A new RTX 3050 is coming but with massive compromises

Budget gamers might have their sights set on an RTX 3050, and Nvidia is refreshing the card in a new configuration: with 2GB less VRAM.

The Nvidia RTX 3050 is a couple of years old at this point, and it remains one of the most accessible GPUs for those looking for a step up from integrated graphics, or those who want a modest amount of power at 1080p. Now, Nvidia is launching a new RTX 3050, with a slight twist.

The refreshed GPU is pipped to come with 6GB of VRAM, 2GB less than the original model. Videocardz also reports that the GPU will also ship with 10% fewer CUDA cores than the original model, too. The 6GB model is also claimed to be using a 96-bit memory bus, meaning that bandwidth is even more constrained when compared to the 128-bit bus of the standard model.

Now, if you’re in the market for an RTX 3050, you might not care about these compromises on the GPU, but it’s also said to ship with a lower power limit, at just 70W. This means that many of these 6GB RTX 3050 models will also ship without any power connectors, and will be able to be powered via your PC’s PCIe slot alone.

Who is the RTX 3050 6GB for?

It seems a little bit misleading to call this an RTX 3050 at all, considering all of the differences in power, and therefore expected performance. Now, it’d be a different story if this was shipped as a lower power “30” class card, which we’ve not seen since the GT 1030, which was released more than five years ago.

The GPU is shipping with several low-profile options, as well as being rumored to start at a modest $179. But, would that make the GPU worthwhile? A quick look in the used GPU market shows us that you can pick up an RTX 3060 for around $50 more, meaning that you could stand to get massively improved performance if you are willing to spend some time on auction sites to find a deal.

The RTX 3050 6GB might be an attractive option for those using slim cases, or those who have incredibly limited power options inside their PC. But how well the GPU performs remains to be seen, we’ve heard no formal communication from Nvidia regarding the launch of the GPU at all. As ever, we’ll wait for the benchmarks to see if this GPU is worth the rumored asking price at all.