GeForce FX 5200 vs RADEON 9550

NVIDIA

GeForce FX 5200

2025Core: 2017 MHzBoost: 2407 MHz
Similar parts
·······
VS
AMD

RADEON 9550

2017Core: 1100 MHzBoost: 1183 MHz
Similar parts
·······

GeForce FX 5200 vs RADEON 9550 Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce FX 5200 vs RADEON 9550 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce FX 5200 vs RADEON 9550: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce FX 5200

2025

Why buy it

  • Costs $59 less on MSRP ($70 MSRP vs $129 MSRP).
  • Better long-term bet: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
  • More future proof: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (8 vs 35).
  • Less VRAM, with 128 MB vs 256 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.1 vs 0.3 G3D/$ ($70 MSRP vs $129 MSRP).
  • 1050% higher power demand at 575W vs 50W.

RADEON 9550

2017

Why buy it

  • +337.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • Delivers 137.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.3 vs 0.1 G3D/$ ($129 MSRP vs $70 MSRP).
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (256 MB vs 128 MB).
  • Draws 50W instead of 575W, a 525W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • 2017 hardware with 256 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
RADEON 9550 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 337.5% in PassMark G3D (35 vs 8), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce FX 5200 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 5nm process instead of 14nm, 170 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2025 generation instead of 2017. That gives it the more rounded hardware package for newer games.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
RADEON 9550 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $59 more expensive on MSRP at $129 vs $70, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 137.4% (0.3 vs 0.1), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, RADEON 9550 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce FX 5200 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce FX 5200 vs RADEON 9550 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

NVIDIA

GeForce FX 5200

The GeForce FX 5200 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 30 2025. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock ranges from 2017 MHz to 2407 MHz. It has 21760 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 575W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 170 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8 points. Launch price was $1,999.

AMD

RADEON 9550

The RADEON 9550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 20 2017. It features the GCN 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1100 MHz to 1183 MHz. It has 512 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 35 points. Launch price was $79.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce FX 5200 scores 8 versus the RADEON 9550's 35 — the RADEON 9550 leads by 337.5%. The GeForce FX 5200 is built on Rankine while the RADEON 9550 uses GCN 4.0, both on 5 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 21,760 (GeForce FX 5200) vs 512 (RADEON 9550). Raw compute: 104.8 TFLOPS (GeForce FX 5200) vs 1.211 TFLOPS (RADEON 9550). Boost clocks: 2407 MHz vs 1183 MHz.

FeatureGeForce FX 5200RADEON 9550
G3D Mark Score
8
35+338%
Architecture
Rankine
GCN 4.0
Process Node
5 nm
14 nm
Shading Units
21760+4150%
512
Compute (TFLOPS)
104.8 TFLOPS+8554%
1.211 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
2407 MHz+103%
1183 MHz
ROPs
176+1000%
16
TMUs
680+2025%
32
L1 Cache
21.3 MB+16285%
0.13 MB
L2 Cache
96 MB+38300%
0.25 MB

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce FX 5200 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The RADEON 9550 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce FX 5200RADEON 9550
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
AMD Anti-Lag
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce FX 5200 has 128 MB of VRAM, while the RADEON 9550 carries 256 MB. RADEON 9550 gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce FX 5200 and 64-bit on the RADEON 9550. L2 Cache: 96 MB (GeForce FX 5200) vs 0.25 MB (RADEON 9550) — the GeForce FX 5200 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce FX 5200RADEON 9550
VRAM Capacity
0.125 GB
0.25 GB+100%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Bus Width
128-bit+100%
64-bit
L2 Cache
96 MB+38300%
0.25 MB
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce FX 5200 draws 575W versus the RADEON 9550's 50W — a 168% difference. The RADEON 9550 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5200) vs 350W (RADEON 9550). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy.

FeatureGeForce FX 5200RADEON 9550
TDP
575W
50W-91%
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
Legacy
Length
152mm
Height
100mm
Slots
1
Temp (Load)
70
Perf/Watt
0.0
0.7
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce FX 5200 came in at $70, while the RADEON 9550 launched at $129. On MSRP, GeForce FX 5200 was 45.7% cheaper ($59 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.1 (GeForce FX 5200) vs 0.3 (RADEON 9550) — the RADEON 9550 offers 200% better value. The newer card here is GeForce FX 5200 (2025 vs 2017).

FeatureGeForce FX 5200RADEON 9550
MSRP
$70-46%
$129
Performance per Dollar
0.1
0.3+200%
Codename
GB202
Lexa
Release
January 30 2025
April 20 2017
Ranking
#3
#668

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.