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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price: ~£20
  • VRAM: 1 GB
  • Memory bus width: 192 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 116 W

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

3.5

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.4

Technical Score

10.0%

4.2

User score

Poor
3.4

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

2.4

Memory

12.0%

7.2

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.8

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.9

Design

4.0%

4.3

Connectivity & Media

Poor
4.2

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

5.2

User reviews

30.0%

1.8

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
2.4
(4)
amazon
3.0
(2)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Poor
  • 6.0
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.1
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.0
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.8
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.4
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    5.2

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is a mid-range graphics card released in 2011, built on the 40 nm Fermi architecture with a GF116 graphics processor featuring 192 CUDA cores, 32 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs. It operates at a base clock of 900 MHz and is typically equipped with 1 GB of GDDR5 memory across a 192-bit interface, delivering a memory bandwidth of approximately 98.5 GB/s. Main pros include its affordability for budget gaming, solid performance in legacy titles, and 2-way SLI support for dual-card configurations. However, its major cons are its limited 1 GB VRAM which struggles with modern gaming, a relatively high 116W TDP compared to its performance, and a lack of support for modern driver updates and DirectX 12 feature levels.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

2.4

Memory

12.0%

7.2

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.8

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.9

Design

4.0%

4.3

Connectivity & Media

3.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a technical score of 3.42 points, which is lower than that of 94.4% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

5.2

User reviews

30.0%

1.8

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
2.4
(4)
amazon
3.0
(2)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

4.2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a user score of 4.18 points, which is lower than that of 99.8% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
1.8
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a popularity of 1.8 points, which is lower than 52.1% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.5

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

5.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.4 points, which is lower than 92.1% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

?
3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

N/A
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

1925 points
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti scores 1925 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 84.1% of graphics cards and equal to 0.7% of graphics cards.
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

1 GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has 1 GB of VRAM, which is less than 98.5% of graphics cards and equal to 1.5% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

192 bit
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti uses a 192 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 50.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 18.8% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

98.4 GB/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti reaches 98.4 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 96.5% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

2.0
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports PCIe 2.0, which is older than on 98.4% of graphics cards and equal to 1.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

12
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports DirectX 12, which is older than on 92.7% of graphics cards and equal to 7.1% of graphics cards.
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

?
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports up to 2 displays, which is fewer than 98.1% of graphics cards and equal to 1.9% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

2560x1600
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports a maximum digital resolution of 2560x1600, which is lower than that of 59.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.1% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

0
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti offers 0 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 98.1% of graphics cards and equal to 1.9% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

N/A
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

N/A
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

116 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a TDP of 116 W, which is lower than that of 85.9% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

116 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti draws 116 W under peak load, which is lower than 85.9% of graphics cards and equal to 0.1% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

400 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti recommends a 400 W PSU, which is lower than that of 91.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.5% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

116 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a board power limit of 116 W, which is lower than that of 86.8% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

116 W
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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

?
Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

210 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is 210 mm long, which is shorter than 86.8% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.5% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

111.15 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is 111.15 mm tall, which is shorter than 88.1% of graphics cards and equal in height to 1.4% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

?
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti vs the average graphics card

  • 46% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (116 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (116 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.116 W vs 215 W
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.400 W vs 650 W
  • 12x larger L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (384 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
    What it is: Total size of the GPU’s L2 cache memory
    When it matters: When cache size can help the GPU feed data faster in demanding scenes.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (384 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.384 MB vs 32 MB
  • 75.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is shorter than the average graphics card (210 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
    When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is shorter than the average graphics card (210 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.210 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 15.85 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is shorter than the average graphics card (111.2 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
    What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
    When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is shorter than the average graphics card (111.2 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.111.15 mm vs 127 mm
  • 47.3% lower board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (116 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
    What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
    When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (116 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.116 W vs 220 W
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.2 vs 0
  • 26.5x cheaper
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is cheaper than the average graphics card (£20 vs £530).
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is cheaper than the average graphics card (£20 vs £530).£20 vs £530
  • Better FP64 ratio
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:12 vs 1:64).
  • 12x larger L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (384 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Supports NVLink
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 46% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (116 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 47.3% lower board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (116 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
  • 75.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is shorter than the average graphics card (210 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
  • 15.85 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is shorter than the average graphics card (111.2 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.

Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 53.1% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (900 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 152 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (32 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 92.4% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (28.8 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 40 fewer ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (24 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 97% lower FP32 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (0.7 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 83.1% lower PassMark score
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (1,925 points vs 11,411 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 11,411 points.
  • 87.6% lower FP64 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower FP64 performance than the average graphics card (0.1 TFLOPS vs 0.4651 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP64 performance of 0.4651 TFLOPS.
  • 4,160 fewer FP32 units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (192 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 64 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 78% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (98.4 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 78.4% slower memory speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (4,104 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 41.4% slower VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,026 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 50% smaller L1 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (64 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 8x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • No DLSS support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • Older PCIe version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (2 vs 4.0).
  • 12 older
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,011 vs 2,023).
  • No AI upscalers
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support AI upscalers, the average graphics card does.
  • No XeSS support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • No DirectStorage support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support DirectStorage, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DirectX version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports an older DirectX version than the average graphics card (12 vs 12 Ultimate).
  • Older OpenCL version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports an older OpenCL version than the average graphics card (1.1 vs 3.0).
  • No sampler feedback
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 94.7% fewer transistors
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (1,170 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • 3 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (0 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 encoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 2 fewer displays supported
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • No AV1 decoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • No VRR support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support VRR, the average graphics card does.
  • 2 fewer monitors per output type
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (2 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Not VR ready
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • Lower display resolution
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (2560x1600 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No fan stop
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not support fan stop, the average graphics card does.
  • 6 °C lower thermal ceiling
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (99 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • 6.2 dB noisier under load
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a higher load noise level than the average graphics card (41.2 dB vs 35 dB). The average graphics card has a load noise level of 35 dB.
  • 7 °C higher load temperature
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a higher load temperature than the average graphics card (74 °C vs 67 °C). The average graphics card has a load temperature of 67 °C.
  • No backplate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • No RGB lighting
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 8x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a higher process node than the average graphics card (40 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.40 nm vs 5 nm
  • 11 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (1 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.1 GB vs 12 GB
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 53.1% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (900 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (900 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.900 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 152 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (32 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (32 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.32 vs 184
  • 92.4% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (28.8 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (28.8 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.28.8 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 64 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.192 bit vs 256 bit
  • 78% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (98.4 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
    What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
    When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (98.4 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.98.4 GB/s vs 448 GB/s
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design

Graphic comparison of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
2.4
4 Reviews
amazon
3.0
2 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti?

  • Capable of handling older titles and casual eSports games like CS:GO and Overwatch at playable frame rates
  • Affordable entry-level price point at launch, making it accessible for budget-conscious gamers
  • Low power requirements, typically requiring only a single 6-pin connector and a modest 400W power supply
  • Significant architectural improvement over its predecessor (GTS 450), offering up to 30% more performance and 70% better memory bandwidth
  • Runs relatively cool and quiet, making it suitable for Home Theatre PC (HTPC) setups

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti?

  • Severely limited for modern gaming due to its small 1GB of VRAM and lack of support for modern APIs like DirectX 12
  • Struggles significantly with modern AAA titles, often failing to reach 30 FPS even at low settings and 720p resolution
  • End-of-life status means it no longer receives official driver updates, leading to potential software and game support issues
  • Occupied a poor value position at launch compared to the slightly more expensive but much faster GTX 460
  • Modern integrated graphics (iGPUs) often outperform it, making it difficult to recommend even as a ultra-budget used option today

Expert reviews

T
techpowerup.com
15/03/2011
Palit GeForce GTX 550 Ti Sonic 1 GB Review - The Card

