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AMD Radeon RX 6550M vs Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU

AMD Radeon RX 6550M

► remove from comparison AMD Radeon RX 6550M

The AMD Radeon RX 6550M is a mobile entry-level graphics card based on the Navi 24 chip (RDNA 2  architecture) manufactured in the modern 6nm process. It features 1024 cores (16 CUs - compute units) and 4 GB of fast GDDR6 graphics memory connected with a 64 Bit memory bus. The chip also includes 16 MB Infinity Cache. The game clock speed is specified at 2560 MHz. Compared to the RX 6500M, the 6550M offers an increased core clock (+17%) but the memory bus i cut in half (64 versus 128 Bit).

The performance should be slightly higher than an average RX 6500M, as long as the memory bandwidth reduction wont has a too big impact.

The Navi 24 chip is manufactured at TSMC in the modern 6nm process and should offer a good energy efficiency. The RX6550M is specified at a TDP of 50 - 80 Watt and therefore best suited for normal multimedia laptops.

Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU

► remove from comparison Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU

The Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU is a self-designed graphics card in the Apple M3 SoC and according to Apple with forty cores. According to Apple, the GPU uses a new architecture and now offers dynamic caching, mesh shading and ray tracing acceleration.

The GPU can access up to 128 GB LPDDR5-6400 unified memory via a 512 bit memory bus (max 400 GBit/s). Thanks to dynamic caching, the GPU should only reserve as much memory as is required.

Since the SoC is manufactured in the current 3nm (probably N3B) at TSMC. According to powermetrics, the GPU requires up to 60 watts (chip incl. CPU total 78 watts).

AMD Radeon RX 6550MApple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
Apple M3 Series
Radeon RX 6850M XT compare 2560 @ 2.46 GHz192 Bit @ 18000 MHz
Radeon RX 6800M compare 2560 @ 2.12 - 2.3 GHz192 Bit @ 16000 MHz
Radeon RX 6800S compare 2048 @ 1.8 - 1.98 GHz128 Bit @ 16000 MHz
Radeon RX 6700M compare 2304 @ 2.3 GHz160 Bit @ 16000 MHz
Radeon RX 6650M XT compare 2048 @ 2.16 GHz128 Bit @ 18000 MHz
Radeon RX 6650M compare 1792 @ 2.22 GHz128 Bit @ 18000 MHz
Radeon RX 6600M compare 1792 @ 2.07 - 2.18 GHz128 Bit @ 14000 MHz
Radeon RX 6700S compare 1792 @ 1.7 - 1.89 GHz128 Bit @ 14000 MHz
Radeon PRO W6600M compare 1792 128 Bit @ 14000 MHz
Radeon RX 6600S compare 1792 @ 1.88 GHz128 Bit @ 16000 MHz
Radeon RX 6550M 1024 @ 2 - 2.56 GHz64 Bit @ 18000 MHz
Radeon RX 6500M compare 1024 @ 2.19 GHz64 Bit @ 18000 MHz
Radeon RX 6550S compare 1024 @ 2.17 GHz64 Bit @ 16000 MHz
Radeon RX 6450M compare 768 @ 2 - 2.22 GHz64 Bit @ 18000 MHz
Radeon RX 6300M compare 768 @ 1.51 GHz128 Bit @ 18000 MHz
M3 Max 40-Core GPU 40
M3 Max 30-Core GPU compare 30
M3 Pro 18-Core GPU compare 18
M3 Pro 14-Core GPU compare 14
M3 10-Core GPU compare 10
M3 8-Core GPU compare 8
ArchitectureRDNA 2
Pipelines1024 - unified40 - unified
Core Speed2000 - 2560 (Boost) MHz
Theoretical Performance11.6 TFLOPS FP16, 5.8 TFLOPS FP32
CacheL2: 1 MB, L3: 16 MB
Memory Speed18000 MHz
Memory Bus Width64 Bit
Memory TypeGDDR6LPDDR5-6400
Max. Amount of Memory4 GB
Shared Memorynono
APIDirectX 12_2, Shader 6.7, OpenGL 4.6, OpenCL 2.2, Vulkan 1.3
Power Consumption80 Watt (50 - 80 Watt TGP)53 Watt
Transistors5.4 Billion
Die Size 107 mm²
technology6 nm5 nm
FeaturesRadeon Media Engine (H.264, H.265, AV1 en- and decode)
Notebook Sizemedium sizedmedium sized
Date of Announcement05.01.2023 31.10.2023
Link to Manufacturer Pagewww.amd.com
CPU in M3 Max 40-Core GPUGPU Base SpeedGPU Boost / Turbo
Apple M3 Max 16-Core16 x 2748 MHz, 78 W? MHz? MHz

