RX 550 vs GTX 1050: The Ultimate Budget GPU Battle!

RX 550 vs GTX 1050: The Ultimate Budget GPU Battle!

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Comparison: AMD RX 550 vs NVIDIA GTX 1050
   1. Release dates and prices
   2. Technical specifications
   3. Connectivity options
3. Gaming Benchmarks
   1. Battlefield 1
   2. Counter Strike: Global Offensive
   3. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided
   4. GTA V
   5. Just Cause 3
   6. Overwatch
   7. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds
   8. Rocket League
4. Power Consumption and Temperatures
5. Performance per Dollar
6. Conclusion
7. Resources

🎮 Comparison: AMD RX 550 vs NVIDIA GTX 1050

In the world of GPU mining and inflated prices, budget-conscious gamers are left with limited options. In this article, we will compare two affordable graphics cards: AMD's RX 550 and NVIDIA's GTX 1050. These cards offer decent performance at a reasonable price, making them attractive options for gamers on a budget.

1. Release dates and prices

The RX 550 was introduced in April 2017 with a launch price of $80. On the other HAND, the GTX 1050 was released in October 2016 at a slightly higher price point of $110. Despite being a little older, the GTX 1050 still holds its ground in terms of performance and value.

2. Technical specifications

When it comes to specifications, both the RX 550 and GTX 1050 have their own strengths. The RX 550 runs at a core clock of 1100MHz, has 2GB of GDDR5 memory running at 1750MHz, 512 shaders, and a TDP of only 50W. On the other hand, the GTX 1050 runs at a higher core clock of 1354MHz, has 2GB of GDDR5 memory at 1752MHz, 640 shaders, and a TDP of 75W. While the GTX 1050 has slightly higher specifications, the RX 550's lower power consumption can be advantageous in certain situations.

3. Connectivity options

Both the RX 550 and GTX 1050 are equipped with DVI, HDMI, and DisplayPort jacks. Additionally, these cards do not require a 6-Pin PCIe power connector, which means they can be easily installed in most prebuilt systems without any power issues.

🎮 Gaming Benchmarks

To measure the gaming performance of the RX 550 and GTX 1050, we tested them on several popular games at various settings.

1. Battlefield 1

In Battlefield 1, both cards perform reasonably well on low to medium settings. The RX 550 manages an average of 79FPS on low settings, while the GTX 1050 reaches 99FPS. However, on high and ultra settings, the GTX 1050 outperforms the RX 550, delivering smoother gameplay.

2. Counter Strike: Global Offensive

As an esports title, Counter Strike: Global Offensive is well-optimized for budget GPUs. The RX 550 performs admirably, averaging 235FPS on low settings. The GTX 1050, however, takes the lead with an average of nearly 300FPS. Both cards provide a smooth gaming experience with minimal frame drops.

3. Deus Ex: Mankind Divided

Deus Ex: Mankind Divided is a graphically intensive Game that pushes these budget cards to their limits. On the lowest settings, the RX 550 averages 30FPS, while the GTX 1050 achieves a smoother 48FPS. On high and ultra settings, both cards struggle to maintain playable framerates, but the GTX 1050 performs slightly better.

4. GTA V

GTA V, being a cross-platform game, offers reasonable performance on both the RX 550 and GTX 1050. On low settings, the RX 550 performs exceptionally well, averaging 114FPS. However, the GTX 1050 experiences stuttering on low settings, making it less viable. On medium settings, the GTX 1050 surpasses the RX 550 in terms of both average framerate and stability.

5. Just Cause 3

Just Cause 3 proves to be more favorable to the GTX 1050, especially on low and medium settings. On low settings, the GTX 1050 achieves an average of almost 100 FPS, while the RX 550 lags behind at around 60 FPS. On high settings, both cards struggle, but the GTX 1050 provides a more playable experience.

6. Overwatch

As an esports title, Overwatch runs smoothly on both the RX 550 and GTX 1050. On low settings, the RX 550 averages 115FPS, but the GTX 1050 offers a significant boost with an average of 216FPS. On high settings, the RX 550 maintains an average of 82FPS, while the GTX 1050 offers an even higher average of 125FPS.

7. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds, being an early access game, is not optimized and generally struggles with performance. The RX 550 and GTX 1050 both face challenges in maintaining stable framerates. On very low settings, the RX 550 manages an average of 39FPS, while the GTX 1050 nearly doubles that with an average of 83FPS.

8. Rocket League

Rocket League, designed for esports, runs smoothly on both the RX 550 and GTX 1050. On low settings, the RX 550 excels with an average of 283FPS, while the GTX 1050 slightly surpasses it with an average of 335FPS. Even on medium and high settings, both cards maintain acceptable framerates.

🔌 Power Consumption and Temperatures

In terms of power consumption, the RX 550 draws a maximum of 50W from the motherboard and does not require a PCIe power connector. The GTX 1050 also draws a similar amount of power at idle but reaches up to 137W under stress testing. As for temperatures, both cards maintain reasonable levels, with the RX 550 reaching up to 67C under load and the GTX 1050 peaking at 71C.

💲 Performance per Dollar

Considering the average and 1% FPS at medium settings across all tested games, both cards offer good performance per dollar value. The RX 550 averages just under 1FPS per dollar, while the GTX 1050 exceeds 1FPS per dollar average. These ratios are impressive for budget cards, especially since the RX 550 competes well with its higher-priced counterpart.

🏁 Conclusion

In the budget segment, the RX 550 and GTX 1050 are both viable options depending on individual needs. If you exclusively play esports titles at low settings, the RX 550 provides excellent bang for your buck. However, for more demanding games and higher settings, the GTX 1050 offers better longevity and performs admirably. Ultimately, the choice boils down to personal preferences and budget constraints.

🔍 Resources

• Link to buy RX 550
• Link to buy GTX 1050

📌 Highlights

• The RX 550 and GTX 1050 are affordable graphics cards suitable for budget-conscious gamers.
• Both cards have their own strengths in terms of specifications and connectivity options.
• The gaming benchmarks demonstrate the performance of each card on various popular games.
• Power consumption and temperatures are reasonable for both cards.
• The performance per dollar ratio is impressive for both the RX 550 and GTX 1050.
• The choice between the two cards depends on individual budget and gaming preferences.