GPU Comparison

Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the Radeon RX 590 comes out dramatically faster — about 600% ahead of the Radeon RX 550. But the Radeon RX 550 is the better value, undercutting it by $772 CAD for the performance you get.

Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)

VS
AMD
Radeon RX 550
Price
$18 CAD
Performance
1%
VRAM
2 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage

Comparable or lower specs

Price
$790 CAD
Performance
7%
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+260% Stream Processors (2,304 vs 640)
+167% Bandwidth (256 GB/s vs 96 GB/s)
+100% Memory Bus (256-bit vs 128-bit)

Radeon RX 590 vs Radeon RX 550: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon RX 590 vs Radeon RX 550

The Radeon RX 590 is dramatically faster, around 600% ahead of the Radeon RX 550. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The Radeon RX 590 packs 2,304 stream processors versus 640 on the Radeon RX 550.

Price & Value

The Radeon RX 550 currently lists from $18 CAD, $772 CAD less than the Radeon RX 590 at $790 CAD. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 550 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~523% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 550 is trading below its $79 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal. The Radeon RX 590 still sits about $511 CAD above its $279 CAD MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

On power, the Radeon RX 550 is the gentler choice at 50W versus 225W. The Radeon RX 590 is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 225W draw means more heat and a bigger PSU.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The Radeon RX 590 carries 8GB versus 2GB on the Radeon RX 550. The extra 6GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The Radeon RX 590's memory is also faster — 256 GB/s versus 96 GB/s (256-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Which should you buy: Radeon RX 550 or Radeon RX 590?

Choose the Radeon RX 590 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon RX 550 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Radeon RX 590 better than the Radeon RX 550?

The Radeon RX 590 is dramatically faster, roughly 600% ahead. The Radeon RX 550 is still worth it if value matters more than top-end frames.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon RX 550 or the Radeon RX 590?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at entry-level 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the Radeon RX 590 worth the extra $772 CAD over the Radeon RX 550?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon RX 550 comes out ahead.

Does the Radeon RX 590 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 8GB (vs 2GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

SpecificationRadeon RX 550Radeon RX 590
ArchitectureGCN 4.0 (Polaris)GCN 4.0 (Polaris)
Process NodeGloFo 14nmGloFo 12nm
CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors)6402,304

Clock Speeds

SpecificationRadeon RX 550Radeon RX 590
Base Clock1,019 MHz1,469 MHz
Boost Clock1,183 MHz1,545 MHz

Memory

SpecificationRadeon RX 550Radeon RX 590
VRAM Capacity2 GB8 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus128-bit256-bit
Memory Speed6 Gbps8 Gbps
Bandwidth96 GB/s256 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

SpecificationRadeon RX 550Radeon RX 590
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x8PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP50 W225 W
Power ConnectorsNone1x 8-pin
ReleasedApr 2017Nov 2018