Radeon HD 5550 vs GeForce 9800M GT
Radeon HD 5550
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GeForce 9800M GT
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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. The Radeon HD 5550 is positioned at rank 224 and the GeForce 9800M GT is on rank 622, so the Radeon HD 5550 offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 5550
Performance Per Dollar GeForce 9800M GT
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 5550 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.8% 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 9800M GT.
| Insight | Radeon HD 5550 | GeForce 9800M GT |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.8%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.8%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2009 / TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2008 / G9x (2007−2010)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+300%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce 9800M GT offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce 9800M GT holds the technical lead. Priced at $5 (vs $75), it costs 93% less, resulting in a 1388.3% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon HD 5550 | GeForce 9800M GT |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+1388.3%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($75) | ✅More affordable ($5) |
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 HD 5550 and GeForce 9800M GT
Radeon HD 5550
The Radeon HD 5550 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 30 2009. It features the TeraScale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 725 MHz. It has 1440 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 151W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 384 points. Launch price was $299.
GeForce 9800M GT
The GeForce 9800M GT is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in July 15 2008. It features the G9x architecture. The core clock speed is 500 MHz. It has 224 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 65 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 381 points.
Graphics Performance
The Radeon HD 5550 scores 384 and the GeForce 9800M GT reaches 381 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 5550 is built on TeraScale 2 while the GeForce 9800M GT uses G9x, both on 40 nm vs 65 nm. Shader units: 1,440 (Radeon HD 5550) vs 224 (GeForce 9800M GT).
| Feature | Radeon HD 5550 | GeForce 9800M GT |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 384 | 381 |
| Architecture | TeraScale 2 | G9x |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 65 nm |
| Shading Units | 1440+543% | 224 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 5550 | GeForce 9800M GT |
|---|---|---|
| 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 HD 5550 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce 9800M GT has 512 MB. The Radeon HD 5550 offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 5550 | GeForce 9800M GT |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB+300% | 0.5 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit+100% | 64-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11.2 (11_0) (Radeon HD 5550) vs 10.0 (GeForce 9800M GT). Vulkan: N/A vs None. OpenGL: 4.4 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 1.
| Feature | Radeon HD 5550 | GeForce 9800M GT |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11.2 (11_0)+12% | 10.0 |
| Vulkan | N/A | None |
| OpenGL | 4.4+33% | 3.3 |
| Max Displays | 3+200% | 1 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: None (Radeon HD 5550) vs No (GeForce 9800M GT). Decoder: UVD 2.2 vs PureVideo HD VP3. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (Radeon HD 5550) vs MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 (GeForce 9800M GT).
| Feature | Radeon HD 5550 | GeForce 9800M GT |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | None | No |
| Decoder | UVD 2.2 | PureVideo HD VP3 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 5550 draws 151W versus the GeForce 9800M GT's 150W — a 0.7% difference. The GeForce 9800M GT is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 200W (Radeon HD 5550) vs 350W (GeForce 9800M GT). Power connectors: None vs Legacy. Card length: 168mm vs 0mm, occupying 1 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 70 vs 90°C.
| Feature | Radeon HD 5550 | GeForce 9800M GT |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 151W | 150W |
| Recommended PSU | 200W-43% | 350W |
| Power Connector | None | Legacy |
| Length | 168mm | 0mm |
| Height | 69mm | 0mm |
| Slots | 1 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 70-22% | 90°C |
| Perf/Watt | 2.5 | 2.5 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 5550 launched at $75 MSRP and currently averages $75, while the GeForce 9800M GT launched at $160 and now averages $5. The GeForce 9800M GT costs 93.3% less ($70 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 5.1 (Radeon HD 5550) vs 76.2 (GeForce 9800M GT) — the GeForce 9800M GT offers 1394.1% better value. The Radeon HD 5550 is the newer GPU (2009 vs 2008).
| Feature | Radeon HD 5550 | GeForce 9800M GT |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $75-53% | $160 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $75 | $5-93% |
| Performance per Dollar | 5.1 | 76.2+1394% |
| Codename | Cypress | NB9E-GTX |
| Release | September 30 2009 | July 15 2008 |
| Ranking | #682 | #825 |
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