GeForce 9800 GX2 vs Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual

NVIDIA

GeForce 9800 GX2

2008Core: 500 MHz
Similar parts
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VS
AMD

Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual

2013Core: 720 / 825 MHz
Similar parts
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GeForce 9800 GX2 vs Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual 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 9800 GX2 vs Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual 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 9800 GX2 vs Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual: 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 9800 GX2

2008

Why buy it

  • 0.3% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 2 MB vs 512 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2008 hardware with 2 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 499% HIGHER MSRP
    $599 MSRPvs$100 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 1.0 vs 6.2 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $100 MSRP).
  • 200% higher power demand at 150W vs 50W.

Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual

2013

Why buy it

  • Costs $499 less on MSRP ($100 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
  • Delivers 503.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 6.2 vs 1.0 G3D/$ ($100 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
  • 24900% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (512 MB vs 2 MB).
  • GeForce 9800 GX2 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual is the less risky modern option long term.
  • Draws 50W instead of 150W, a 100W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce 9800 GX2 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • 2013 hardware with 512 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?
GeForce 9800 GX2 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 0.3% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual instead at 618 vs 613, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 512 MB vs 2 MB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 28nm process instead of 65nm, and a newer 2013 generation instead of 2008. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual makes the most sense to buy today. It is $499 cheaper on MSRP at $100 vs $599, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 503.9% (6.2 vs 1.0), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. GeForce 9800 GX2 still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

GeForce 9800 GX2 vs Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

GeForce 9800 GX2

The GeForce 9800 GX2 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 15 2008. It features the G9x architecture. The core clock speed is 500 MHz. It has 224 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 613 points.

AMD

Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual

The Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual is manufactured by AMD. It was released in August 1 2013. The core clock speed is 720 / 825 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 618 points.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce 9800 GX2 scores 613 and the Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual reaches 618 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 9800 GX2) vs 640 (Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual).

FeatureGeForce 9800 GX2Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual
G3D Mark Score
613
618
Process Node
65 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
224
640+186%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce 9800 GX2 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce 9800 GX2Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual
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 9800 GX2 has 2 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual carries 512 MB. Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual gives you 24900% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the GeForce 9800 GX2 and 128-bit on the Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual.

FeatureGeForce 9800 GX2Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual
VRAM Capacity
0.002 GB
0.5 GB+24900%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth
Unknown
Unknown
Bus Width
64-bit
128-bit+100%
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce 9800 GX2 draws 150W versus the Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual's 50W — a 100% difference. The Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 9800 GX2) vs 350W (Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual). Power connectors: Legacy vs 1x 6-pin.

FeatureGeForce 9800 GX2Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual
TDP
150W
50W-67%
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Legacy
1x 6-pin
Length
267mm
Height
111mm
Slots
2
Temp (Load)
105°C
Perf/Watt
4.1
12.4+202%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce 9800 GX2 came in at $599, while the Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual launched at $100. On MSRP, Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual was 83.3% cheaper ($499 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 1.0 (GeForce 9800 GX2) vs 6.2 (Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual) — the Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual offers 520% better value. The newer card here is Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual (2013 vs 2008).

FeatureGeForce 9800 GX2Radeon HD 8550G + 8600M Dual
MSRP
$599
$100-83%
Performance per Dollar
1.0
6.2+520%
Codename
NB9E-GTX
Release
July 15 2008
August 1 2013
Ranking
#825
#863

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