Nvidia GeForce GTX 550 Ti Review: Bridging The Budget Gap

By Don Woligroski
published

Nvidia has a sizable gap in its product line between the GeForce GTS 450 and the GeForce GTX 460 768 MB. The company is filling that gap with an all-new card called the GeForce GTX 550 Ti. Is this product a worthy competitor for AMD's Radeon HD 5770?

Anti-Aliasing Benchmarks

Does the GeForce GTX 550 Ti’s wider memory interface allow superior AA performance compared to its competition? Let’s find out, first with Aliens vs. Predator:

It's a little surprising that the bulk of the performance hit is taken when 2xAA is enabled, and 4xAA is only slightly harder on the hardware. Now, let's look at Just Cause 2:

A expected, the new card does show an advantage over the Radeon HD 5770 with AA enabled. But it should be pointed out that the 128-bit GeForce GTS 450 also fares well in this arena relative to the Radeon, indicating that Nvidia's architecture may be to blame. With this in mind we have to wonder if the GeForce GTX 550 Ti's mixed density memory interface is performing optimally.

Regardless, In a game like Aliens vs. Predator we think AA might necessitate the lowering of some detail in order to accommodate the drop in frame rates. The associated performance hit is far less notable in Just Cause 2, however.

Don Woligroski
112 Comments Comment from the forums
  • hardcore_gamer
    It consumes more power than the 6850, which is significantly faster.
    Reply
  • Pherule
    192-bit, good move there.
    Reply
  • AMD_pitbull
    So, when is the release date on this? Or is it going to be another paper launch by the green team?
    Reply
  • zooted
    So it consumes more power, and is louder than the 460 768, yet performs just about on par with the 5770? What was the point of this card?
    Reply
  • hardcore_gamer
    The far superior, less power consuming 6850 is available for only $10 more..This card is pointless
    Reply
  • scook9
    zootedSo it consumes more power, and is louder than the 460 768, yet performs just about on par with the 5770? What was the point of this card?To cost a lot clearly lol
    Reply
  • dark_lord69
    "On par with the 4870"
    "The MSRP of the new card is $149"
    Well.. in that case I'll stick with my 4870 that I bought for $80.
    Reply
  • sithtis
    zootedSo it consumes more power, and is louder than the 460 768, yet performs just about on par with the 5770? What was the point of this card?
    God i was thinking exactly the same... whats the point of that. a 460 768 cost around 140 and less noise less power better performance... i really really dont get it?

    6850 or 460 768 are the cards to get... here in Canada you can get a 5770 for less than 100$
    Reply
  • K2N hater
    @Don

    How about the minimal FPS? Any substantial change on FPS once all eye-candy settings are enabled?
    Reply
  • cleeve
    K2N hater@DonHow about the minimal FPS? Any substantial change on FPS once all eye-candy settings are enabled?
    Minimum FPS readings should be there for most of the games we've benched.

    As for adding eye-candy settings, not sure that makes sense for this class of card as it might push FPS down to unpleasant levels.
    Reply