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NVIDIA GeForce GT 550M

The NVIDIA GeForce GT 550M is a fast middle-class graphics card for laptops. It is based on the GF108 core, which is similar to certain GeForce 400M cards but with higher clock speeds. Therefore, features like PureVideo HD (VP4), 3DVision, HD Audio support and others are identical to the GT445M.

GF108 architecture

The GF108 core of the GTX 550M is related to the GF100 core of the GeFore GTX 480M, but offers only 96 shaders and a 128 Bit memory bus for both GDDR5 or DDR3. More information on the GF108 can be found on the GeForce GT 435M page.

Performance

The performance of the 550M depends on the used graphics memory. If using DDR3, the card is on a similar level with the Radeon HD 6750M. Demanding games such as Crysis 2 are playable in 1366x768 and high details. Higher resolutions at maximum settings will not be playable in demanding games like  Metro 2033 or Bad Company 2. See below for detailed benchmark results.

Features

A novel feature of the GF104/106/108 chips is the support for Bitstream HD Audio output via HDMI for Blu-ray playback. Similar the Radeon HD 5730, the GT 550M can transfer Dolby True HD and DTS-HD bitstream without quality loss to a HiFi receiver.

The GT550M offers the PureVideo HD technology for video decoding. The included Video Processor 4 (VP4) supports feature set C and is able to fully decode MPEG-1, MPEG-2, MPEG-4 Part 2 (MPEG-4 ASP - e.g., DivX or Xvid), VC-1/WMV9, and H.264 (VLD, IDCT, Motion Compensation, and Deblocking). 

Furthermore, the GPU is able to decode two 1080p streams simultaneously (e.g. for Blu-Ray Picture-in-Picture).

Through CUDA, OpenCL and DirectCompute 2.1 support, the GeForce GT 550M can be of help in general calculations. For example, the stream processor can  encode videos considerably faster than can a modern CPU. Furthermore, physics calculations can be done by the GPU using PhysX. Certain games, such as Mafia or Metro 2033, natively support this feature. 

According to Nvidia, support for 3D Vision on the GT 500M series is also new. It enables the laptop to send 3D content (3D games, 3D Web Streaming, 3D photos, 3D Blu-Rays) to a built-in 3D-enabled screen or an external 3D TV if supported by the manufacturer.

The relative high power consumption of the GeForce GT 550M suits it for 15-inch or larger laptops. To save power, the card supports Optimus to automatically switch between the integrated graphics card from Intel and the Nvidia GPU. Most notebooks with GT 5xxM GPUs support this feature, but its implementation is dependent on the laptop manufacturer.

GeForce GT 500M Series

GeForce GT 555M compare 144 @ 0.53 - 0.75 GHz128, 192 Bit @ 785-900 MHz
GeForce GT 550M 96 @ 0.74 GHz128 Bit @ 900 MHz
GeForce GT 540M compare 96 @ 0.67 GHz128 Bit @ 900 MHz
GeForce GT 525M compare 96 @ 0.6 GHz128 Bit @ 900 MHz
GeForce GT 520MX compare 48 @ 0.9 GHz64 Bit @ 900 MHz
GeForce GT 520M compare 48 @ 0.74 GHz64 / 128 Bit @ 800 / 900 MHz
CodenameN12P-GT
ArchitectureFermi
Pipelines96 - unified
Core Speed740 MHz
Shader Speed1480 MHz
Memory Speed900 MHz
Memory Bus Width128 Bit
Memory TypeDDR3, GDDR5
Max. Amount of Memory1536 MB
Shared Memoryno
APIDirectX 11, Shader 5.0
technology40 nm
Notebook Sizelarge
Date of Announcement06.01.2011

