDR5, which was common for the 2018 release period. The 6 Gbps effective data rate is modest. The 64-bit bus halves the data path compared to wider designs. The 48.00 GB/s bandwidth is insufficient for high-detail textures at standard resolutions. The pixel rate of 18.82 GPixel/s exceeds the bandwidth in terms of ratio. The texture rate of 47.04 GTexel/s also exceeds the bandwidth. This means the GPU is memory-bound. The 1500 MHz memory clock is the base frequency for GDDR5. The 6 Gbps effective rate is double the base due to DDR signaling. The 2 GB capacity is the minimum for modern gaming. The data shows that the memory subsystem is the primary limitation of this GPU.