AMD Radeon RX 9050: a budget video card with an unexpected modification

AMD has expanded its line of graphics solutions by introducing an affordable video card Radeon RX 9050. Based on the Navi 44 platform, similar to the one used in the 9060 and 9060 XT models, the card is aimed at the segment of budget gaming PCs. However, users should pay attention: despite the declared standard of 8 GB of GDDR6 video memory, there are versions with reduced volume.

Characteristics and versions of the video card

The regular version of the Radeon RX 9050 is equipped with 8 GB of memory and a 128-bit interface. It also received 16 computing units (CU), 16 RT-cores, 64 texture units and 1024 stream processors.

Manufacturer ASRock mentioned in its listings the second version of the card, equipped with only 4 GB of memory. According to AMD representatives, this is a “system variant” that will not be available for free sale. This modification has half the memory bandwidth and a 64-bit interface instead of 128-bit, so it is intended exclusively for installing ready-made PCs.

Game performance

AMD’s official data indicates high efficiency of the card with a resolution of 1080p. Average FPS figures given when playing on medium or high settings include:

• Valorant: 593 FPS
• Counter-Strike 2: 227 FPS
• Tom Clancy’s Rainbow Six Siege: 206 FPS
• Forza Horizon 6: 131 FPS
• Call of Duty: Black Ops 7: 116 FPS
• Cyberpunk 2077: 96 FPS
• Pragmata: 85 FPS
• 007: First Light: 60 FPS

Cost and availability

The recommended retail price of the standard version (8 GB) is set at $279 (11,500 UAH). The first sales markets will be Japan, the Asia-Pacific region and the countries of Latin America.

Radeon RX 9050 is a typical entry-level solution for modern online disciplines and competitive shooters. When choosing a PC assembly, it is important to check the amount of video memory with the manufacturer: if you come across a 4 GB version, be prepared for a significantly reduced memory bandwidth, which will negatively affect performance in heavy graphic scenes compared to the 8 GB basic version.