It had long been rumored that AMD was working on an entry-level graphics card to complete its RDNA 4 family. Now, ASRock has published the product page for the Radeon RX 9050 on its website , confirming its existence before AMD's official announcement. This move by the Taiwanese manufacturer has revealed all the details of a GPU that promises to be the most affordable option in the RX 9000 series.
The Radeon RX 9050 comes in two variants differentiated by the amount of graphics memory: one with 8 GB and the other with 4 GB of GDDR6 VRAM. While the 8 GB version seems more logical for the consumer market, the 4 GB version is primarily aimed at OEMs , according to listings. Both share the same Navi 44 graphics core, but the memory bus differs significantly, which affects bandwidth and, therefore, overall performance.
Technical specifications of the Radeon RX 9050
The Radeon RX 9050 is powered by a Navi 44 chip manufactured on TSMC's 4NP node, featuring 16 Compute Units that translate to 1.024 Stream Processors . Its base gaming clock speed is 1.920 MHz, while its boost clock reaches 2.600 MHz. Additionally, it includes 16 third-generation Ray Tracing accelerators and 32 second-generation AI accelerators, making it compatible with AMD's latest technologies, such as FSR Redstone and Fluid Motion Frames.
Regarding memory, both versions use GDDR6 chips at 18 Gbps, but here's where the big difference lies. The 8 GB model has a 128-bit bus and a bandwidth of 288 GB/s , while the 4 GB version reduces the bus to 64 bits, limiting the bandwidth to 144 GB/s. AMD has also included 32 MB of Infinity Cache to partially mitigate this limitation, although the difference will be noticeable in modern games.
The card's typical power consumption is just 92 watts, making it a very efficient option. The recommended power supply is 450 watts and uses a single 8-pin PCIe power connector. The ASRock design features dual fans with 0dB Silent Cooling technology, which keeps the fans off at idle, and includes a metal backplate and dimmable LED lighting controlled by a physical switch.
Two memory versions: 4 GB and 8 GB
The existence of a variant with 4GB of VRAM has generated considerable controversy among enthusiasts. Several analysts believe that 4GB is insufficient for current games , even at 1080p resolution, and that this configuration only makes sense in low-cost OEM systems or for office tasks. In fact, ASRock has listed the 4GB model as an option for manufacturers, while the 8GB version would be marketed to the general public.
Both cards share the same PCB and cooling system, but the 4GB version has half the bandwidth of the 8GB version , which is particularly detrimental in games that require intensive texture transfers. According to leaked benchmarks, the 8GB Radeon RX 9050 can offer up to 50% better performance in some titles compared to the 4GB version, although both are designed for 1080p gaming at medium settings.
Performance and estimated price
AMD has released indicative performance data for the Radeon RX 9050 at 1080p resolution and medium settings. In Cyberpunk 2077, it achieves around 96 FPS, in Forza Horizon 6 it reaches 131 FPS , and in esports titles like Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant it exceeds 200 FPS, even reaching 593 FPS in Valorant at high settings. These figures place it on par with a Radeon RX 6500 XT, albeit with better support for modern technologies.
As for the price, the 8GB model has a suggested retail price of $279, while the 4GB version is priced at $249 , although the latter will be primarily aimed at system integrators. Some manufacturers have already begun including the RX 9050 in pre-built PCs from iBuyPower with prices around €900, which has drawn criticism for the GPU not being up to par with the rest of the system.
AMD has not yet made an official announcement regarding the Radeon RX 9050, and its release date and availability in Europe are unknown. ASRock has temporarily removed its product pages , suggesting that the launch could be imminent, but we will have to wait for Lisa Su's company to confirm all the details.
The Radeon RX 9050 arrives to fill the entry-level gap in the RDNA 4 family, offering two memory configurations to suit different user profiles. With 1.024 shaders, 8GB of VRAM, and a price of $279 , the 8GB version presents itself as a viable option for 1080p gaming at medium settings, while the 4GB variant is relegated to the OEM market. It remains to be seen whether AMD can convince gamers with this offering or if, as some believe, it falls short compared to the competition from NVIDIA and Intel.
