Gaming laptops are high in budget and low in performance when it comes to portable gaming anywhere, anytime. Nowadays, the technology is becoming more and more portable as compared to the past times when everyone relied on desktop GPUs. So, which gaming GPU can be inexpensive yet reliable enough to meet the current gaming needs?
Introducing the AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile graphics card that is known to be one of the top-notch GPUs used in many 5th-gen and 6th-gen laptops with staggering performance output. This GPU comes with 2 GB of virtual memory but the memory clock of 1500 MHz helps it to achieve the power output equivalent to a 6 GB graphics card.
To make the shopping experience more convenient for you, we have written a detailed review of the AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile graphics card with complete specifications. We will also overview its full-form desktop version to see how well it performs on the portable line.
Details About AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile
The AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile is powered by the ATI company, one of the leading technology brands, second to Nvidia and Intel. AMD’s ATI line has been the leading technology that goes way back to holding its roots, providing reliable graphics support as well.
The Radeon RX 550 GPU was released back in 2017, and its mobile version was released the same year. This is a mid-range GPU that goes low on budget but high on graphics performance. RX550 is manufactured with the Polaris Chip 12 that is basically used in laptops, which makes it the perfect piece of graphics hardware for mobile computers and laptops.
Why is the Radeon RX 550 So Popular?
This GPU is especially known for having the 14 nm FinFET processor that is manufactured by Samsung for their portable devices. The Polaris Chip 12, which is also known as the Lexa, is relatively smaller in size than its predecessor, Polaris 11 and 21, featuring a greater amount of efficiency in a small form factor.
Plus, it includes the 640 shaders that are also seen in Pavilion 15t, which works incredibly well with all cores activated.
How Well Does It Work as Compared to ATI Cards?
Compared to other GPUs, the Radeon Pro 455 is the GPU featured in the Macbook Pro 2016. The RX 550 is the equivalent of that GPU in power, and it performs the same as the Nvidia GeForce MX150. However, it is still below in terms of performance than the GeForce GTX 1050, even though both GPUs were released in the same years.
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Features of the RX 550
When it comes to features, the RX 550 is quite similar to the RX460, which is a previous-generation card. But when it comes to performance output, RX 550 can surely beat the 460 as it requires 80-watt power.
Hence, it lies somewhere between the MX150 and the Nvidia’s GTX 1050 in terms of power output. Here are some technical features and information about the AMD RX 550 Mobile.
| Base Clock | 1100 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1287 MHz |
| Memory Clock | 1500 MHz (6 Gbps effective) |
| Slot Width | IGP |
| TDP | 50 W |
| Outputs | Portable Device Dependent |
| Power Connectors | None |
| Memory Size | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 128 bits |
| Bandwidth | 96.00 GB/s |
| DirectX | 12 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 |
| Shading Units | 640 |
| TMUs | 40 |
| L1 Cache | 16 KB (per CU) |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB |
RX 550 vs RX 550 Mobile in Comparison to Full Version
The AMD RX 550 Mobile was a mobile graphics processor released on July 2, 2017. Built on the 14 nm technology and based on the Lexa graphics processor, the chip supports DirectX 12 in its Lexa PRO form. This assures that AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile can run all recent games.
The Lexa graphics processor has an average die size of 103 mm2 and 2,200 million transistors. There are 640 shading units, 40 texture mapping units, and 16 ROPs in total. AMD has coupled the AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile with 2,048 MB GDDR5 RAM via a 128-bit memory interface.
The GPU operates at 1100 MHz, which may be increased to 1287 MHz, while RAM operates at 1500 MHz (6 Gbps effective). This GPU has a maximum power draw of 50 W. This device has no display connectivity since it is not intended to be linked to displays. Rather, it is meant for laptops/notebooks and will make use of the host mobile device’s output.
Is RX 550 Mobile Better than the Desktop Version?
When it comes to temperature or heat management, the RX 550 Mobile lacks the management of temps as compared to its fully built desktop version. Obviously, the mobile version lacks the components like the fan and the air vents that make the airflow pass more easily. Hence, the desktop version is said to run more stably.
Who are the Vendors of RX 550?
There are various vendors for the RX 550, but the most popular ones are the Gigabyte, Sapphire, MSI, and Aurous. You can also get the founder’s edition directly manufactured by Nvidia. However, since it’s the mobile version, it’s most likely that the vendors would be the company’s motherboard manufacturers.
Final Words
AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile is one of the flagship GPUs released by AMD with the possible outcome of being an efficient yet affordable GPU. For a mobile processor, we can expect this graphics card to be rather preferable as it comes pre-installed on laptops. This GPU is relatively cheaper yet has higher performance than its competitors, and it can run games on stable frame rates to this day.
FAQ’s
What are the specifications of the AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile?
The AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile features specifications including 2GB GDDR5 memory, a 128-bit memory interface, and a core clock speed of up to 1183 MHz.
How does the AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile perform?
Benchmark results and performance analysis of the AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile can be found to evaluate its gaming and graphical capabilities.
Where can I find drivers and support for the AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile?
Drivers and support for the AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile are available on the official AMD website.
Is the Radeon RX 550 Mobile suitable for content creation or professional applications?
While the Radeon RX 550 Mobile can handle basic content creation tasks such as photo editing and video playback.
What laptops are equipped with the Radeon RX 550 Mobile?
The Radeon RX 550 Mobile may be found in various laptops from different manufacturers.
