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GeForce GT 1030 vs Radeon RX 550

Quick Verdict

Neither the GeForce GT 1030 nor the Radeon RX 550 pulls ahead in performance; treat them as equals on speed. It also comes out ahead on value, making it the straightforward pick if the price fits your budget.

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VS
NVIDIA GeForce
GT 1030
Price
€76✓
Performance
1/100✓
VRAM
2 GB GDDR5✓
Key Specs Advantage
+24% Boost Clock (1,468 MHz vs 1,183 MHz)
€76ASUS GeForce GT 1030 2GB GDDR5 Video Gaming and Multimedia Card for Compact HTPC and Low Profile Passive Build, Includes Additional I/O Bracket
Used - No Listing
AMD Radeon
RX 550
Price
€93
Performance
1/100✓
VRAM
2 GB GDDR5✓
Key Specs Advantage
+100% Bandwidth (96 GB/s vs 48 GB/s)
+100% Memory Bus (128-bit vs 64-bit)
+67% Stream Processors (640 vs 384)
€93Karta GRAF Powercolor RX 550 2GB GDDR5
Used - No Listing
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GeForce GT 1030 vs Radeon RX 550: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GT 1030 vs Radeon RX 550

The GeForce GT 1030 and Radeon RX 550 post nearly the same score in our performance index, so neither holds a meaningful raw-speed advantage. Both are best suited to entry-level 1080p gaming.

Price & Value

On price, expect to pay $76 EUR for the GeForce GT 1030 versus $93 EUR for the Radeon RX 550. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GT 1030 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 22%.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce GT 1030 draws just 30W versus 50W for the Radeon RX 550, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce GT 1030 brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon RX 550 offers AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.

Which should you buy: GeForce GT 1030 or Radeon RX 550?

The GeForce GT 1030 is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the Radeon RX 550 if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GT 1030 better than the Radeon RX 550?

They're very close on raw performance. The GeForce GT 1030 edges ahead on value, so price and availability should decide it.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GT 1030 or the Radeon RX 550?

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 550 worth the extra $17 EUR over the GeForce GT 1030?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce GT 1030 comes out ahead.

Which should you buy: GeForce GT 1030 or Radeon RX 550?

The GeForce GT 1030 is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the Radeon RX 550 if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GT 1030 and Radeon RX 550
SpecificationGeForce GT 1030Radeon RX 550
ArchitecturePascalGCN 4.0 (Polaris)
Process NodeSamsung 14nmGloFo 14nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors)384640✓

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GT 1030 and Radeon RX 550
SpecificationGeForce GT 1030Radeon RX 550
Base Clock1,227 MHz✓1,019 MHz
Boost Clock1,468 MHz✓1,183 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GT 1030 and Radeon RX 550
SpecificationGeForce GT 1030Radeon RX 550
VRAM Capacity2 GB2 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus64-bit128-bit✓
Memory Speed6 Gbps6 Gbps
Bandwidth48 GB/s96 GB/s✓

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GT 1030 and Radeon RX 550
SpecificationGeForce GT 1030Radeon RX 550
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x8
TDP30 W✓50 W
Power ConnectorsNoneNone
ReleasedMay 2017Apr 2017