NVIDIA Is Rumored to Reveal a Revamped GeForce RTX 5050 Featuring 9 GB GDDR7 at This Year’s Computex

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According to the latest rumors, NVIDIA is planning to announce a redesigned GeForce RTX 5050 featuring more memory at Computex. It’s been almost a year since the budget-friendly 8 GB card launched with an $249 MSRP, although at the time of this writing the lowest price on NVIDIA’s storefront is $299, so it’s not unusual to see a “refresh,” but times are indeed different than years past in that regard. We are, of course, in the midst of a major DRAM/NAND memory chip shortage, which has seemingly brought new GPU product releases to a halt. At one point, it seemed all but guaranteed that the GPU manufacturer would have begun launching its RTX 50 series SUPER lineup, but not only did that not happen, it never even got an official announcement, something many expected to have been planned around CES. So, given that, it is understandable to have doubts, but it does align with others that NVIDIA is planning on doing something with whatever supply it has of 3 GB GDDR7 modules.

According to a post by @MegasizeGPU (via Benchlife and VideoCardz), we could see the release of a GeForce RTX 5050 featuring 9 GB of GDDR7 memory. The original model from last year had 8 GB GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, but it’s said this new version will be on a 96-bit bus, but despite that its thought the faster memory will compensate for the smaller bus. The next interesting detail here is that it will use the same GB205 die used in the GeForce RTX 5070, and moving forward, the RTX 5060 will also use this die. The logic behind this is that salvageable defective dies are being repurposed for the lower-tier cards. This, too, is a common industry practice, so no major surprise here.

Previously, though, the RTX 5050 8 GB and RTX 5060 8 GB both used the same GB206 die. Something else they shared in common was that neither model was sent to reviewers, and those who managed to procure one didn’t always have the best things to say about them, so it won’t be a surprise if this happens again with this purported redesign. Megasize has also shared in joking that rather than giving consumers a full 128-bit 12 GB upgrade, NVIDIA opted to further ration its supply of 3 GB GDDR7 modules.

A big question on everyone’s minds is pricing. If pre-memory shortage, MSRP began at $249 and is currently available starting at $299 with 8 GB of GDDR6, how much more is NVIDIA going to charge for 9 GB GDDR7, given that DRAM can sometimes be seen going for double or more? Another factor to consider, as detailed in the rumor, is that NVIDIA’s partners must also redesign their PCBs to accommodate the different GPU die, although if they have some RTX 5070 PCBs lying around that might not be as problematic (sure, sure), but if not, who will absorb those costs? Well, if this rumor pans out to be true, we could get some answers in a few months at Computex, which runs from June 2-5.

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Peter Brosdahl
As a child of the 70’s I was part of the many who became enthralled by the video arcade invasion of the 1980’s. Saving money from various odd jobs I purchased my first computer from a friend of my dad, a used Atari 400, around 1982. Eventually it would end up being a lifelong passion of upgrading and modifying equipment that, of course, led into a career in IT support.

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