GeForce FX 5900XT vs RADEON 9550

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 5900XT 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 5900XT 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 5900XT

2011

Why buy it

✅+14.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 128 MB vs 256 MB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2011 hardware with 128 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 0.3 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $129 MSRP).
❌630% higher power demand at 365W vs 50W.

RADEON 9550

2017

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 0.3 vs 0 G3D/$ ($129 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (256 MB vs 128 MB).
✅Draws 50W instead of 365W, a 315W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (35 vs 40).
❌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?

GeForce FX 5900XT is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 14.3% in PassMark G3D (40 vs 35), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce FX 5900XT is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond because it comes out ahead on the available hardware-headroom signals for this matchup.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

RADEON 9550 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. 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 5900XT has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce FX 5900XT vs RADEON 9550 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce FX 5900XT

The GeForce FX 5900XT is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 24 2011. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock speed is 607 MHz. It has 1024 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 365W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 40 points. Launch price was $699.

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.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce FX 5900XT scores 40 versus the RADEON 9550's 35 — the GeForce FX 5900XT leads by 14.3%. The GeForce FX 5900XT is built on Rankine while the RADEON 9550 uses GCN 4.0, both on 40 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce FX 5900XT) vs 512 (RADEON 9550). Raw compute: 1.244 TFLOPS ×2 (GeForce FX 5900XT) vs 1.211 TFLOPS (RADEON 9550).

Feature	GeForce FX 5900XT	RADEON 9550
G3D Mark Score	40+14%	35
Architecture	Rankine	GCN 4.0
Process Node	40 nm	14 nm
Shading Units	1024 ×2+100%	512
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.244 TFLOPS ×2+3%	1.211 TFLOPS
ROPs	48 ×2+200%	16
TMUs	64 ×2+100%	32
L1 Cache	1 MB+669%	0.13 MB
L2 Cache	768 KB+200%	256 KB

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce FX 5900XT 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.

Feature	GeForce FX 5900XT	RADEON 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

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce FX 5900XT 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 5900XT and 64-bit on the RADEON 9550. L2 Cache: 768 KB (GeForce FX 5900XT) vs 256 KB (RADEON 9550) — the GeForce FX 5900XT has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce FX 5900XT	RADEON 9550
VRAM Capacity	0.125 GB	0.25 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	128-bit+100%	64-bit
L2 Cache	768 KB+200%	256 KB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce FX 5900XT draws 365W versus the RADEON 9550's 50W — a 151.8% difference. The RADEON 9550 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5900XT) vs 350W (RADEON 9550). Power connectors: Legacy vs Legacy.

Feature	GeForce FX 5900XT	RADEON 9550
TDP	365W	50W-86%
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	Legacy	Legacy
Length	218mm	—
Slots	1	—
Perf/Watt	0.1	0.7+600%

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Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce FX 5900XT came in at $0, while the RADEON 9550 launched at $129. On MSRP, GeForce FX 5900XT was 100+% cheaper ($129 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): Infinity (GeForce FX 5900XT) vs 0.3 (RADEON 9550) — the GeForce FX 5900XT offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is RADEON 9550 (2017 vs 2011).

Feature	GeForce FX 5900XT	RADEON 9550
MSRP	$0-100%	$129
Performance per Dollar	Infinity	0.3
Codename	GF110	Lexa
Release	March 24 2011	April 20 2017
Ranking	#555	#668

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