AMD’s Most Affordable RDNA 4 GPU Has Arrived
AMD has officially expanded its Radeon RX 9000 series with the introduction of the Radeon RX 9050, a new entry-level graphics card designed for 1080p gaming. The card, which is based on the RDNA 4 architecture and a cut-down Navi 44 GPU, offers a budget-friendly path into modern gaming.
Specifications: A Cut-Down Navi 44
At its core, the Radeon RX 9050 is a significantly scaled-back version of the mainstream Radeon RX 9060 XT. It features:
- Compute Units: 16 (half of the RX 9060 XT’s 32)
- Stream Processors: 1,024
- Ray Accelerators: 16
- AI Accelerators: 32
- Game Clock: 1,920 MHz
- Boost Clock: Up to 2,600 MHz
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 288 GB/s of bandwidth
- Infinity Cache: 32MB
- Typical Board Power (TBP): Just 92W
- Power Connector: 1x 8-pin
- Minimum PSU Recommendation: 450W
Performance: 10.6 TFLOPS of FP32 Compute
The Radeon RX 9050 delivers 10.6 TFLOPS of FP32 compute performance. For context, this puts it slightly ahead of the GPU found in the original PlayStation 5, making it a capable entry-level option for modern titles.
AMD’s internal testing at 1080p with Medium settings (except Valorant, which was tested at High) shows the RX 9050 can deliver solid frame rates in popular games:
- 007: First Light: 60 FPS
- Cyberpunk 2077: 96 FPS
- Forza Horizon 6: 131 FPS
- Pragmata: 85 FPS
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 7: 116 FPS
- Counter-Strike 2: 227 FPS
- Rainbow Six Siege: 206 FPS
- Valorant (High Settings): 593 FPS
These tests were conducted on a system with a Ryzen 7 9800X3D CPU and 32GB of DDR5-6000 memory. Actual performance may vary.
Board Partner Models and a 4GB OEM Variant
The Radeon RX 9050 is being offered by multiple board partners, including ASRock, PowerColor, and SAPPHIRE.
- ASRock offers the RX 9050 Challenger 8GB, which ships with the reference boost clock of 2,600 MHz.
- SAPPHIRE has launched the PULSE Radeon RX 9050, which features a factory overclock to 2,760 MHz — a notable 160 MHz increase over the reference spec. It also includes a compact dual-fan, two-slot cooler with Honeywell PTM7950 thermal interface material, measuring just 200mm in length.
- PowerColor has introduced the RX 9050 Reaper 8GB, another compact offering with custom “silent” fans and an all-black design.
A 4GB version of the RX 9050 has also been spotted, featuring a narrower 64-bit memory bus and 144 GB/s of bandwidth. This variant is expected to be OEM-only, meaning it will only be available in pre-built systems, not for individual retail purchase.
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Pricing and Availability
AMD has set a suggested retail price of $279 for the Radeon RX 9050 8GB. The card is initially launching in select markets, including Asia-Pacific, Japan, and Latin America. A global release has not yet been confirmed.
With its 92W power draw and compact design, the RX 9050 is a compelling option for budget-conscious builders looking to enter the world of modern gaming without breaking the bank or upgrading their power supply.
Source: AMD