GeForce 6500 vs RADEON 9550
GeForce 6500
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RADEON 9550
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money. The GeForce 6500 is positioned at rank 359 and the RADEON 9550 is on rank 363, so the GeForce 6500 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 6500
Performance Per Dollar RADEON 9550
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce 6500 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 8.6% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the RADEON 9550.
| Insight | GeForce 6500 | RADEON 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+8.6%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-8.6%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2017 / GCN 4.0 (2016−2020)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce 6500 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce 6500 holds the technical lead. Priced at $5 (vs $30), it costs 83% less, resulting in a 551.4% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce 6500 | RADEON 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+551.4%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($5) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($30) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce 6500 and RADEON 9550
GeForce 6500
The GeForce 6500 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 6 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 1058 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 65W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 38 points. Launch price was $109.
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 6500 scores 38 versus the RADEON 9550's 35 — the GeForce 6500 leads by 8.6%. The GeForce 6500 is built on Kepler while the RADEON 9550 uses GCN 4.0, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 384 (GeForce 6500) vs 512 (RADEON 9550). Raw compute: 0.8125 TFLOPS (GeForce 6500) vs 1.211 TFLOPS (RADEON 9550).
| Feature | GeForce 6500 | RADEON 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 38+9% | 35 |
| Architecture | Kepler | GCN 4.0 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |
| Shading Units | 384 | 512+33% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 0.8125 TFLOPS | 1.211 TFLOPS+49% |
| ROPs | 16 | 16 |
| TMUs | 32 | 32 |
| L1 Cache | 32 KB | 128 KB+300% |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce 6500 | RADEON 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 256 MB of GDDR5. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | GeForce 6500 | RADEON 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.25 GB | 0.25 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 256 KB | 256 KB |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce 6500 draws 65W versus the RADEON 9550's 50W — a 26.1% difference. The RADEON 9550 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 6500) vs 350W (RADEON 9550). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy.
| Feature | GeForce 6500 | RADEON 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 65W | 50W-23% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Legacy | Legacy |
| Length | 168mm | — |
| Height | 100mm | — |
| Slots | 1 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 65°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 0.6 | 0.7+17% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce 6500 launched at $100 MSRP and currently averages $5, while the RADEON 9550 launched at $129 and now averages $30. The GeForce 6500 costs 83.3% less ($25 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 7.6 (GeForce 6500) vs 1.2 (RADEON 9550) — the GeForce 6500 offers 533.3% better value. The RADEON 9550 is the newer GPU (2017 vs 2012).
| Feature | GeForce 6500 | RADEON 9550 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $100-22% | $129 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-83% | $30 |
| Performance per Dollar | 7.6+533% | 1.2 |
| Codename | GK107 | Lexa |
| Release | September 6 2012 | April 20 2017 |
| Ranking | #719 | #668 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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