AMD Radeon RX 6400 vs RX 550: Low Profile GPU Showdown

When it comes to building a compact, budget-friendly gaming PC, choosing the right low-profile GPU is crucial. Today, we’re diving into a detailed comparison between two popular contenders: the AMD Radeon RX 6400 and the AMD Radeon RX 550. Both cards cater to small form factor (SFF) builds, but they offer different levels of performance and features. Let’s break down their specifications, performance, and value to help you make an informed decision.

Specifications

AMD Radeon RX 6400:

Architecture: RDNA 2
GPU Clock Speed: 1800 MHz
Memory: 4GB GDDR6
Memory Clock Speed: 14000 MHz
Memory Bandwidth: 128 GB/s
TDP: 53W
Ray Tracing: Yes
Outputs: HDMI 2.1, DisplayPort 1.4a

AMD Radeon RX 550:

Architecture: Polaris 12
GPU Clock Speed: 1100 MHz
Memory: 2GB/4GB GDDR5
Memory Clock Speed: 7000 MHz
Memory Bandwidth: 112 GB/s
TDP: 50W
Ray Tracing: No
Outputs: HDMI 2.0, DisplayPort 1.4, DVI

Performance

The RX 6400, being the newer card, boasts significant improvements in performance over the RX 550. It features a higher GPU clock speed and more advanced RDNA 2 architecture, which translates to better gaming performance and efficiency. The RX 6400 also supports ray tracing, a feature absent in the RX 550, making it a more future-proof option for modern games.

In terms of gaming benchmarks, the RX 6400 outperforms the RX 550 across the board. For instance, in 1080p gaming, the RX 6400 delivers smoother frame rates and better visual fidelity. Games like “Cyberpunk 2077” and “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” run noticeably better on the RX 6400, thanks to its higher clock speeds and improved memory bandwidth.

Power Consumption and Efficiency

Both GPUs are designed to be power-efficient, making them ideal for SFF builds. The RX 6400 has a slightly higher TDP at 53W compared to the RX 550’s 50W, but this difference is minimal and should not impact your power supply requirements significantly. The RX 6400’s efficiency is further enhanced by its advanced 6nm manufacturing process, compared to the RX 550’s older 14nm process.

Value for Money

When it comes to value, the RX 550 is often seen as a budget-friendly option, especially for older or less demanding games. However, the RX 6400, despite being more expensive, offers better performance, future-proofing, and additional features like ray tracing. If your budget allows, the RX 6400 is a more versatile and powerful choice.

Conclusion

In summary, the RX 6400 is a clear winner in this comparison, offering superior performance, modern features, and better efficiency. While the RX 550 remains a viable option for extremely tight budgets or older systems, the RX 6400 provides a more robust and future-proof solution for gamers and PC builders looking to maximize their SFF builds.