GeForce MX550
Tesla K20c
GeForce MX550 vs Tesla K20c 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 MX550 vs Tesla K20c 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.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
GeForce MX550 vs Tesla K20c: 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 MX550
2021Why buy it
- ✅Costs $3,049 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $3,199 MSRP).
- ✅Delivers 2055.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 29.9 vs 1.4 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $3,199 MSRP).
- ✅Tesla K20c is already obsolete for modern gaming, so GeForce MX550 is the less risky modern option long term.
- ✅Draws 25W instead of 225W, a 200W reduction.
Trade-offs
- ❌Older hardware, 2 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in newer AAA releases.
Tesla K20c
2012Why buy it
- ✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.
Trade-offs
- ❌2012 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
- ❌2032.7% HIGHER MSRP$3,199 MSRPvs$150 MSRP
- ❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 1.4 vs 29.9 G3D/$ ($3,199 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
- ❌800% higher power demand at 225W vs 25W.
Quick Answers
Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce MX550 vs Tesla K20c Technical Specifications
Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.
GeForce MX550
The GeForce MX550 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 17 2021. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1065 MHz to 1320 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,480 points.
Tesla K20c
The Tesla K20c is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 12 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 706 MHz. It has 2496 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,432 points. Launch price was $3,199.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce MX550 scores 4,480 and the Tesla K20c reaches 4,432 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce MX550 is built on Turing while the Tesla K20c uses Kepler, both on 12 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce MX550) vs 2,496 (Tesla K20c). Raw compute: 2.703 TFLOPS (GeForce MX550) vs 3.524 TFLOPS (Tesla K20c).
| Feature | GeForce MX550 | Tesla K20c |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 4,480+1% | 4,432 |
| Architecture | Turing | Kepler |
| Process Node | 12 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1024 | 2496+144% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 2.703 TFLOPS | 3.524 TFLOPS+30% |
| ROPs | 16 | 40+150% |
| TMUs | 32 | 208+550% |
| L1 Cache | 2 MB+900% | 0.2 MB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+60% | 1.25 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
The GeForce MX550 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Tesla K20c leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.
| Feature | GeForce MX550 | Tesla K20c |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | Upscaling support | Upscaling support |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | NVIDIA Reflex | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards ship with 2 GB of video memory. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the GeForce MX550 and 64-bit on the Tesla K20c. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce MX550) vs 1.25 MB (Tesla K20c) — the GeForce MX550 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce MX550 | Tesla K20c |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB+60% | 1.25 MB |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce MX550 draws 25W versus the Tesla K20c's 225W — a 160% difference. The GeForce MX550 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce MX550) vs 350W (Tesla K20c). Power connectors: Mobile vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | GeForce MX550 | Tesla K20c |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 25W-89% | 225W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | Mobile | PCIe-powered |
| Length | — | 267mm |
| Slots | — | 2 |
| Perf/Watt | 179.2+810% | 19.7 |
Value Analysis
At launch, the GeForce MX550 came in at $150, while the Tesla K20c launched at $3199. On MSRP, GeForce MX550 was 95.3% cheaper ($3049 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 29.9 (GeForce MX550) vs 1.4 (Tesla K20c) — the GeForce MX550 offers 2035.7% better value. The newer card here is GeForce MX550 (2021 vs 2012).
| Feature | GeForce MX550 | Tesla K20c |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150-95% | $3199 |
| Performance per Dollar | 29.9+2036% | 1.4 |
| Codename | TU117S | GK110 |
| Release | December 17 2021 | November 12 2012 |
| Ranking | #468 | #549 |
Affiliate Disclosure
ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.
Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
You May Also Compare
Similar GPU comparisons based on GeForce MX550 and Tesla K20c
