AMD Radeon RX 5500 OEM
AMD Radeon RX 5500 OEM: A Budget GPU for Gamers and Beyond
April 2025
Introduction
The AMD Radeon RX 5500 OEM graphics card, released in late 2019, remains a popular choice for budget builds thanks to its balance of price and performance. In 2025, it continues to attract the attention of users looking for an affordable solution for 1080p gaming and basic work tasks. In this article, we will explore how relevant this GPU is today and who it is suitable for.
1. Architecture and Key Features
RDNA 1.0 Architecture
The RX 5500 OEM is based on the first generation RDNA (Radeon DNA) architecture, which succeeded the aging GCN. This has led to improved energy efficiency and performance per clock. The card is manufactured using TSMC’s 7nm process technology, which is no longer cutting-edge by 2025 but still allows for low heat output.
Unique Features
- FidelityFX: A set of AMD tools for enhancing graphics, including Contrast Adaptive Sharpening (CAS) and upscaling (FSR 1.0).
- Lack of Hardware Ray Tracing: Unlike NVIDIA's RTX, the RX 5500 does not have ray tracing cores. Software implementation via DirectX 12 Ultimate is possible but significantly reduces FPS.
- FreeSync: Support for adaptive synchronization for monitors with AMD FreeSync technology.
2. Memory: Type, Capacity, and Bandwidth
GDDR6 and 128-bit Bus
The card is equipped with 4 GB or 8 GB of GDDR6 memory (depending on the version), which may be insufficient for some games with ultra textures in 2025. The 128-bit bus provides a bandwidth of up to 224 GB/s (at a memory clock of 14 GHz).
Impact on Performance
- For 1080p gaming in 2025, 4 GB is the minimum acceptable amount. For example, in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty with High textures, there may be dips due to insufficient VRAM.
- The 8 GB version is more versatile, but it is less common and costs more ($150–170 compared to $120–140 for the 4 GB version).
3. Gaming Performance
1080p — Comfortable Zone
In modern titles at medium settings, the RX 5500 OEM shows the following results:
- Apex Legends: 65–75 FPS (Medium).
- Fortnite (Performance mode): 90–110 FPS.
- Hogwarts Legacy: 35–45 FPS (Low-Medium, FSR Quality).
1440p and 4K
- At 1440p, the card can only handle less demanding games (CS2, Valorant) or when FSR is actively used.
- 4K is not recommended — even with upscaling, FPS rarely exceeds 30 frames.
Ray Tracing
Software ray tracing (e.g., in Shadow of the Tomb Raider) decreases performance by 40-50%, making the technology impractical.
4. Professional Tasks
Video Editing and Rendering
- Premiere Pro: Basic 1080p/30fps processing is possible, but rendering with effects will take time.
- DaVinci Resolve: Support for OpenCL and AMD AMF enhances export speeds, but 4 GB of memory limits work with 4K materials.
3D Modeling
- Blender: GPU rendering via OpenCL is slower than on NVIDIA with CUDA. It is suitable for simple projects, but professionals should choose cards with more VRAM.
Scientific Computations
- Due to the lack of specialized cores (like Tensor Cores), the card is poorly applicable for ML tasks.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
TDP and Recommendations
- The TDP of the RX 5500 OEM is 130W. A power supply unit of at least 450W (with some headroom) is required for the build.
- Cooling: Reference models use compact coolers that may become noisy under load. The optimal choice would be versions with two fans (e.g., from Sapphire).
- Case: A case with ventilation on the front and rear panels is desirable. The minimum volume should be 25–30 liters.
6. Comparison with Competitors
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Super
- Price: $130–150 (new, 2025).
- Performance: On par with RX 5500 in DX11 but weaker in Vulkan and DX12.
- Pros: NVIDIA Encoder for streaming.
NVIDIA RTX 3050 6 GB
- Price: $180–200.
- Advantages: Support for DLSS 3.5 and basic Ray Tracing.
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
- Price: $160–180.
- Pros: RDNA 2.0 architecture, PCIe 4.0.
- Cons: Only 4 GB of memory.
Conclusion: The RX 5500 OEM wins on price but falls short against newer models in functionality.
7. Practical Tips
Power Supply
- Minimum 450W with an 80+ Bronze certification. Examples include Corsair CX450, EVGA 500 BR.
Compatibility
- Platform: PCIe 4.0 x8, but it works on PCIe 3.0 with a minor performance drop (2-5%).
- CPU: Even budget CPUs (Ryzen 3 5300G, Core i3-12100F) are suitable.
Drivers
- AMD Adrenalin 2025 Edition is stable, but updates come less frequently than NVIDIA’s. It’s recommended to disable automatic updates and check game compatibility.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low price ($120–170).
- Energy efficiency for its class.
- Support for FSR 3.0 (via drivers).
Cons:
- No hardware Ray Tracing.
- Limited memory capacity of 4 GB.
- Outdated RDNA 1.0 architecture.
9. Final Verdict: Who Is the RX 5500 OEM For?
This graphics card is a good choice for:
1. Budget gamers playing at 1080p with medium settings.
2. Office PCs that occasionally run less demanding games.
3. Users building a system for basic editing or web design.
However, if you plan to play AAA titles in 2025-2026 or work with 3D rendering, it’s worth considering more modern options (like the RX 6600 or RTX 3060).
Conclusion
In 2025, the AMD Radeon RX 5500 OEM remains a niche solution, but for its intended tasks, it is still relevant. It is a "workhorse" for those who value a balance between price and capabilities.