Benchmarks

3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy Score
4955 Points (14%)
3DMark - 3DMark Time Spy Graphics
4546 Points (12%)
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Score
12994 Points (23%)
3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Graphics
14696 Points (17%)
3DMark - 3DMark Wild Life Extreme Unlimited
min: 31268     avg: 31336     median: 31335.5 (36%)     max: 31403 Points
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Score
19932 Points (28%)
3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance GPU
20506 Points (18%)
Blender - Blender 3.3 Classroom METAL *
min: 29.6     avg: 30.8     median: 30.8 (3%)     max: 32 Seconds
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit + AMD Radeon RX 6550M
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit
134.8 fps (8%)
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit + Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
min: 136.23     avg: 137.4     median: 137.4 (8%)     max: 138.52 fps
Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit + AMD Radeon RX 6550M
Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit
97.9 % (98%)
Cinebench R15 OpenGL Ref. Match 64 Bit + Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 4K Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
min: 188.2     avg: 196     median: 196 (80%)     max: 203.7 fps
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 Aztec Ruins High Tier Offscreen
min: 416     avg: 431     median: 431 (78%)     max: 446 fps
GFXBench - GFXBench 5.0 Aztec Ruins Normal Tier Offscreen
min: 858     avg: 863     median: 863 (64%)     max: 868 fps
GFXBench - GFXBench Car Chase Offscreen
min: 556     avg: 560     median: 560 (63%)     max: 564 fps
GFXBench 3.1 - GFXBench Manhattan ES 3.1 Offscreen
min: 1163     avg: 1178     median: 1178 (25%)     max: 1193 fps
GFXBench 3.0 - GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan Offscreen
min: 1557     avg: 1573     median: 1573 (92%)     max: 1589 fps
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
GFXBench T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 + Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7 - GFXBench T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16
min: 2893     avg: 2942     median: 2941.5 (23%)     max: 2990 fps
Basemark GPU 1.2 - Basemark GPU 1.2 Vulkan Official Medium Offscreen 1080
104.6 fps (1%)
Basemark GPU 1.2 - Basemark GPU 1.2 Vulkan Official High Offscreen 2160
3.6 fps (1%)
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 GPU OpenCL
30568 Points (9%)
min: 91413     avg: 91416     median: 91415.5 (26%)     max: 91418 Points
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 GPU Vulkan
29898 Points (10%)
Geekbench 6.2 - Geekbench 6.2 GPU Metal
min: 154675     avg: 155214     median: 155214 (100%)     max: 155752 Points
Power Consumption - Furmark Stress Test Power Consumption - external Monitor *
114.5 Watt (16%)
Power Consumption - The Witcher 3 Power Consumption - external Monitor *
117.7 Watt (16%)
min: 87.7     avg: 91.6     median: 91.6 (13%)     max: 95.4 Watt
Power Consumption - Witcher 3 Power Consumption *
115.8 Watt (25%)
min: 92.5     avg: 100.8     median: 100.8 (22%)     max: 109 Watt
Power Consumption - Witcher 3 ultra Power Efficiency
min: 0.633     avg: 0.8     median: 0.8 (81%)     max: 0.995 fps per Watt
Power Consumption - Witcher 3 ultra Power Efficiency - external Monitor
min: 0.723     avg: 0.9     median: 0.9 (73%)     max: 1.207 fps per Watt
Emissions Witcher 3 Fan Noise + AMD Radeon RX 6550M
Emissions - Witcher 3 Fan Noise
52 dB(A) (83%)
Witcher 3 Fan Noise + Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU
min: 42.8     avg: 43.1     median: 43.1 (69%)     max: 43.4 dB(A)

Average Benchmarks AMD Radeon RX 6550M → 100% n=3

Average Benchmarks Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU → 168% n=3

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation

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.

