GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
Only verified data for Radeon RX 550 is available. Benchmarks for other models are currently being processed.
On raw speed the Radeon R9 380X comes out dramatically faster — about 200% ahead of the Radeon RX 550.
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Radeon R9 380X vs Radeon RX 550: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Radeon R9 380X vs Radeon RX 550
The Radeon R9 380X is dramatically faster, around 200% ahead of the Radeon RX 550. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The Radeon R9 380X packs 2,048 stream processors versus 640 on the Radeon RX 550.
Power & Efficiency
At 50W against 190W, the Radeon RX 550 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern GCN 4.0 (Polaris) architecture on a GloFo 14nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The Radeon R9 380X carries 4GB versus 2GB on the Radeon RX 550. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The Radeon R9 380X's memory is also faster — 182 GB/s versus 96 GB/s (256-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The Radeon RX 550 is roughly 2 years newer than the Radeon R9 380X (GCN 4.0 (Polaris) vs GCN 3.0), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: Radeon R9 380X or Radeon RX 550?
The Radeon R9 380X is the faster card by about 200%. With live pricing limited for this pair, base your decision on the spec differences above — particularly VRAM and power draw — and check current stock before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the Radeon R9 380X better than the Radeon RX 550?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon R9 380X or the Radeon RX 550?
Does the Radeon R9 380X have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | Radeon R9 380X | Radeon RX 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | GCN 4.0 (Polaris) |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | GloFo 14nm |
| CUDA Cores (Stream Processors / Stream Processors) | 2,048✓ | 640 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | Radeon R9 380X | Radeon RX 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 970 MHz | 1,019 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 970 MHz | 1,183 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | Radeon R9 380X | Radeon RX 550 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB✓ | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 5.7 Gbps | 6 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 182.4 GB/s✓ | 96 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | Radeon R9 380X | Radeon RX 550 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x8 |
| TDP | 190 W | 50 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 2x 6-pin | None |
| Released | Nov 2015 | Apr 2017 |