GeForce 9800M GT vs Radeon HD 5550
GeForce 9800M GT
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Radeon HD 5550
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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 9800M GT is positioned at rank 622 and the Radeon HD 5550 is on rank 224, so the Radeon HD 5550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 9800M GT
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 5550
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 5550 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.8% higher G3D Mark score and 300% more VRAM (2 GB vs 512 MB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce 9800M GT.
| Insight | GeForce 9800M GT | Radeon HD 5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.8%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.8%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / G9x (2007−2010)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2009 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+300%) |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | — | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce 9800M GT offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce 9800M GT holds the technical lead. Priced at $5 (vs $75), it costs 93% less, resulting in a 1388.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce 9800M GT | Radeon HD 5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+1388.3%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($5) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($75) |
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 9800M GT and Radeon HD 5550
GeForce 9800M GT
The GeForce 9800M GT 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: 381 points.
Radeon HD 5550
The Radeon HD 5550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 30 2009. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 725 MHz. It has 1440 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 151W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 384 points. Launch price was $299.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce 9800M GT scores 381 and the Radeon HD 5550 reaches 384 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce 9800M GT is built on G9x while the Radeon HD 5550 uses TeraScale 2, both on 65 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 224 (GeForce 9800M GT) vs 1,440 (Radeon HD 5550).
| Feature | GeForce 9800M GT | Radeon HD 5550 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 381 | 384 |
| Architecture | G9x | TeraScale 2 |
| Process Node | 65 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 224 | 1440+543% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce 9800M GT | Radeon HD 5550 |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
The GeForce 9800M GT comes with 512 MB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 5550 has 2 GB. The Radeon HD 5550 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit.
| Feature | GeForce 9800M GT | Radeon HD 5550 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 0.5 GB | 2 GB+300% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 10.0 (GeForce 9800M GT) vs 11.2 (11_0) (Radeon HD 5550). Vulkan: None vs N/A. OpenGL: 3.3 vs 4.4. Maximum simultaneous displays: 1 vs 3.
| Feature | GeForce 9800M GT | Radeon HD 5550 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 10.0 | 11.2 (11_0)+12% |
| Vulkan | None | N/A |
| OpenGL | 3.3 | 4.4+33% |
| Max Displays | 1 | 3+200% |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: No (GeForce 9800M GT) vs None (Radeon HD 5550). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP3 vs UVD 2.2. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 (GeForce 9800M GT) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (Radeon HD 5550).
| Feature | GeForce 9800M GT | Radeon HD 5550 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | No | None |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP3 | UVD 2.2 |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce 9800M GT draws 150W versus the Radeon HD 5550's 151W — a 0.7% difference. The GeForce 9800M GT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 9800M GT) vs 200W (Radeon HD 5550). Power connectors: Legacy vs None. Card length: 0mm vs 168mm, occupying 0 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 90°C vs 70.
| Feature | GeForce 9800M GT | Radeon HD 5550 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 150W | 151W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 200W-43% |
| Power Connector | Legacy | None |
| Length | 0mm | 168mm |
| Height | 0mm | 69mm |
| Slots | 0-100% | 1 |
| Temp (Load) | 90°C | 70-22% |
| Perf/Watt | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Value Analysis
The GeForce 9800M GT launched at $160 MSRP and currently averages $5, while the Radeon HD 5550 launched at $75 and now averages $75. The GeForce 9800M GT costs 93.3% less ($70 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 76.2 (GeForce 9800M GT) vs 5.1 (Radeon HD 5550) — the GeForce 9800M GT offers 1394.1% better value. The Radeon HD 5550 is the newer GPU (2009 vs 2008).
| Feature | GeForce 9800M GT | Radeon HD 5550 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $160 | $75-53% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $5-93% | $75 |
| Performance per Dollar | 76.2+1394% | 5.1 |
| Codename | NB9E-GTX | Cypress |
| Release | July 15 2008 | September 30 2009 |
| Ranking | #825 | #682 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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