Total War Pharaoh

Total War Pharaoh

2023
low 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
242  fps
med. 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
207 212 ~ 210 fps
high 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
138 139 ~ 139 fps
ultra 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
97 121 ~ 109 fps
QHD 2560x1440
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
82 82 ~ 82 fps
Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Phantom Liberty

Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Phantom Liberty

2023
low 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
62.8  fps
72%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
45  fps
med. 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
45.9  fps
96%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
44  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
34.7  fps
127%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
43.7 44.4 ~ 44 fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
28.6  fps
147%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
40.8 42.8 ~ 42 fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
17.3  fps
208%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
35.5 37.4 ~ 36 fps
low 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
61.6  fps
med. 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
52.9  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
44.7  fps
215%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
96  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
43  fps
209%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
90  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
29  fps
207%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
60  fps
ultra 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
51  fps
F1 22

F1 22

2022
low 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
132.5  fps
med. 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
120.8  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
87.5  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
19.3  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
11.3  fps
low 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
124.1  fps
med. 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
95.5  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
59.7  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
30.3  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
27.2  fps
med. 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
170 170 ~ 170 fps
high 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
109 113 ~ 111 fps
ultra 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
80 84 ~ 82 fps
QHD 2560x1440
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
54 58 ~ 56 fps
med. 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
145 150 ~ 148 fps
high 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
135 143 ~ 139 fps
ultra 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
118 122 ~ 120 fps
QHD 2560x1440
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
86 88 ~ 87 fps
Strange Brigade

Strange Brigade

2018
low 1280x720
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
319  fps
med. 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
122.5  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
101.1  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
88.4  fps
Far Cry 5

Far Cry 5

2018
low 1280x720
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
115  fps
med. 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
91  fps
62%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
56  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
84  fps
64%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
53 54 ~ 54 fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
79  fps
65%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
50 51 ~ 51 fps
QHD 2560x1440
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
49 49 ~ 49 fps
low 1280x720
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
53.7  fps
med. 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
41.2  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
33  fps
low 1280x720
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
129.3  fps
med. 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
67.4  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
47.8  fps
QHD 2560x1440
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
31.2  fps
low 1280x720
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
137.1  fps
med. 1366x768
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
127.3  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
112.3  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
103  fps
low 1024x768
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
277.2  fps
med. 1366x768
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
171.5  fps
high 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
83.2  fps
105%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
87  fps
ultra 1920x1080
100%
Radeon RX 6550M:
49.4  fps
164%
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
69 92 ~ 81 fps
GTA V

GTA V

2015
high 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
77 79 ~ 78 fps
ultra 1920x1080
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
53 54 ~ 54 fps
QHD 2560x1440
M3 Max 40-Core GPU:
51 52 ~ 52 fps

Average Gaming AMD Radeon RX 6550M → 100%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 100%

Average Gaming Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPU → 134%

Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 116%

Apple M3 Max 40-Core GPUlowmed.highultraQHD4K
Total War Pharaoh24221013910982
Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Phantom Liberty4544444236
Baldur's Gate 3969060
Star Wars Jedi Survivor51
Total War: Three Kingdoms1701118256
Shadow of the Tomb Raider14813912087
Far Cry 556545149
The Witcher 38781
GTA V785452
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps

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AMD Radeon RX 6550Mlowmed.highultraQHD4K
Cyberpunk 2077 2.0 Phantom Liberty62.845.934.728.617.3
Baldur's Gate 361.652.944.74329
F1 22132.5120.887.519.311.3
Tiny Tina's Wonderlands124.195.559.730.327.2
Strange Brigade319122.5101.188.4
Far Cry 5115918479
X-Plane 11.1153.741.233
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark129.367.447.831.2
Dota 2 Reborn137.1127.3112.3103
The Witcher 3277.2171.583.249.4
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps

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For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List

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v1.26
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> Expert Reviews and News on Laptops, Smartphones and Tech Innovations > Benchmarks / Tech > Graphics Card Comparison - Head 2 Head
Redaktion, 2017-09- 8 (Update: 2023-07- 1)