ASUS Announces Its Take on the RX 550 Graphics Cards

[Raevenlord]

ASUS has announced its take on the RX 550, the graphics card that is meant to bridge the gap between IGPs and the power reserved to discrete GPUs. Not much differs from other AIB offerings, since this is the same GPU paired with either 2 or 4 GB of GDDR5 memory ticking at 7,000 MHz over a 128-bit memory bus, but ASUS dis manage to add an IP5X-certified dust-proof fan. According to ASUS, this fan design extends the lifespan of the graphics card by 25% through increased dust and particle resistance, as well as efficient heat dissipation. The cards will come clocked at 1,100 MHz stock, and 1,183MHz boost clocks, with no auxiliary power connectors.

The ASUS Radeon RX 550 is a dual-slot design measuring 182 (length) x 112 (height) x 43mm (width), which delivers 1x Dual-Link DVI-D, 1x HDMI, and 1x DisplayPort connectors. These cards are produced using ASUS' Auto-Extreme manufacturing technology, which fully automates every step of PCB manufacturing and dispenses with human intervention. ASUS also bundles its GPU Tweak II and Xsplit Gamecaster software suites with the Radeon RX 550. These include the new "Gaming Booster"for automated overclocking, while XSplit Gamecaster lets gamers stream or record gameplay right from the in-game overlay. The ASUS Radeon RX 550 2GB / 4GB are available now from a variety of retailers for $90 / $100, respectively.



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[bug]

Again dual slot

Makes you wonder if anyone actually gets the reason for these cards...

 

[jabbadap]

So pay $10 more to get even more useless card? Why would anyone even considered these when slot power rx 460 costs the same and would eat these thing alive.

 

[RejZoR]

Why would you cover 1/3 of a fan!? And without this stupid shroud, it could be a nice single slot active cooled card. Have they all forgotten how to make thin coolers with a simple fan?

 

[Caring1]

Have they all forgotten how to make thin coolers with a simple fan?

Not really, they make them but at a hefty price to the consumer.

 

[silentbogo]

Not really, they make them but at a hefty price to the consumer.

There are also single-slot RX460s from XFX.

What's even worse, is that outside US an RX460 2GB costs the same as RX550 or even cheaper, and has a variety of form-factors from dual-slot full length to single-slot or 1 1/2 LP.
Another thing I can't understand, is how an RX460 with 896 SPs manages to stay within 75W TDP, while a newer, "more refined" RX550 with 512 SPs is at whooping 65W...

 

[TheinsanegamerN]

Again dual slot

Makes you wonder if anyone actually gets the reason for these cards...

The point of them is to be cheap and quiet.

Being single slot goes against quiet. It also goes against cheap. Single slot cases are rare, and most modern HTPC builds have 2 slots for a GPU.

Single slot is dying out. Has been for awhile. For pure HTPC purposes, there are plenty of lower end single slot cards that will do the job just fine.

 

[aj28]

There are also single-slot RX460s from XFX.

What's even worse, is that outside US an RX460 2GB costs the same as RX550 or even cheaper, and has a variety of form-factors from dual-slot full length to single-slot or 1 1/2 LP.
Another thing I can't understand, is how an RX460 with 896 SPs manages to stay within 75W TDP, while a newer, "more refined" RX550 with 512 SPs is at whooping 65W...

From what I've read, the RX 550 is rated at 50W TDP. Also, it still has 16 ROPs, so it's more than just half of a fully-unlocked (i.e. 1024 SP) RX 460.

I agree completely on the price though. You would think they could afford to drop it $10-20 to make the whole thing more worthwhile. On the other hand, my expectation is that the RX 460 will start to disappear from shelves pretty rapidly over the next month, and that AIB RX 560 prices will be meaningfully higher than the $100 MSRP we've seen floating around.

 

[jabbadap]

From what I've read, the RX 550 is rated at 50W TDP. Also, it still has 16 ROPs, so it's more than just half of a fully-unlocked (i.e. 1024 SP) RX 460.

I agree completely on the price though. You would think they could afford to drop it $10-20 to make the whole thing more worthwhile. On the other hand, my expectation is that the RX 460 will start to disappear from shelves pretty rapidly over the next month, and that AIB RX 560 prices will be meaningfully higher than the $100 MSRP we've seen floating around.

... But then there's gtx1050 starting at $100 too and I fail to see that nvidia will discontinue that card any time soon.

 

[tugrul_SIMD]

There are also single-slot RX460s from XFX.

What's even worse, is that outside US an RX460 2GB costs the same as RX550 or even cheaper, and has a variety of form-factors from dual-slot full length to single-slot or 1 1/2 LP.
Another thing I can't understand, is how an RX460 with 896 SPs manages to stay within 75W TDP, while a newer, "more refined" RX550 with 512 SPs is at whooping 65W...

I have a RX550.

undervolted by 25mV

overclocked to 1325MHz

it consumes 30W average in DX11

25W average in DX12

44W in furmark

to reach 50W in gpu, it would need 1400-1450 MHz so adding memory(10W?) and fan(5W?) would reach 65W and still be harmless for pci-e bridge.