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Here’s everything you need to know about the refreshed RTX 3050 6GB release.
The original RTX 3050 launched nearly two years ago, but we are now seeing a relaunch of Nvidia’s classic affordable graphics card. The original is no doubt a great card that won’t break the bank but it is not a powerful card. While this new model is unlikely to rival what the best graphics cards on the market can do, if priced right, it could prove to be among the best budget graphics cards available. Let’s get into the details.
RTX 3050 6GB release date
The RTX 3050 6GB had a very soft ‘launch’ before its launch date on February 9th, 2024 (09/02/2024)., and most retail listings are either suggesting it’s already out of stock. However, from today, we can expect more and more retailers to stock Nvidia’s GPU.
RTX 3050 6GB prices
The RTX 3050 6GB is going to cost between $169 – $189 for the different variants on offer, which has been confirmed by Newegg’s listings of the card.
If the reporting by Videocardz is to be believed then the RTX 3050 6GB will debut for $179 (around £140). This is around 28% cheaper than the 2022 model which released with a starting MSRP of $249. It’s a smart move to reduce the price considering the lower amount of VRAM speculated to be on the die but we’ll get into the alleged hardware specs shortly.
This positions the RTX 3050 6GB as the cheapest of the RTX line-up by quite a considerable margin, rivalling the current going rates for the perennially popular GTX 1650 and GTX 1660, which were the cards the first Ampere iteration was slated to replace. While unlikely to blow anyone away with its sheer technical prowess, this new upcoming entry-level card should be able to keep up in 1080p for a very competitive price point should the rumored starting MSRP hold water.
RTX 3050 6GB specs
| Spec | Details |
|---|---|
| VRAM | 6GB |
| Interface | PCI Express 4.0 |
| CUDA Cores | 2,304 |
| Memory Interface | 96-Bit |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 |
| Max Resolution | 7680 x 4320 |
| GPU Length | 201 mm |
The RTX 3050 6GB will feature 6GB GDDR6 memory built upon a 96-bit memory bus with 2,304 CUDA cores, and a 70W TDP. The GPU processor itself is believed to be to be GA107-325.
Now, these figures are unlikely to impress anyone but considering the sub-$200 price point, the technical specs are about as expected should they be true. Comparing this upcoming card to its predecessor and you can see where the money’s been saved in its construction. The original RTX 3050 from the start of 2022 featured 8GB GDDR6 VRAM built on a 128-bit memory bus, with 2560 CUDA cores and a 130W TDP.
When directly comparing the two, that’s a reduction of 20% less CUDA cores, 25% less GDDR6 VRAM, a 25% smaller memory bus, and a lower TDP of 46%. Armed with this knowledge, it appears apparent that the RTX 3050 6GB won’t be as capable as its original 8GB variant, a GPU which was already bolstered by DLSS in its native 1080p resolution. As for how this new GPU will perform, we’ll have to wait until we’ve got hands-on before we come to any kind of verdict.
Final word
The RTX 3050 6GB is going to be a good holdover card for those wanting to run less demanding software. The original model was targeting 1080p60, and as someone who reviewed that GPU nearly two years ago, I can tell you that it hit the mark. It wasn’t a great graphics card for the $250 mark, considering the starting MSRP of the far more capable RTX 3060 was just $80 more for literally double the VRAM and performance in some cases.
That could all be changing with the rumored price of just $179, however. Provided worldwide availability is good, it would give low-end PC gamers who enjoy less intense software such as CS2, League of Legends, Overwatch 2, Valorant, and Rocket League some much-needed headway. What’s more, modern games could be playable around 30-60fps with ray tracing enabled should they be smart with slider settings.
According to recent benchmarks of the original RTX 3050 from ShadowSeven on YouTube, we can see that God of War 2018 and Cyberpunk 2077 are playable at around 30fps in 1080p at Ultra settings but games like Elden Ring start to struggle hovering around 22fps when maxed out in 1080p. Certain games, like Forza Horizon 5 and Spider-Man: Miles Morales even flirt with the 60fps mark, hovering more around 50fps, so it looks like it comes down to software optimization and DLSS support.
Considering the RTX 3050 6GB looks weaker on paper, should the specs be accurate, it’s looking as though this card is realistically targeting 1080p30 in today’s games or more playable framerates in older titles. We could be expecting lower performance by around 20% given the lower VRAM, smaller memory bus, lower TDP, and reduced CUDA cores, but we won’t know until we test it for ourselves.
RTX 3050 6GB – FAQs
If you’ve got more questions regarding the upcoming GPU then we’ve got the answers. We’re employing our hardware knowledge to bring you everything further you need to know.
Is there an RTX 3050 6GB?
Nvidia has relaunched the RTX 3050 with a 6GB model and it’s available to purchase today.
Is the RTX 3050 enough for gaming?
While the RTX 3050 is unlikely to give you incredible visuals at staggering framerates, it’s armed with enough GDDR6 VRAM and capabilities for DLSS and ray tracing for a playable, if unexciting gaming experience.
Is the RTX 3050 still worth it?
If you managed to get the original RTX 3050 at release for its MSRP then it wasn’t the worst product, however, this proposed new 6GB variant looks to significantly undercut the price point. At well under the $200 mark, there could be some serious value for money on offer here.
