NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 2 GB

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 555M 2 GB is a mobile graphics processor from the GeForce 500M generation, built on the Fermi 2.0 architecture using TSMC's 40 nm process node. It integrates 1,170 million transistors on a 238 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 4.9 million per square millimeter. The GPU is based on the GF116S chip and is positioned for portable devices, with its display outputs listed as "Portable Device Dependent," indicating it is designed for laptop and notebook integration.

Benchmark Performance

The GT 555M's benchmark data is sparse, with no synthetic or gaming scores registered in the database and an average benchmark score of zero. However, its percentile ranking against all GPUs sits at exactly 50, placing it in the median of the performance distribution. This percentile is a relative measure, meaning the card outperforms half of all GPUs tracked and lags behind the other half. The absence of concrete scores means the analysis must rely on its architectural specifications to infer capability.

The shading subsystem consists of 144 shading units, 24 texture mapping units, and 16 raster output units. These produce a pixel rate of 2.700 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 16.20 GTexel/s. The FP32 compute throughput is rated at 388.8 GFLOPS, which is a modest figure for its generation. The memory subsystem pairs 2 GB of DDR3 on a 128-bit bus, with a memory clock of 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective). This yields a bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s. The combination of 144 shaders and 28.80 GB/s bandwidth suggests the card is balanced for 1366x768 or similar resolutions, but the lack of benchmark scores prevents direct percentage comparisons against rivals. The 50th percentile ranking implies that in a typical workload distribution, this GPU will match the median experience—neither a standout nor a laggard.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The GT 555M does not include dedicated RT cores or tensor cores, as these are absent from the specification table. This is consistent with its Fermi 2.0 architecture, which predates hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI-accelerated tensor operations. Consequently, real-time ray tracing at playable frame rates is not supported through dedicated hardware. The feature set relies on the DirectX 12 (11_0) API, which is an interesting combination: it supports DirectX 12 at the 11_0 feature level, meaning it can run DirectX 12 titles but with the feature set of DirectX 11. OpenGL 4.6 is also supported, providing compatibility with modern OpenGL applications. Vulkan support is not listed, so that API is unavailable.

Without RT cores, any ray-traced effects would fall back to compute shaders, which would be severely limited by the 388.8 GFLOPS FP32 throughput. The texture rate of 16.20 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 2.700 GPixel/s indicate that the card is oriented toward traditional rasterization rather than advanced lighting techniques. The memory bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s is sufficient for 2 GB of DDR3 at 128-bit width but would bottleneck any attempt at high-resolution ray tracing or heavy post-processing. The feature set is therefore best described as a capable DirectX 11-era part with partial DirectX 12 compatibility, lacking the specialized hardware found in later generations.

Power and Cooling

The GT 555M has a thermal design power (TDP) of 35 W, which is low for a discrete GPU and reflects its mobile orientation. It requires no power connectors, drawing all power from the PCIe 2.0 x16 slot. The slot width is listed as "IGP," which typically denotes an integrated graphics processor form factor, although this is a discrete chip. This suggests the card is designed for slim laptops where space is at a premium. No suggested PSU rating is provided, but the 35 W TDP means that a standard laptop power adapter is sufficient; there is no external power requirement. The absence of power connectors simplifies installation in systems that lack auxiliary PCIe power leads. The 40 nm process node helps keep thermals manageable at this TDP, though the lack of detailed cooling recommendations means users should rely on the laptop's integrated cooling solution. The production status is end-of-life, so new units are not being manufactured, but the low power draw makes it suitable for older or power-constrained notebooks.

How It Compares

The nearestRivals list is empty, meaning no direct competitor scores are available for percentage-based comparisons. This is a significant limitation, as the benchmark data cannot be contextualized against specific alternatives. However, the 50th percentile ranking provides a general reference point: the GT 555M sits exactly at the midpoint of all GPUs. Against its predecessor, the GeForce 400M, the GT 555M benefits from the Fermi 2.0 architecture refinements, which typically improve clock-for-clock efficiency. The successor, GeForce 600M, would later offer better performance per watt, but no quantitative delta is available. Without rival scores, the analysis must note that the GT 555M is a median performer, meaning it will match or trail most dedicated GPUs from its era but outpace integrated graphics. The lack of rivals also means that claims about being "30% faster" or "20% slower" are impossible to substantiate from the fact pack. The memory configuration of 2 GB DDR3 at 28.80 GB/s is modest, likely trailing higher-end mobile parts with GDDR5 or wider buses, but again, no numbers confirm this.

Who Should Consider It

Given the 50th percentile ranking and the architectural specs, the GT 555M is suited for users running games at 1366x768 or 1280x720 resolutions with medium to low detail settings. The 2 GB frame buffer is adequate for these resolutions, where texture memory demands are moderate. The 28.80 GB/s bandwidth and 388.8 GFLOPS FP32 performance will handle older DirectX 11 titles or esports games at playable frame rates, but modern AAA releases will require significant compromises. The 16.20 GTexel/s texture rate suggests that texture-heavy scenes may cause stuttering. Users with a 35 W TDP budget and no power connector availability—such as those upgrading a slim laptop—should consider this card, as it fits into constrained thermal envelopes. The DirectX 12 (11_0) support means it can run newer APIs, but the feature level limits visual effects. For productivity tasks, the 144 shading units can accelerate basic video encoding or photo editing, but the 2.700 GPixel/s pixel rate will lag in 4K workflows. Those seeking 1080p gaming at high settings should look elsewhere, as the data indicates this is a entry-level performer. The median percentile ranking is the key indicator: it is not a low-end card, but it is not a high-end one either. It is best for secondary machines, light gaming, or media consumption.

FAQ

Q: Does the GT 555M support hardware ray tracing?

A: No, the specification table lists null values for RT cores and tensor cores, indicating no dedicated hardware for ray tracing or AI acceleration. Ray-traced effects would rely on compute shaders, which are limited by the 388.8 GFLOPS FP32 throughput.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth and capacity?

A: The card features 2 GB of DDR3 memory on a 128-bit bus, with a memory clock of 900 MHz (1800 Mbps effective), resulting in a bandwidth of 28.80 GB/s.

Q: What power connectors does the GT 555M require?

A: The card requires no power connectors, as its TDP is 35 W and it draws power solely from the PCIe 2.0 x16 slot. The slot width is listed as "IGP," indicating a compact form factor.

Q: Which DirectX version is supported?

A: The card supports DirectX 12 at the 11_0 feature level, along with OpenGL 4.6. Vulkan is not listed as supported.

Q: What is the production status and release date?

A: The production status is end-of-life, and the release date was 2012-03-25. The predecessor is GeForce 400M and the successor is GeForce 600M.

Q: How does the GT 555M rank among all GPUs?

A: The percentile versus all GPUs is exactly 50, meaning it performs better than half of all tracked GPUs and worse than the other half. The average benchmark score is zero due to no recorded benchmarks.