Radeon R9 M290X vs RX 550

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Radeon 540 Radeon 550 Radeon 550X Radeon RX 550 Radeon RX 550X
VS
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Radeon R9 M290X Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire Radeon R9 M290X Mac Edition Radeon R9 M295X Radeon R9 M295X Mac Edition

Aggregate performance score

We've compared Radeon RX 550 with Radeon R9 M290X, including specs and performance data.

RX 550
2017
4 GB GDDR5, 50 Watt
6.06

R9 M290X outperforms RX 550 by a significant 21% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Contents

RX 550 RX 550
R9 M290X R9 M290X

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking571517
Place by popularity25not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation2.92no data
Power efficiency9.615.82
ArchitectureGCN 4.0 (2016−2020)GCN 1.0 (2011−2020)
GPU code nameLexaNeptune
Market segmentDesktopLaptop
Release date20 April 2017 (7 years ago)9 January 2014 (11 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$79 no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

The higher the performance-to-price ratio, the better. We use the manufacturer's recommended prices for comparison.

no data

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores5121280
Compute unitsno data20
Core clock speed1100 MHz850 MHz
Boost clock speed1183 MHz900 MHz
Number of transistors2,200 million2,800 million
Manufacturing process technology14 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)50 Watt100 Watt
Texture fill rate37.8672.00
Floating-point processing power1.211 TFLOPS2.304 TFLOPS
ROPs1632
TMUs3280

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop sizeno datalarge
Bus supportno dataPCIe 3.0 x16
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x8PCIe 3.0 x16
Length145 mmno data
Width2-slotno data
Supplementary power connectorsNoneNone

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount4 GB4 GB
Memory bus width128 Bit256 Bit
Memory clock speed1750 MHz1200 MHz
Memory bandwidth112.0 GB/s153.6 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPortNo outputs
Eyefinity-+
HDMI+-

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

FreeSync-+
HD3D-+
PowerTune-+
DualGraphics-+
ZeroCore-+
Switchable graphics-+

API and SDK compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (12_0)DirectX® 11
Shader Model6.45.1
OpenGL4.64.4
OpenCL2.0Not Listed
Vulkan1.2.131-
Mantle-+

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score.

RX 550 6.06
R9 M290X 7.34
+21.1%
  • Passmark

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

RX 550 2709
R9 M290X 3282
+21.2%

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD35−40
−31.4%
46
+31.4%

Cost per frame, $

1080p2.26no data

FPS performance in popular games

  • Full HD
    Low Preset
  • Full HD
    Medium Preset
  • Full HD
    High Preset
  • Full HD
    Ultra Preset
  • Full HD
    Epic Preset
  • 1440p
    High Preset
  • 1440p
    Ultra Preset
  • 1440p
    Epic Preset
  • 4K
    High Preset
  • 4K
    Ultra Preset
  • 4K
    Epic Preset
Atomic Heart 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Atomic Heart 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Battlefield 5 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Far Cry 5 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Fortnite 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Forza Horizon 5 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
Valorant 80−85
+0%
80−85
+0%
Atomic Heart 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Battlefield 5 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 120−130
+0%
120−130
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Dota 2 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Far Cry 5 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Fortnite 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Forza Horizon 5 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%
Metro Exodus 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Valorant 80−85
+0%
80−85
+0%
Battlefield 5 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Dota 2 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Far Cry 5 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Valorant 80−85
+0%
80−85
+0%
Fortnite 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Metro Exodus 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Valorant 90−95
+0%
90−95
+0%
Battlefield 5 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 6−7
+0%
6−7
+0%
Far Cry 5 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 12−14
+0%
12−14
+0%
Fortnite 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Atomic Heart 6−7
+0%
6−7
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Metro Exodus 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 7−8
+0%
7−8
+0%
Valorant 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Battlefield 5 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 3−4
+0%
3−4
+0%
Dota 2 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
Far Cry 5 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 12−14
+0%
12−14
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%
Fortnite 8−9
+0%
8−9
+0%

This is how RX 550 and R9 M290X compete in popular games:

  • R9 M290X is 31% faster in 1080p

All in all, in popular games:

  • there's a draw in 63 tests (100%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score 6.06 7.34
Recency 20 April 2017 9 January 2014
Chip lithography 14 nm 28 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 50 Watt 100 Watt

RX 550 has an age advantage of 3 years, a 100% more advanced lithography process, and 100% lower power consumption.

R9 M290X, on the other hand, has a 21.1% higher aggregate performance score.

The Radeon R9 M290X is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon RX 550 in performance tests.

Be aware that Radeon RX 550 is a desktop card while Radeon R9 M290X is a notebook one.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.

AMD Radeon RX 550
Radeon RX 550
AMD Radeon R9 M290X
Radeon R9 M290X
Like
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Other comparisons

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

RX 550 Radeon RX 550
vs
GTX 570 Rev. 2 GeForce GTX 570 Rev. 2
R9 M290X Radeon R9 M290X
vs
GTX 680M GeForce GTX 680M
RX 550 Radeon RX 550
vs
GTX 465 GeForce GTX 465
RX 580 Radeon RX 580
vs
HD Graphics 5300 HD Graphics 5300
RX 560 Radeon RX 560
vs
Radeon 550X Radeon 550X
RX 550 Radeon RX 550
vs
ATI X300 LE X300 LE
GTX 980M GeForce GTX 980M
vs
HD 7770 HD 7770
Quadro M600M Quadro M600M
vs
R7 Graphics R7 Graphics
Radeon 520 Radeon 520
vs
RX 6800 RX 6800
R7 M265 Radeon R7 M265
vs
Xbox One S GPU One S GPU
RX 540 Radeon RX 540
vs
HD 7570 HD 7570
RX 580 Mobile Radeon RX 580 Mobile
vs
GeForce MX330 GeForce MX330
HD Graphics 3000 HD Graphics 3000
vs
256 SDR GeForce 256 SDR

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.

3.6
7090 votes

Rate Radeon RX 550 on a scale of 1 to 5:

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3.2
12 votes

Rate Radeon R9 M290X on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
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  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Comments

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