GeForce GTX 745 vs Radeon 550

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

The Radeon 550 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.7% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce GTX 745 offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.

Insight	GeForce GTX 745	Radeon 550
Performance	❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.7%)	✅Leading raw performance (+0.7%)
Longevity	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Maxwell (2014−2017))	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2017 / GCN 4.0 (2016−2020))
Ecosystem	Supports FSR Upscaling	Supports FSR Upscaling
VRAM	✅ More VRAM (+100%)	❌ Less VRAM capacity
Efficiency	Normal Efficiency	Normal Efficiency
Case Fit	📏 Compact / SFF Friendly	—

💎 Value Proposition

The GeForce GTX 745 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GTX 745 holds the technical lead. Priced at $25 (vs $79), it costs 68% less, resulting in a 213.9% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	GeForce GTX 745	Radeon 550
Cost Efficiency	✅Better overall value (+213.9%)	❌Lower cost efficiency
Upfront Cost	✅More affordable ($25)	⚠️Higher upfront cost ($79)

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.

GeForce GTX 745 Benchmark Check

Radeon 550 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 745 and Radeon 550

GeForce GTX 745

The GeForce GTX 745 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 18 2014. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1020 MHz to 1085 MHz. It has 512 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 55W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,126 points. Launch price was $119.

Radeon 550

The Radeon 550 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: 2,140 points. Launch price was $79.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 745 scores 2,126 and the Radeon 550 reaches 2,140 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 745 is built on Maxwell while the Radeon 550 uses GCN 4.0, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 512 (GeForce GTX 745) vs 512 (Radeon 550). Raw compute: 1.111 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 745) vs 1.211 TFLOPS (Radeon 550). Boost clocks: 1085 MHz vs 1183 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 745	Radeon 550
G3D Mark Score	2,126	2,140
Architecture	Maxwell	GCN 4.0
Process Node	28 nm	14 nm
Shading Units	512	512
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.111 TFLOPS	1.211 TFLOPS+9%
Boost Clock	1085 MHz	1183 MHz+9%
ROPs	16	16
TMUs	32	32
L1 Cache	256 KB+100%	128 KB
L2 Cache	2 MB+700%	0.25 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 745	Radeon 550
Upscaling Tech	FSR 2.1 (Compatible)	FSR 1.0 (Software)
Frame Generation	FSR 3 (Compatible)	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	Standard	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 745 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon 550 has 2 GB. The GeForce GTX 745 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 745) vs 0.25 MB (Radeon 550) — the GeForce GTX 745 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 745	Radeon 550
VRAM Capacity	4 GB+100%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	128-bit+100%	64-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB+700%	0.25 MB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 745 draws 55W versus the Radeon 550's 50W — a 9.5% difference. The Radeon 550 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GTX 745) vs 300W (Radeon 550). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs None.

Feature	GeForce GTX 745	Radeon 550
TDP	55W	50W-9%
Recommended PSU	300W	300W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	None
Length	145mm	—
Height	69mm	—
Slots	1	—
Temp (Load)	75°C	—
Perf/Watt	38.7	42.8+11%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 745 launched at $80 MSRP and currently averages $25, while the Radeon 550 launched at $79 and now averages $79. The GeForce GTX 745 costs 68.4% less ($54 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 85.0 (GeForce GTX 745) vs 27.1 (Radeon 550) — the GeForce GTX 745 offers 213.7% better value. The Radeon 550 is the newer GPU (2017 vs 2014).