Radeon HD 5550
GPU·Budget

Radeon HD 5550

AMD

G3D Mark

384

MSRP

$75

AVG Price

$75

September 30 2009
151 Watt
TeraScale 2 (2009−2015)

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.

Overview

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.

Value Upgrade Path

This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. The Radeon HD 5550 is positioned at rank #224 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Radeon HD 5550

#1
GeForce RTX 3060 Ti
MSRP: $399|Avg: $280
1417%
#2
GeForce RTX 5060
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
1361%
#3
Radeon RX 5600 XT
MSRP: $279|Avg: $180
1345%
#4
Radeon RX 9060
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
1343%
#5
GeForce RTX 5050
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
1340%
#6
GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
MSRP: $249|Avg: $150
1333%
#7
Arc A580
MSRP: $179|Avg: $179
1316%
#8
Radeon RX 9060 XT
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
1311%
#9
Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
1299%
#10
Radeon RX 7600
MSRP: $269|Avg: $250
1295%
#11
Radeon RX 6600
MSRP: $329|Avg: $180
1280%
#12
GeForce RTX 4060
MSRP: $299|Avg: $299
1277%
#13
Arc B570
MSRP: $219|Avg: $219
1254%
#14
Arc B580
MSRP: $249|Avg: $249
1253%
#97
Radeon Ryzen 7 4800U
MSRP: $450|Avg: $450
100%
#98
Radeon Ryzen 7 5700U
MSRP: $450|Avg: $450
96%
#209
Radeon R5 430 OEM
MSRP: N/A|Avg: $13
1563%
#224
Radeon HD 5550
MSRP: $75|Avg: $75
100%
#225
GeForce GT 415
MSRP: $49|Avg: $15
100%
#227
Radeon HD 6370D
MSRP: $50|Avg: $10
100%
#228
Radeon HD 7450
MSRP: $45|Avg: $12
97%
#229
Radeon HD 8470
MSRP: $50|Avg: $50
97%
#230
Radeon HD 7540D
MSRP: $67|Avg: $5
96%
#232
Radeon HD 8240
MSRP: $50|Avg: $50
96%
#233
Radeon HD 6320
MSRP: $30|Avg: $5
96%
#234
Radeon R7 M360
MSRP: $120|Avg: $30
95%
#235
Radeon R4E
MSRP: $100|Avg: $20
95%
#236
Radeon HD4650
MSRP: $50|Avg: $15
94%
#237
Radeon HD 4850
MSRP: $199|Avg: $199
93%
#238
Radeon R5 M240
MSRP: $100|Avg: $30
92%
#239
Radeon HD 4350
MSRP: $35|Avg: $10
92%
Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Technical Analysis

Detailed breakdown of Radeon HD 5550 specifications and capabilities.

Graphics Performance

The Radeon HD 5550 scores 384 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Entry Level tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the TeraScale 2 (2009−2015) architecture (codename: Cypress), manufactured on a 40 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 1440 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 72 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 32 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 2.088 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance.

SpecificationRadeon HD 5550
G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score384
ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generationTeraScale 2 (2009−2015)
CodenameInternal GPU die codenameCypress
Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient40 nm
Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute1440
TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling72
ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending32
Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency725 MHz
Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance2.088 TFLOPS
Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second52.20 GTexel/s
PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generationPCIe 2.1 x16
Transistor Count2,154 million
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking#682
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The Radeon HD 5550 is equipped with 2 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 128-bit memory bus, delivering Unknown of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.

SpecificationRadeon HD 5550
VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures2 GB
VRAM TypeMemory technology generationGDDR5
Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth128-bit
Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate8 Gbps
BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAMUnknown
L1 Cache144 kB
L2 Cache512 kB

Advanced Features & APIs

The Radeon HD 5550 supports modern upscaling and frame generation technologies: FidelityFX Super Resolution — these can dramatically boost effective FPS by generating intermediate frames or upscaling from lower internal resolution. Graphics API support: DirectX 11.2 (11_0), Vulkan N/A, OpenGL 4.4— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.

SpecificationRadeon HD 5550
FSR Frame Generation❌ Not Supported
AMD Fluid Motion Frames❌ Not Supported
FidelityFX Super Resolution✅ Supported
DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version11.2 (11_0)
OpenGLLegacy graphics API4.4
Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL)OpenCL 1.2
Multi-GPUSLI/CrossFire/NVLink supportCrossFire
🖥️

Display & Media

Display outputs: DVIx 0, HDMI 1.3ax 1, VGAx 2 — supports up to 3 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: None, decoder: UVD 2.2— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2.

SpecificationRadeon HD 5550
0 PortsNumber of 0 display connectorsDVIx
1 PortsNumber of 1 display connectorsHDMI 1.3ax
2 PortsNumber of 2 display connectorsVGAx
Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors3
Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine versionNone
Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine versionUVD 2.2
CodecsSupported video compression formatsH.264,VC-1,MPEG-2
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon HD 5550 draws 151 Watt under load (TDP) — a 200W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: None. Physical size: 168mm long, 69mm tall, occupying 1 expansion slots, weighing 200g— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 40 at idle, 70 under load.

SpecificationRadeon HD 5550
TDPPower consumption under load151 Watt
Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage200W
Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable typeNone
Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance168mm
Card Height69mm
Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied1-slot
Weight200g
Idle TemperatureTypical temperature at desktop idle40
Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load70
💰

Value Analysis

At an average price of $75, the Radeon HD 5550 delivers 5 G3D Mark points per dollar. It holds Rank #224 in the cost-benefit ranking — a comprehensive score that weighs raw performance against current market pricing. Overall performance ranking position: #682 among all indexed GPUs.

SpecificationRadeon HD 5550
MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price$75
Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days$75
Cost-Benefit RankOverall value ranking position#224
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking#682
Release DateSeptember 30 2009
Release Year2009

Similar Performance

Graphics cards with benchmark scores closest to the current hardware, grouped by manufacturer.

Our Recommendation for Radeon HD 5550

Suggested pairings based on performance balance

Compare Radeon HD 5550

See how this GPU stacks up against similar alternatives

Compare with other GPUs