GeForce MX550 vs Tesla K20Xm

NVIDIA

GeForce MX550

2021Core: 1065 MHzBoost: 1320 MHz
Similar parts
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VS
NVIDIA

Tesla K20Xm

2012Core: 732 MHz
Similar parts
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GeForce MX550 vs Tesla K20Xm 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 K20Xm: 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

2021

Why buy it

  • Costs $7,549 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $7,699 MSRP).
  • Delivers 5122.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 29.9 vs 0.6 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $7,699 MSRP).
  • Tesla K20Xm is already obsolete for modern gaming, so GeForce MX550 is the less risky modern option long term.
  • Draws 25W instead of 235W, a 210W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • Older hardware, 2 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in newer AAA releases.

Tesla K20Xm

2012

Why buy it

  • 200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).

Trade-offs

  • 2012 hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • 5032.7% HIGHER MSRP
    $7,699 MSRPvs$150 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.6 vs 29.9 G3D/$ ($7,699 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
  • 840% higher power demand at 235W vs 25W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce MX550 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 1.7% in PassMark G3D (4,480 vs 4,403), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce MX550 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 12nm process instead of 28nm and a newer 2021 generation instead of 2012. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce MX550 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $7,549 cheaper on MSRP at $150 vs $7,699, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 5122.4% (29.9 vs 0.6), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce MX550 vs Tesla K20Xm Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

NVIDIA

Tesla K20Xm

The Tesla K20Xm is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 12 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 732 MHz. It has 2688 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 235W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,403 points. Launch price was $7,699.

Graphics Performance

The GeForce MX550 scores 4,480 and the Tesla K20Xm reaches 4,403 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce MX550 is built on Turing while the Tesla K20Xm uses Kepler, both on 12 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 1,024 (GeForce MX550) vs 2,688 (Tesla K20Xm). Raw compute: 2.703 TFLOPS (GeForce MX550) vs 3.935 TFLOPS (Tesla K20Xm).

FeatureGeForce MX550Tesla K20Xm
G3D Mark Score
4,480+2%
4,403
Architecture
Turing
Kepler
Process Node
12 nm
28 nm
Shading Units
1024
2688+163%
Compute (TFLOPS)
2.703 TFLOPS
3.935 TFLOPS+46%
ROPs
16
48+200%
TMUs
32
224+600%
L1 Cache
2 MB+809%
0.22 MB
L2 Cache
2 MB+33%
1.5 MB

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce MX550 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Tesla K20Xm leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce MX550Tesla K20Xm
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
Standard
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce MX550 has 2 GB of VRAM, while the Tesla K20Xm carries 6 GB. Tesla K20Xm gives you 200% 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 MX550 and 64-bit on the Tesla K20Xm. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce MX550) vs 1.5 MB (Tesla K20Xm) — the GeForce MX550 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce MX550Tesla K20Xm
VRAM Capacity
2 GB
6 GB+200%
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR5
Bus Width
64-bit
64-bit
L2 Cache
2 MB+33%
1.5 MB
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce MX550 draws 25W versus the Tesla K20Xm's 235W — a 161.5% difference. The GeForce MX550 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce MX550) vs 350W (Tesla K20Xm). Power connectors: Mobile vs PCIe-powered.

FeatureGeForce MX550Tesla K20Xm
TDP
25W-89%
235W
Recommended PSU
350W
350W
Power Connector
Mobile
PCIe-powered
Perf/Watt
179.2+858%
18.7
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce MX550 came in at $150, while the Tesla K20Xm launched at $7699. On MSRP, GeForce MX550 was 98.1% cheaper ($7549 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 29.9 (GeForce MX550) vs 0.6 (Tesla K20Xm) — the GeForce MX550 offers 4883.3% better value. The newer card here is GeForce MX550 (2021 vs 2012).

FeatureGeForce MX550Tesla K20Xm
MSRP
$150-98%
$7699
Performance per Dollar
29.9+4883%
0.6
Codename
TU117S
GK110
Release
December 17 2021
November 12 2012
Ranking
#468
#473

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