Benchmarks

3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Score
min: 1048     avg: 1099     median: 1099.5 (2%)     max: 1145 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance GPU
min: 934     avg: 982     median: 973.5 (1%)     max: 1028 Points
3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total +
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. total
min: 4436     avg: 4726     median: 4781.5 (1%)     max: 4845 Points
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX +
3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX
min: 3728     avg: 3866     median: 3843.5 (2%)     max: 4073 Points
3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Score Unknown Settings +
3DMark 06
min: 9292     avg: 9329     median: 9328.5 (12%)     max: 9365 points
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 +
3DMark 06
min: 8434     avg: 8676     median: 8776 (12%)     max: 8817 Points
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x768 +
SPECviewperf 11
specvp11 snx-01 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 snx-01
min: 2.05     avg: 2.8     median: 3.2 (2%)     max: 3.23 fps
specvp11 tcvis-02 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 tcvis-02
min: 0.75     avg: 0.9     median: 0.9 (1%)     max: 0.92 fps
specvp11 sw-02 +
specvp11 proe-05 +
specvp11 maya-03 +
specvp11 lightwave-01 +
specvp11 ensight-04 +
SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 ensight-04
min: 10.58     avg: 11     median: 11.1 (5%)     max: 11.16 fps
specvp11 catia-03 +
Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Graphics
min: 5.9     avg: 6.2     median: 5.9 (75%)     max: 6.7 Points
Cinebench R10 Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit) +
Cinebench R10 - Cinebench R10 Shading (32bit)
min: 4394     avg: 5305     median: 5380 (4%)     max: 5985 points
Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit +
Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit
min: 26.56     avg: 26.9     median: 26.8 (9%)     max: 27.21 fps
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

Fifa 12

Fifa 12

2011
low 800x600
266.3  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
168.1  fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
118.1  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Dirt 3

Dirt 3

2011
low 800x600
med. 1024x768
53.7 66 ~ 60 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1360x768
41.6 42.9 ~ 42 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
ultra 1920x1080
12.7  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Crysis 2

Crysis 2

2011
low 800x600
58 59.1 ~ 59 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
med. 1024x768
39.3 39.5 ~ 39 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1366x768
29 29.2 ~ 29 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
ultra 1920x1080
10.3 10.3 ~ 10 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
low 800x600
med. 1024x768
61.6 70.8 ~ 66 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1360x768
50 55.4 ~ 53 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
ultra 1920x1080
24.2 31.9 ~ 28 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Fifa 11

Fifa 11

2010
low 800x600
182.1 307.6 330.3 405.1 412.7 ~ 328 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
166.8 182.8 189 209.6 224.2 ~ 194 fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
122.9 125.8 132.2 136.4 136.6 ~ 131 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
76.3 76.9 ~ 77 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Mafia 2

Mafia 2

2010
low 800x600
67.2 71.5 ~ 69 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
med. 1024x768
47.8 50.7 ~ 49 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1360x768
37.5 44.2 ~ 41 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
ultra 1920x1080
22.4 26.7 ~ 25 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 1024x768
201.1 210.6 ~ 206 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
med. 1360x768
48.9 49.9 ~ 49 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1360x768
35.5 37.6 ~ 37 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
ultra 1920x1080
18.4 19.4 ~ 19 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
low 800x600
47.5 82.2 83 96.3 ~ 77 fps    + Compare
med. 1360x768
28.8 43.2 45.3 49.7 ~ 42 fps    + Compare
high 1600x900
14.9  fps    + Compare
» With most tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
low 1024x768
58 64.4 ~ 61 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
med. 1366x768
43 44 47.6 ~ 45 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
high 1366x768
29.3 32.1 34.6 ~ 32 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
ultra 1920x1080
15 16.4 16.9 ~ 16 fps    + Compare + 📈 Graph
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
low 800x600
127.8  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
51  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
42.3  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
26  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Risen

Risen

2009
low 800x600
74.8 75.8 81.4 92.1 ~ 81 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
33.9 36.1 36.2 42.3 ~ 37 fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
21.6 22.6 22.7 27.8 ~ 24 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
18.3  fps    + Compare
» With most tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Resident Evil 5

Resident Evil 5

2009
low 800x600
137.9  fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
51.7  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
29  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Need for Speed Shift

Need for Speed Shift

2009
low 800x600
59.1  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
36 37 41 41.5 ~ 39 fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
27.8 29.1 37.1 41.4 ~ 34 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
25.2 25.3 ~ 25 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Colin McRae: DIRT 2

Colin McRae: DIRT 2

2009
low 800x600
71.8  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
67.4  fps    + Compare
high 1360x768
36.2 40.5 ~ 38 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Racedriver: GRID

Racedriver: GRID

2008
low 800x600
104.9  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
65.5  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Trackmania Nations Forever

Trackmania Nations Forever

2008
low 640x480
340  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
76.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
31.1  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare

Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare

2007
low 800x600
185.2 200.6 ~ 193 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
90.6 102.1 ~ 96 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Crysis - GPU Benchmark

Crysis - GPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
130.5  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
58  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
34.2  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
8  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
Crysis - CPU Benchmark

