Radeon 550 vs GeForce 945M
Radeon 550
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GeForce 945M
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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.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 945M
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon 550 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.5% 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 945M.
| Insight | Radeon 550 | GeForce 945M |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.5%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2017 / GCN 4.0 (2016−2020)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / Maxwell (2014−2017)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+300%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The Radeon 550 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the Radeon 550 holds the technical lead. Priced at $79 (vs $98), it costs 19% less, resulting in a 25.9% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon 550 | GeForce 945M |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+25.9%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($79) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($98) |
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 Radeon 550 and GeForce 945M
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.
GeForce 945M
The GeForce 945M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 27 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 928 MHz to 1020 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 2,109 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon 550 scores 2,140 and the GeForce 945M reaches 2,109 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon 550 is built on GCN 4.0 while the GeForce 945M uses Maxwell, both on 14 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 512 (Radeon 550) vs 640 (GeForce 945M). Raw compute: 1.211 TFLOPS (Radeon 550) vs 1.306 TFLOPS (GeForce 945M). Boost clocks: 1183 MHz vs 1020 MHz.
| Feature | Radeon 550 | GeForce 945M |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 2,140+1% | 2,109 |
| Architecture | GCN 4.0 | Maxwell |
| Process Node | 14 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 512 | 640+25% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.211 TFLOPS | 1.306 TFLOPS+8% |
| Boost Clock | 1183 MHz+16% | 1020 MHz |
| ROPs | 16 | 16 |
| TMUs | 32 | 40+25% |
| L1 Cache | 128 KB | 320 KB+150% |
| L2 Cache | 0.25 MB | 2 MB+700% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon 550 | GeForce 945M |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon 550 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce 945M has 512 MB. The Radeon 550 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 64-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 0.25 MB (Radeon 550) vs 2 MB (GeForce 945M) — the GeForce 945M has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon 550 | GeForce 945M |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB+300% | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Bus Width | 64-bit | 128-bit+100% |
| L2 Cache | 0.25 MB | 2 MB+700% |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon 550 draws 50W versus the GeForce 945M's 75W — a 40% difference. The Radeon 550 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (Radeon 550) vs 350W (GeForce 945M). Power connectors: None vs Legacy.
| Feature | Radeon 550 | GeForce 945M |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 50W-33% | 75W |
| Recommended PSU | 300W-14% | 350W |
| Power Connector | None | Legacy |
| Length | — | 0mm |
| Height | — | 0mm |
| Slots | — | 0 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 75 |
| Perf/Watt | 42.8+52% | 28.1 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon 550 costs 19.4% less ($19 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 27.1 (Radeon 550) vs 21.5 (GeForce 945M) — the Radeon 550 offers 26% better value. The Radeon 550 is the newer GPU (2017 vs 2015).
| Feature | Radeon 550 | GeForce 945M |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $79 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $79-19% | $98 |
| Performance per Dollar | 27.1+26% | 21.5 |
| Codename | Lexa | GM107 |
| Release | April 20 2017 | October 27 2015 |
| Ranking | #668 | #671 |
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