New Nvidia RTX 5050 9GB GPU planned with crazy memory config

Nvidia’s upgrading its RTX 5050 in the strangest way possible

Rumour has it that Nvidia plans to upgrade its RTX 5050 graphics card with a new memory configuration, giving gamers 9GB of GDDR7 memory across a downgraded memory bus.

By shifting from 2GB GDDR6 memory chips to fewer, but faster, 3GB GDDR7 memory chips, Nvidia can deliver more memory and more memory bandwidth. This gives Nvidia’s low-end GPU 1GB of additional memory and approximately 5% more memory bandwidth.

(MEGAsizeGPU – Twitter/X)

Despite this GPU’s 25% memory bus downgrade, its use of faster GDDR7 memory more than counters this. This makes Nvidia’s rumoured RTX 5050 9GB a straight-up upgrade from its existing 8GB counterpart. However, it is clear that Nvidia could have used this GPU’s full memory bus and built a 12GB model. For that matter, a 12GB RTX 5060 or RTX 5060 Ti would also be possible.

Memory Capacity Memory Type Memory Bus Memory Bandwidth
RTX 5050 9GB (Rumoured) 9GB (3x3GB) GDDR7 28 Gbps 96-bit 336 GB/s
RTX 5050 8GB 8GB (4x2GB) GDDR6 20 Gbps 128-bit 320 GB/s

According to MEGAsizeGPU, Nvidia has cancelled its plans for 12GB RTX 5050 and RTX 5060 models. This makes sense given the reports of Nvidia’s delay or cancellation of its planned RTX 50 SUPER series. Regardless, this 9GB RTX 5050 is a strange GPU. If Nvidia is so memory-constrained, why waste 3GB GDDR7 modules on this GPU instead of 2GB GDDR6 modules? Nvidia doesn’t use GDDR6 anywhere else in its RTX 50 series lineup, so why not keep using that memory type and save GDDR7 for higher-end products?

You can join the discussion on Nvidia’s rumoured RTX 5050 9GB graphics card on the OC3D Forums.

Mark Campbell

Mark Campbell

A Northern Irish father, husband, and techie that works to turn tea and coffee into articles when he isn’t painting his extensive minis collection or using things to make other things.

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