Radeon RX 550 Mobile vs HD 8970M

VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared Radeon HD 8970M and Radeon RX 550 Mobile, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

HD 8970M
2013
4 GB GDDR5, 100 Watt
10.06
+44.1%

HD 8970M outperforms RX 550 Mobile by a considerable 44% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking449555
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data4.47
Power efficiency6.899.57
ArchitectureGCN 1.0 (2011−2020)GCN 4.0 (2016−2020)
GPU code nameNeptuneLexa
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
Release date14 May 2013 (11 years ago)2 July 2017 (7 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$79.99

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores1280640
Core clock speed850 MHz1100 MHz
Boost clock speed900 MHz1287 MHz
Number of transistors2,800 million2,200 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)100 Watt50 Watt
Texture fill rate72.0051.48
Floating-point processing power2.304 TFLOPS1.647 TFLOPS
ROPs3216
TMUs8040

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop sizelargelarge
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x8

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount4 GB2 GB
Memory bus width256 Bit128 Bit
Memory clock speed1200 MHz1500 MHz
Memory bandwidth153.6 GB/s96 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display ConnectorsNo outputsNo outputs

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

FreeSync-+

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (11_1)12 (12_0)
Shader Model5.16.4
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL1.22.0
Vulkan1.2.1311.2.131

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

HD 8970M 10.06
+44.1%
RX 550 Mobile 6.98

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

HD 8970M 6818
+49.6%
RX 550 Mobile 4559

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

HD 8970M 5039
+38.2%
RX 550 Mobile 3645

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

HD 8970M 31027
+34.6%
RX 550 Mobile 23050

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD51
+219%
16
−219%

Cost per frame, $

1080pno data5.00

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+60%
10
−60%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 24−27
+33.3%
18−20
−33.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 14−16
+87.5%
8
−87.5%
Battlefield 5 30−35
+55%
20−22
−55%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 20−22
+42.9%
14−16
−42.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+45.5%
10−12
−45.5%
Far Cry 5 21−24
+43.8%
16−18
−43.8%
Far Cry New Dawn 27−30
+47.4%
18−20
−47.4%
Forza Horizon 4 65−70
+45.7%
45−50
−45.7%
Hitman 3 18−20
+58.3%
12
−58.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 55−60
+34.1%
40−45
−34.1%
Metro Exodus 30−35
+60%
20−22
−60%
Red Dead Redemption 2 27−30
+47.4%
18−20
−47.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 30−35
+43.5%
21−24
−43.5%
Watch Dogs: Legion 60−65
+18.9%
50−55
−18.9%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 24−27
+33.3%
18−20
−33.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 14−16
+87.5%
8
−87.5%
Battlefield 5 30−35
+55%
20−22
−55%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 20−22
+42.9%
14−16
−42.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+45.5%
10−12
−45.5%
Far Cry 5 21−24
+43.8%
16−18
−43.8%
Far Cry New Dawn 27−30
+47.4%
18−20
−47.4%
Forza Horizon 4 65−70
+45.7%
45−50
−45.7%
Hitman 3 18−20
+58.3%
12
−58.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 55−60
+34.1%
40−45
−34.1%
Metro Exodus 30−35
+60%
20−22
−60%
Red Dead Redemption 2 27−30
+47.4%
18−20
−47.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 30−35
+37.5%
24
−37.5%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 82
+290%
21−24
−290%
Watch Dogs: Legion 60−65
+18.9%
50−55
−18.9%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 24−27
+33.3%
18−20
−33.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 14−16
+66.7%
9−10
−66.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 20−22
+42.9%
14−16
−42.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+45.5%
10−12
−45.5%
Far Cry 5 21−24
+43.8%
16−18
−43.8%
Forza Horizon 4 65−70
+45.7%
45−50
−45.7%
Hitman 3 18−20
+35.7%
14−16
−35.7%
Horizon Zero Dawn 55−60
+34.1%
40−45
−34.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 30−35
+106%
16
−106%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 18
−33.3%
24
+33.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion 60−65
+1475%
4
−1475%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 27−30
+47.4%
18−20
−47.4%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 20−22
+53.8%
12−14
−53.8%
Far Cry New Dawn 14−16
+36.4%
10−12
−36.4%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 10−11
+42.9%
7−8
−42.9%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 6−7
+200%
2−3
−200%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 10−11
+42.9%
7−8
−42.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 5−6
+66.7%
3−4
−66.7%
Far Cry 5 12−14
+50%
8−9
−50%
Forza Horizon 4 45−50
+87.5%
24−27
−87.5%
Hitman 3 12−14
+18.2%
10−12
−18.2%
Horizon Zero Dawn 21−24
+40%
14−16
−40%
Metro Exodus 14−16
+114%
7−8
−114%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 12−14
+225%
4−5
−225%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 10−11
+66.7%
6−7
−66.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion 60−65
+45.5%
40−45
−45.5%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 16−18
+41.7%
12−14
−41.7%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 9−10
+50%
6−7
−50%
Far Cry New Dawn 7−8
+40%
5−6
−40%
Hitman 3 6−7
+100%
3−4
−100%
Horizon Zero Dawn 40−45
+105%
21−24
−105%
Metro Exodus 8−9
+100%
4−5
−100%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 8−9
+167%
3−4
−167%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 6−7
+50%
4−5
−50%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 5−6
+66.7%
3−4
−66.7%
Cyberpunk 2077 1−2
+0%
1−2
+0%
Far Cry 5 5−6
+25%
4−5
−25%
Forza Horizon 4 12−14
+85.7%
7−8
−85.7%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 7−8
+250%
2−3
−250%
Watch Dogs: Legion 4−5
+100%
2−3
−100%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 10−11
+42.9%
7−8
−42.9%

This is how HD 8970M and RX 550 Mobile compete in popular games:

  • HD 8970M is 219% faster in 1080p

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Watch Dogs: Legion, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the HD 8970M is 1475% faster.
  • in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RX 550 Mobile is 33% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • HD 8970M is ahead in 70 tests (97%)
  • RX 550 Mobile is ahead in 1 test (1%)
  • there's a draw in 1 test (1%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 10.06 6.98
Recency 14 May 2013 2 July 2017
Maximum RAM amount 4 GB 2 GB
Chip lithography 28 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 100 Watt 50 Watt

HD 8970M has a 44.1% higher aggregate performance score, and a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount.

RX 550 Mobile, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 4 years, a 100% more advanced lithography process, and 100% lower power consumption.

The Radeon HD 8970M is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon RX 550 Mobile in performance tests.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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AMD Radeon HD 8970M
Radeon HD 8970M
AMD Radeon RX 550 Mobile
Radeon RX 550 Mobile

Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


4.4 46 votes

Rate Radeon HD 8970M on a scale of 1 to 5:

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3.1 35 votes

Rate Radeon RX 550 Mobile on a scale of 1 to 5:

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Questions & comments

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