NVIDIA releases a 3GB GeForce GTX 1050 for gamers on a tight budget
NVIDIA has quietly launched a 3GB version of the GeForce GTX 1050 for gamers on a tight budget
ASUS Phoenix GeForce GTX 1050 Ti. (Image Source: ASUS)
NVIDIA has quietly launched a 3GB version of the GeForce GTX 1050 for gamers on a tight budget. The new card sits somewhere between the GeForce GTX 1050 and the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti, NVIDIA’s existing budget card offerings.
The GeForce GTX 1050 3GB appeared on NVIDIA’s website over the weekend, and it sits snugly between the 2GB of GDDR5 memory on the GeForce GTX 1050 and the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti’s 4GB.
The additional memory should come in useful for modern games, but NVIDIA has made trade-offs in other areas. Instead of the 128-bit bus of the GeForce GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti, you now get a 96-bit bus, which brings the total memory bandwidth down to 84GB/s from 112GB/s.
That said, despite its name, the GeForce GTX 1050 3GB shares more in common with the faster GeForce GTX 1050 Ti than it does the 1050. Both cards feature 768 CUDA cores, where as the GeForce GTX 1050 only has 640.
Here’s a summary of the key specifications of all three GeForce GTX 1050 cards:
NVIDIA GeForceGTX 1050 Ti | NVIDIA GeForceGTX 1050 3GB | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 2GB | |
CUDA cores | 768 | 768 | 640 |
Base/Boost clock | 1,290MHz/1,392MHz | 1,392MHz/1,518MHz | 1,354MHz/1,455MHz |
Memory speed | 7Gb/s | 7Gb/s | 7Gb/s |
Memory | 4GB GDDR5 | 3GB GDDR5 | 2GB GDDR5 |
Memory bus width | 128-bit | 96-bit | 128-bit |
Memory bandwidth | 112GB/s | 84GB/s | 112GB/s |
TDP | 75W | 75W | 75W |
You’ll notice the higher clock speeds of the 3GB card, which is probably why NVIDIA had to decrease the memory bus width to avoid rendering the GeForce GTX 1050 Ti obsolete. A NVIDIA spokesperson pegged the GeForce GTX 1050 3GB as being around 10 per cent faster on average than its 2GB sibling, a modest boost for those looking for an entry-level card.
NVIDIA hasn’t released any pricing or availability information for the new card, but a spokesperson said that it will occupy “similar price bands” as the existing line-up. The GeForce GTX 1050 cards are only available from NVIDIA partners like ASUS, so the 3GB model may be available to buy after Computex in June.
Who is the card for? If the existing GeForce GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti are anything to go by, the 3GB model will also be a good fit for esports titles and 1080p gaming at Low to Medium graphics settings.
Source: NVIDIA
Our articles may contain affiliate links. If you buy through these links, we may earn a small commission.