Crysis - CPU Benchmark

2007
low 1024x768
117.6  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
54  fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
31  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
7  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..
World in Conflict - Benchmark

World in Conflict - Benchmark

2007
low 800x600
191 318 ~ 255 fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
72 74 ~ 73 fps    + Compare
high 1024x768
42 44 ~ 43 fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
16  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Call of Juarez Benchmark

Call of Juarez Benchmark

2006
high 1024x768
26 35.9 36.3 ~ 33 fps    + Compare
» The benchmarks indicate that the game is not playable in the tested settings.
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark

2005
high 1024x768
198.7  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
World of Warcraft

World of Warcraft

2005
low 800x600
210.6  fps    + Compare
med. 1024x768
134.4  fps    + Compare
high 1280x1024
67.1  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
lowmed.highultraQHD4K
Fifa 12266.3168.1118.1
Dirt 3166.4604212.66
Crysis 259392910
Call of Duty: Black Ops95.2665328
Fifa 1132819413177
Mafia 269494125
StarCraft 2206493719
Metro 2033774214.9
Battlefield: Bad Company 261453216
CoD Modern Warfare 2127.85142.326
Risen81372418.3
Resident Evil 5137.951.729
Need for Speed Shift59.1393425
Colin McRae: DIRT 271.867.438
Racedriver: GRID104.965.5
Trackmania Nations Forever34076.431.1
Call of Duty 4 - Modern Warfare19396
Crysis - GPU Benchmark130.55834.28
Crysis - CPU Benchmark117.654317
World in Conflict - Benchmark255734316
Call of Juarez Benchmark33
Half Life 2 - Lost Coast Benchmark198.7
World of Warcraft210.6134.467.1
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Notebook reviews with NVIDIA GeForce GT 550M graphics card

 

Review Gigabyte P2532N Notebook

Courage to be unique. Gigabyte tries to build a 15.6 inch multimedia notebook that can serve with Nvidia's Optimus technology besides a high definition screen a...
Intel Core i7-2630QM | NVIDIA GeForce GT 550M | 15.60" | 2.7 kg
 

Review Asus N53SN (X5MSN) Notebook

Graphics update. The Taiwanese company Asus sends a familiar multimedia laptop with the new GT 550M graphics from Nvidia and Intel's Core i7-2630QM called N53SN...
Intel Core i7-2630QM | NVIDIA GeForce GT 550M | 15.60" | 3 kg

Dell XPS 17 L702X-6237: Intel Core i7-2670QM, 17.30", 3.7 kg
  External Review » Dell XPS 17 L702X-6237

Asus N53SN-SX195V: Intel Core i7-2630QM, 15.60", 2.7 kg
  External Review » Asus N53SN-SX195V

Dell XPS 17-702x-0020: Intel Core i5-2410M, 17.30", 3.6 kg
  External Review » Dell XPS 17-702x-0020

Chiligreen Mobilitas OV0789: Intel Core i7-2620M, 15.60", 2.5 kg
  External Review » Chiligreen Mobilitas OV0789

Lenovo Ideapad Y470-085525U: Intel Core i7-2630QM, 14.00", 2.3 kg
  External Review » Lenovo Ideapad Y470-085525U

Asus N43SN: Intel Core i5-2410M, 14.00", 2.5 kg
  External Review » Asus N43SN

Lenovo IdeaPad Y470: Intel Core i5-2410M, 14.00", 2.3 kg
  External Review » Lenovo IdeaPad Y470

Asus N53SN-SZ162V : Intel Core i7-2630QM, 15.60", 3 kg
  External Review » Asus N53SN-SZ162V

Asus N53SN-XV1: Intel Core i5-2410M, 15.60", 2.9 kg
  External Review » Asus N53SN-XV1

Asus N53SN-SX091V: Intel Core i7-2630QM, 15.60", 3 kg
  External Review » Asus N53SN-SX091V

Asus N53SN-SZ127V: Intel Core i7-2630QM, 15.60", 2.7 kg
  External Review » Asus N53SN-SZ127V

Gigabyte P2532N: Intel Core i7-2630QM, 15.60", 2.7 kg
  External Review » Gigabyte P2532N

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Playable games for each graphics card and their average FPS results.

Class 0

Arc A380

Class 1

Class 2

Radeon PRO W6600M *

Class 3

UHD Graphics 32EUs
UHD Graphics 750

Class 4

Class 5

* Approximate position of the graphics adapter