The Palit GeForce GTX 550 Ti Sonic is a compact, dual-slot graphics card featuring integrated HDMI audio, which supports up to 7.1 channel Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD without requiring an external cable. It provides comprehensive 3D Blu-ray support via HDMI 1.4, while offering a versatile array of connectivity, including native VGA, DVI, and mini-HDMI. TechPowerUp However, a significant...Read more

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techpowerup.com
15/03/2011
ASUS GeForce GTX 550 Ti Direct CU 1 GB Review

The TechPowerUp review of the ASUS GeForce GTX 550 Ti DirectCU highlights a well-engineered card featuring an effective DirectCU cooler, low power consumption, and a full-size HDMI port. It offers excellent overclocking headroom, with cores reaching 1065 MHz, yet it is limited to 1680x1050 gaming, failing to provide a significant performance jump over cheaper, older alternatives....Read more

M
m.hexus.net
15/03/2011
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 550 Ti OC graphics card review Would you like help finding drivers or benchmarks for specific modern games running on this hardwa...

The HEXUS review of the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 550 Ti OC covers NVIDIA's mainstream GF116 architecture, which upgrades the older GTS 450 by utilizing all three memory-controller partitions to offer a 384KB L2 cache, 24 ROPs, and a 192-bit memory interface. A major technical highlight of the card is its unique mixed-density memory configuration, combining four 128MB chips and two 256MB...Read more

G
guru3d.com
22/03/2011
Palit GeForce GTX 550 Ti Sonic review

The Guru3D review introduces the Palit GeForce GTX 550 Ti Sonic as a highly capable entry-level, lower mid-range graphics card priced at roughly $135 to $150 upon its March 2011 launch. Aimed at replacing the older GTS 450, this card is powered by the 40 nm GF116-400 GPU featuring 192 shader/CUDA cores and a unique 192-bit bus width carrying 1 GB of GDDR5 memory. A major highlight...Read more

H
hardwarecanucks.com
15/03/2011
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti Roundup - ASUS, EVGA, Gigabyte, MSI

Pros and Cons Pro: Innovative Memory Architecture — Features a mixed-allotment 192-bit interface that blends 256MB and 512MB modules to maintain a 1GB capacity without sacrificing crucial memory bandwidth. Pro: Excellent Partner Engineering — Delivers robust custom cooling designs (like MSI’s Military Class components and Gigabyte's Ultra Durable VGA layout) and great value with...Read more

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techgage.com
23/03/2011
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti Review - Techgage

The Techgage review of the $130–$150 NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti highlights significant architectural improvements over the GTS 450, specifically a 192-bit memory bus that enhances bandwidth and resolves previous performance bottlenecks. Pros include excellent performance in DirectX 11 applications, high 900MHz core clock speeds, and strong power efficiency, making it capable of solid...Read more

P
phoronix.com
21/10/2011
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti Review - Linux Benchmarks

The Phoronix review of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 550 Ti (GF116) highlights its strong Linux performance, specifically superior VDPAU video acceleration and solid OpenGL capabilities in benchmarks like Unigine Heaven. Pros include reliable, feature-complete proprietary driver support for features like SLI and fan control. However, significant cons include high power consumption (116W...Read more

T
tomshardware.com
15/03/2011
Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti Review: Bridging The Budget Gap

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti was introduced to bridge the substantial performance gap between the GeForce GTS 450 and the GTX 460 768 MB, aiming to directly challenge AMD’s Radeon HD 5770 in the $125–$150 price segment. Built on the 40nm GF116 architecture, this GPU features 192 shader cores, 32 texture units, and an unlocked memory configuration of 24 ROPs. The most notable...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
15/03/2011
Palit GeForce GTX 550 Ti Sonic 1 GB Review

The TechPowerUp review of the Palit GeForce GTX 550 Ti Sonic highlights a heavily customized, factory-overclocked card (1000 MHz core) designed for high-performance 1680x1050 gaming, featuring an exceptionally quiet custom cooler and native HDMI 1.4a for a $159 price point. While offering great value, the card suffers from higher power consumption than the faster GeForce GTX 460 and...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
15/03/2011
MSI GeForce GTX 550 Ti Cyclone II 1 GB Review

