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Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£95
  • Avg. price in US: ~$80
  • VRAM: 4 GB
  • Memory bus width: 128 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 50 W

Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

3.6

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%

3.0

Technical Score

10.0%

9.2

User score

Poor
3.0

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%

1.3

Performance

24.0%

1.8

Memory

12.0%

5.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.1

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.9

Design

4.0%

5.4

Connectivity & Media

Poor
9.2

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%

8.9

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.5
(817)
amazon
4.1
(156)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
(810)
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
(163)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Exceptional
  • 6.4
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.7
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.4
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.1
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.7
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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Best prices in UK

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 Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB is a compact, entry-level GPU featuring 512 stream processors, a 1206 MHz boost clock, and 4GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus. Built on the Polaris architecture, it is highly valued for its low 65W TDP, which eliminates the need for external power connectors, and its small form factor ideal for home theater PCs and light eSports gaming at 1080p. However, its performance is limited for modern AAA titles, and it lacks the power for high-refresh-rate gaming or intensive workstation tasks.

Technical Specifications of Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB

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%

1.3

Performance

24.0%

1.8

Memory

12.0%

5.4

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.1

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.9

Design

4.0%

5.4

Connectivity & Media

3.0
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a technical score of 2.98 points, which is lower than that of 97.7% 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%

8.9

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.5
(817)
amazon
4.1
(156)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
(810)
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
(163)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

9.2
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a user score of 9.23 points, which is higher than that of 82.6% 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.
10
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 77.9% 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%

3.6

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

5.5
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.5 points, which is lower than 90.9% 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

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

962 points
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB scores 962 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is lower than 87.6% of graphics cards and equal to 0.5% of graphics cards.
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

4 GB
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has 4 GB of VRAM, which is less than 88% of graphics cards and equal to 6% 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
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB 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

128 bit
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB uses a 128 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 69.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 26.1% 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

112 GB/s
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB reaches 112 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 95% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.1% 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

3.0
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% 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

x8
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB uses x8 PCIe lanes, which is fewer than 68.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.9% 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

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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

1.3
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports Vulkan 1.3, which is older than on 73.5% of graphics cards and equal to 22.5% of graphics cards.
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
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB 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

3
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports up to 3 displays, which is fewer than 92.3% of graphics cards and equal to 5.8% 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

5120x2880
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports a maximum digital resolution of 5120x2880, which is lower than that of 55.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.6% 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

1
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB offers 1 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 89.5% of graphics cards and equal to 8.6% 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

1.4
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports DisplayPort 1.4, which is older than on 77.3% of graphics cards and equal to 16.2% of graphics cards.
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

5.4 Gbps
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports DisplayPort link rates up to 5.4 Gbps, which is slower than on 90.9% of graphics cards and equal to 8% of graphics cards.
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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

50 W
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a TDP of 50 W, which is lower than that of 96.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.1% 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

65 W
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB draws 65 W under peak load, which is lower than 95.3% of graphics cards and equal to 0.4% 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
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB 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

50 W
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a board power limit of 50 W, which is lower than that of 97.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1% 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

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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

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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

158 mm
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB is 158 mm long, which is shorter than 98.2% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.1% 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

112 mm
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB is 112 mm tall, which is shorter than 84.4% of graphics cards and equal in height to 2.8% 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

1.5 slot/s
Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB occupies 1.5 slot/s, which is slimmer than 96.6% 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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Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB vs the average graphics card

  • 76.7% lower TDP
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (50 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (50 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.50 W vs 215 W
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB 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
  • 127.37 mm shorter card length
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB is shorter than the average graphics card (158 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB is shorter than the average graphics card (158 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.158 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 16x larger L2 cache
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.512 MB vs 32 MB
  • 77.3% lower board power limit
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (50 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (50 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.50 W vs 220 W
  • 15 mm lower card height
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB is shorter than the average graphics card (112 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB is shorter than the average graphics card (112 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.112 mm vs 127 mm
  • 0.5 slot/s slimmer design
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (1.5 slot/s vs 2 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2 slot/s.
    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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (1.5 slot/s vs 2 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2 slot/s.1.5 slot/s vs 2 slot/s
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • Better FP64 ratio
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a better FP64 ratio than the average graphics card (1:16 vs 1:64).
  • 16x larger L2 cache
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (512 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 66.1% smaller GPU die
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower GPU die size than the average graphics card (103 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 76.7% lower TDP
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (50 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB 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.
  • 77.3% lower board power limit
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (50 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
  • 70.5% lower peak power draw
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower peak power draw than the average graphics card (65 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a peak power draw of 220 W.
  • 8 °C lower idle temperature
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower idle temperature than the average graphics card (30 °C vs 38 °C). The average graphics card has an idle temperature of 38 °C.
  • 127.37 mm shorter card length
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB is shorter than the average graphics card (158 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
  • 15 mm lower card height
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB is shorter than the average graphics card (112 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 0.5 slot/s slimmer design
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (1.5 slot/s vs 2 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2 slot/s.

Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 51.8% lower boost clock speed
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,206 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 32 fewer compute units
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (8 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 42.7% lower base clock speed
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,100 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 152 fewer TMUs
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (32 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 89.8% lower texture rate
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (38.6 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 88.3% lower pixel rate
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (19.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 48 fewer ROPs
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (16 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 79.7% lower compute score
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower compute score than the average graphics card (962 points vs 4,745 points). The average graphics card has a compute score of 4,745 points.
  • 83.4% lower FP64 performance
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB 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.
  • 3,840 fewer FP32 units
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (512 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 8 GB less VRAM
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (4 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 75% lower memory bandwidth
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (112 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 63.2% slower memory speed
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (7,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 87.5% smaller L1 cache
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (16 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 14.3% slower VRAM clock
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,500 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 2.8x larger process node
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a higher process node than the average graphics card (14 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • Fewer PCIe lanes
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer PCIe lanes than the average graphics card (x8 vs x16). The average graphics card has x16 PCIe lanes.
  • Older PCIe version
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • 6 older
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,017 vs 2,023).
  • No XeSS support
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • No DirectStorage support
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB does not support DirectStorage, the average graphics card does.
  • Older Vulkan version
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.3 vs 1.4).
  • No sampler feedback
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 90% fewer transistors
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (2,200 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • Older shader model
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports an older shader model than the average graphics card (6.7 vs 6.8).
  • 2 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 encoding
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer displays supported
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (3 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • No AV1 decoding
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2.0b vs 2.1).
  • Older HDCP version
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • 1 fewer monitors per output type
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (3 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Narrower decode codec support
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports narrower hardware decode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9).
  • Lower display resolution
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (5120x2880 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
  • 2 fewer fans
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • No backplate
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • No RGB lighting
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 51.8% lower boost clock speed
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,206 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,206 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1206 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.128 bit vs 256 bit
  • 32 fewer compute units
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (8 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (8 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.8 vs 40
  • 2 fewer fans
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 2.8x larger process node
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a higher process node than the average graphics card (14 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a higher process node than the average graphics card (14 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.14 nm vs 5 nm
  • 8 GB less VRAM
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (4 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (4 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.4 GB vs 12 GB
  • 42.7% lower base clock speed
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,100 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,100 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1100 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 152 fewer TMUs
    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB 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

    Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (32 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.32 vs 184
Total
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Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design

Graphic comparison of Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.5
817 Reviews
amazon
4.1
156 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
810 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
163 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB?

  • Extremely quiet operation, with fans that often turn off under light loads.
  • Very low power consumption and does not require an external PCIe power connector.
  • Compact single-slot design makes it ideal for small form factor (SFF) or older PC upgrades.
  • Excellent native Linux compatibility and driver support.
  • Provides a significant performance leap over most integrated graphics (iGPUs) for 1080p eSports titles.
  • Supports modern features like 4K video decoding, HDMI 2.0, and FreeSync.

What customers dislike about Sapphire Pulse Radeon RX 550 4GB?

  • Poor value for money; often priced too close to significantly faster cards like the RX 560 or GTX 1050.
  • Struggles with modern AAA games, often requiring a drop to 720p resolution or 'Low' settings to be playable.
  • The 4GB of VRAM is often considered overkill because the GPU chip itself isn't powerful enough to fully utilize it in demanding scenarios.
  • Known driver installation issues where the included software may fail to update correctly.

Expert reviews

I
igorslab.de
25/04/2017
Genügsamer Wadlbeißer: AMD Radeon RX 550 im Test

The AMD Radeon RX 550, built on the 14nm FinFET "Polaris 12" architecture, serves as a budget-oriented, low-profile option designed specifically for entry-level gaming and Home Theater PC (HTPC) setups. In terms of pros, the card introduces significant modern efficiency improvements over its predecessor (the R7 250), reducing its power consumption ceiling to 50 watts while offering...Read more

(Translated)Show original
H
hardwareluxx.de
12/05/2017
Sapphire Radeon RX 550 Pulse im Test - Hardwareluxx

The Sapphire Radeon RX 550 Pulse is a highly compact, entry-level graphics card based on the Polaris 12 architecture, featuring 512 stream processors, 32 texture units, and a 128-bit memory interface. It is factory overclocked out of the box with a stable chip clock of 1,206 MHz, which runs 23 MHz higher than AMD's reference design, while maintaining a standard memory clock of 1,750...Read more

(Translated)Show original
G
gamestar.de
06/10/2017
AMD Radeon RX 550 – Viel Spielspaß für unter 100 Euro?

The Sapphire Radeon RX 550 Pulse 4GD5 is an entry-level graphics card based on the 14nm Polaris 12 GPU architecture, designed primarily for budget-conscious gamers looking to play popular multiplayer titles like CS:GO and League of Legends under 100 Euros. Tested on a system featuring an Intel Core i7 7700K and 16GB of DDR4 RAM, this specific Sapphire model comes equipped with a...Read more

(Translated)Show original

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