● Covered by 2 sources · 5 reportsMedium impact1 negative3 neutral1 positive
AMD Launches Radeon RX 9050 GPU, Including 4GB VRAM Variant
Key points
- AMD launched Radeon RX 9050 with 8GB and 4GB VRAM options.
- The 4GB RX 9050 is an OEM-only, region-specific variant.
- It uses a cut-down Navi 44 GPU with 1,024 cores and 16 Compute Units.
- Early tests show the RX 9050 is 30% slower than the RTX 5050.
- The 4GB VRAM option is the first in a modern GPU since 2022.
AMD Introduces Radeon RX 9050
AMD has officially launched its Radeon RX 9050 graphics card, available in both 8GB and 4GB VRAM configurations. The 4GB variant is an OEM-only, region-specific release, marking the return of 4GB VRAM to new discrete GPUs, a configuration not seen since 2022.
The RX 9050 utilizes a cut-down Navi 44 GPU, featuring 1,024 cores spread across 16 Compute Units. ASRock's Challenger variant lists a 1,920 MHz base clock and a 2,600 MHz boost clock. The card has a 64-bit memory interface and 144 GB/s of memory bandwidth. A 450W power supply is recommended for the RX 9050.
Performance Benchmarks
Preliminary performance testing by Japanese outlet GDM indicates that the Radeon RX 9050 is approximately 30% slower than its Nvidia rival, the RTX 5050, in gaming. In synthetic benchmarks, the RX 9050 was almost 20% slower in the 3DMark suite, with the largest difference observed in Port Royal.
Despite the performance gap, the RX 9050 is capable of 1080p gaming, particularly for esports titles. AMD states the 8GB RX 9050 is intended for 1080p medium gameplay.
Return of 4GB VRAM
The introduction of a 4GB VRAM option for the RX 9050 is notable, as most discrete GPUs since 2019 have featured 6GB or 8GB of VRAM or more. This development occurs as memory supplies are tightening and graphics card prices are rising.
While 4GB VRAM may be sufficient for some esports titles and older games, it falls below the suggested requirements for current AAA titles, even at 1080p.
Context of AMD's RDNA 4 Lineup
The RX 9050 is part of AMD's RDNA 4 architecture. Another card in this series, the Radeon RX 9070 GRE, which uses a cut-down Navi 48 chip with 48 compute units and 12GB of GDDR6 VRAM, recently returned to its lowest price of $499 at Newegg. The RX 9070 GRE has a 192-bit bus, 18 Gbps bandwidth, and 432 GB/s of memory bandwidth, with a 220W total power draw.
✨ This summary was generated by AI from the outlets' reporting listed below. It is not independently verified and may contain errors — check the original sources. How BrevFeed works →
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How outlets covered it
AMD's Radeon RX 9070 GRE graphics card is available for $499 at Newegg, marking a return to its lowest price point and placing it below its $549 MSRP. This deal offers a current-generation GPU at a reduced cost, which is uncommon in the current PC component market.
AMD has released the RX 9050 4GB, an OEM-only, region-specific GPU with 4GB VRAM, prompting an analysis of how older 4GB cards like the RX 6500 XT and GTX 1650 Super perform in current games. This matters as memory supplies tighten and GPU prices rise, making lower-VRAM cards a potential option for budget gaming, especially with advancements in upscaling technology.
Early performance benchmarks for AMD's new Radeon RX 9050 graphics card indicate it is approximately 30% slower than Nvidia's RTX 5050 in gaming. This performance gap suggests the RX 9050 may struggle to compete effectively with its direct rival, despite being capable of 1080p gaming.
ASRock has released a Radeon RX 9050 graphics card with 4GB of VRAM, marking the first modern GPU in years with this memory configuration. This release occurs as RAM prices and component shortages are increasing tech prices, potentially indicating a shift towards lower-spec options in the market.
ASRock briefly listed specifications for an unannounced AMD Radeon RX 9050 GPU in both 4GB and 8GB VRAM configurations, indicating a potential return of 4GB VRAM cards in 2026. The leaked details suggest the RX 9050 uses a cut-down Navi 44 GPU with 1,024 cores and a 450W power supply recommendation, positioning it as an entry-level RDNA 4 card.