The MSI GeForce GTX 550 Ti Cyclone II, retailing at $159, is a factory-overclocked card based on the 40 nm GF116 architecture with 70% higher memory bandwidth than the GTS 450. Key advantages include the efficient Cyclone II cooler, which keeps load temperatures under 60°C and maintains low idle power consumption (below 10W), along with good core overclocking potential. However, the...Read more

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hardware.fr
15/03/2011
Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti et Asus DirectCU TOP : Spécifications et test

This review by HardWare.fr evaluates the Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti and the custom Asus DirectCU TOP edition using an Intel Core i7 980X test bench running Windows 7 64-bit. The testing methodology focuses on three major gaming configurations—1680x1050 (with and without 4x MSAA) and 1920x1200 (without MSAA)—across high-profile titles of the era like Crysis Warhead, Far Cry 2, and...Read more

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H
hardware.fr
15/03/2011
Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti et Asus DirectCU TOP

The Hardware.fr review highlights Nvidia's strategy of refreshing its Fermi architecture through the GF116 graphics processing unit, positioning the GeForce GTX 550 Ti as a more competitive mid-range choice against AMD's Radeon lineup. Rather than featuring an entirely new design, this GPU serves as an optimized revision of the older GF106 found on the GTS 450, specifically...Read more

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N
noticias3d.com
15/03/2011
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 550 Ti

The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 550 Ti is a relatively small graphics card measuring 20.9 cm in length and weighing 502 grams, featuring a dual-slot design with a unique aesthetic marked by a shroud covering most of its PCB. It is built on a 40nm GF116 core with 192 Stream Processors, 24 ROPs, and 1GB of 192-bit GDDR5 memory running at 4,200 MHz, delivering a bandwidth of 100.8 GB/s. The...Read more

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G
geeknetic.es
17/03/2011
Zotac Nvidia Geforce GTX 550ti AMP! Edition - Geeknetic Si deseas complementar tu búsqueda, ¿te gustaría que buscase análisis en otros idiomas como el...

The Geeknetic review concludes that the Zotac Nvidia GeForce GTX 550Ti AMP! Edition is a highly capable, entry-level, and budget-friendly graphics card that addresses the shortcomings of its predecessor, the GTS 450. The pros highlighted in the analysis focus heavily on its factory overclocking and physical optimization. Zotac pushes the GPU frequency to a leading 1GHz (up from the...Read more

(Translated)Show original
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noticias3d.com
15/03/2011
Gigabyte GeForce GTX 550 Ti

The Noticias3D review focuses on the technical details and market positioning of the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 550 Ti, an entry-level graphics card designed by NVIDIA to target the budget-conscious segment. Positioned as the direct successor to the GeForce GTS 450, the card relies on key structural upgrades to boost performance, such as widening the memory bus from 128-bit to a 192-bit...Read more

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T
tomshw.it
21/07/2011
GTX 560 Ti e GTX 550 Ti, Asus contro Zotac

Here is a specific summary of the hardware review from Tom's Hardware Italia: This review evaluates factory-overclocked, customized versions of Nvidia’s mid-range graphics cards by Asus and Zotac, specifically focusing on the GeForce GTX 560 Ti and GTX 550 Ti. The GTX 560 Ti is powered by the GF114 chip featuring 336 active stream processors, replacing the older GTX 470 at an...Read more

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T
tweakers.net
15/02/2012
AMD's HD 7750 en HD 7770: nieuwe prijsvechters? - Review - Tweakers

The review evaluates AMD's Cape Verde-based Radeon HD 7750 and HD 7770 (including a custom XFX Black Edition) built on the 28nm Graphics Core Next architecture. While designed as budget-oriented mainstream cards, their synthetic benchmark performance positions the HD 7750 closely alongside Nvidia's GTX 550 Ti, whereas the 1GHz stock HD 7770 narrows the gap behind the older HD 6850....Read more

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