AMD Radeon HD 8550M video card review :Test | Specs | CPU | Config

As expected, AMD took advantage of CES 2013 to launch the first next-generation GPUs. According to the manufacturer, the AMD Radeon HD 8000M GPU will be used in a variety of laptops, including ultra-thin models. They are the first mobile GPUs to use the AMD Graphics Core Next (GCN) architecture, delivering high performance with low power consumption through AMD Enduro technology. The HD 8550M model belongs to the entry segment of mobile accelerators. The new GPU configuration includes 384 stream processors, 24 texture units, 8 ROPs. The core clock speed is 650 MHz (up to 700 MHz). The AMD Radeon HD 8550M has its own video memory of 1024 GB DDR 3 standard with a 64-bit interface.

It’s also worth noting that the AMD Radeon HD 8550M fully supports DirectX 11.1 and Shader 5.1 APIs. The technical characteristics of the new video adapter largely coincide with the characteristics of the predecessor AMD Radeon HD 7570M, the only difference is in the frequencies of the core, shader unit and the speed of its own memory.

Supported technologies

you PowerTune – a calculator that calculates the power consumption of the card in real time at intervals of milliseconds based on the analysis of the task being performed (without any analog sensors). And if possible, the GPU clock speed increases. Note that this is not a reset of the frequency relative to the nominal when the power threshold is reached, but, on the contrary, a precisely verified dynamic acceleration.

ATI PowerPlay Is a dynamic power management technology used in some graphics processing units (GPUs) manufactured by AMD (formerly ATI). The principle of operation is based on tracking the GPU load, determining the optimal parameters and correspondingly changing the clock frequency of the chip, memory and supply voltage, thereby optimizing the power consumption and heat dissipation of the video card. The technology in idle modes can disable unused GPU blocks.

ATI Eyefinity — a technology developed by the American company AMD that allows multiple displays to be connected together to a personal computer. ATI Eyefinity assumes connection from one to six displays inclusive to one graphics card. Desktop duplication and stretching modes are supported across multiple monitors, and a special new feature allows displays to be grouped into one large screen that can display a PC desktop or, for example, video, as well as windowed or full-screen 3D applications.

AMD HD3D — The technology is supported by an extended and open ecosystem that, when combined with specific AMD hardware and software technologies, enables the 3D viewing of many applications and processes on the PC.

AMD Enduro — Automatically disables AMD Radeon discrete graphics for lightweight applications and extends battery life.

AMD Zero Core — In a deep idle state, the new GPU consumes less than 5% of the power of full-fledged mode, disabling most of the functional blocks in this mode.

Specifications

Synthetic tests

• 3DMark (2011) – Performance GPU: 1242
• 3DMark (2013) – Ice Storm Standard Graphics: 29862
• 3DMark (2013) – Cloud Gate Standard Graphics:4682
• 3DMark (2013) – Fire Strike Standard Graphics: 771

Game test results for mobile video cards may vary depending on laptop model and configuration

Game testing

Hitman: Absolution. Graphic settings are average (Mediuml, 2xAF, AA, 1366×768) 10 FPS, when the settings were increased to high (High, 1366 x 768, 2xMSAA, 8xAF), the average frame rate per second was 9.

Call of Duty: Black Ops 2. With a resolution of 1366×768 pixels and high game settings (High FXAF, 2xMSAAA), the result averaged 28 frames per second. At medium graphics settings (Medium AF, AA) 16 frames per second.