ASRock launches new Polaris graphics card
A new low-profile design based on old Polaris architecture.
The Radeon RX 550, not to be mistaken with Radeon 550, hit the market back in 2017, just about when AMD was working on first -generation RDNA architecture. Although not the final Polaris GPU, it preceded the launch of the Radeon RX 590 the following year.
Fast-forward nearly seven years, and while GPU enthusiasts eagerly await updates on the Radeon RX 8000 series, ASRock surprises by introducing a new RX 550 model, leveraging the Polaris 12 (Lexa) GPU.
The original RX 550 boasted 512 Stream Processors built on GCN 4.0 architecture and was offered in 2GB and 4GB GDDR5 memory variants. ASRock’s latest model opts for the 4GB configuration, packaged in a low-profile design.
Radeon RX 550 Low Profile, Source: ASRock
Measuring approximately 17 cm in length and 13.1 cm in width, the card adopts a dual-slot profile with a dual-fan cooler. ASRock also includes a half-height bracket with the GPU for added versatility.
The RX 550 offers connectivity through two display ports: HDMI 2.0 and DisplayPort 1.4, supporting resolutions up to 5120×2880 at 60 Hz. However, its viability in 2024 hinges heavily on pricing. For those seeking low-profile GPU solutions, alternatives like the more modern AMD RX 6500 series or Arc A3-based models may be more suitable. These not only boast superior performance but also feature modern display connectors like HDMI 2.1 or DisplayPort 2.0.
Investing in the RX 550 in 2024 might not be a good idea, given that AMD has shifted its focus away from regular GPU driver updates for Polaris, concentrating instead on the RDNA, RDNA2, and RDNA3 series.
AMD Radeon RX550 Low Profile Specs (RX550 LP 4G)
- Graphics Engine: AMD Radeon RX 550
- Bus Standard: PCI® Express 3.0 x8
- Memory: GDDR5 4GB
- Memory Clock: 6 Gbps
- Memory Interface: 128-bit
- Engine Clock: Up to 1100 MHz
- Stream Processors: 512
- Interface:
- 1 x HDMI™ 2.0
- 1 x DisplayPort™ 1.4
- Dimensions: 169.58 x 130.89 x 42.05 mm
- Net Weight: 260 g
Radeon RX 550 Low Profile, Source: ASRock
Source: GDM
