Update | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 A with Ada Lovelace GPU reportedly in the works

August 06, 2024 update: On July 26, Nvidia has confirmed the new GeForce RTX 3050 (set to be named GeForce RTX 3050 A) exists and will feature the following specs: 4 GB GDDR6 VRAM on a 64-bit bus, 35-50 Watt TDP, and 1,792 CUDA cores. On August 6, we received some minor clarification from MSI stating the graphics card in question is very likely to end up being an India-exclusive product. The original article follows below.

Back in 2021, Nvidia surprised everyone by unveiling the GeForce RTX 2050 (a Turing SKU) with a GA107 (Ampere) GPU. It has since been found in many entry-level laptops, although its performance is nothing to write home about. Now, Nvidia has similar plans for the GeForce RTX 3050 (Ampere) with an Ada Lovelace GPU.

Videocardz has discovered mentions of an AD106-powered GeForce RTX 3050 laptop GPU in the PCI-ID database, and even found mentions of it in Nvidia's latest drivers. Unfortunately, the listing doesn't mention any of its specs, but one can reasonably assume it to be weaker than the AD106 found on the GeForce RTX 4070 mobile. This makes it the third GeForce RTX 3050 variant to show up after the RTX 3050 6 GB and RTX 3050 4 GB, both of which come with a GA107 GPU.

Exactly why Nvidia chose an AD106 instead of an AD107 remains a mystery because the latter is better suited for xx50 class cards like the GeForce RTX 3050. Then again, this could be an experimental SKU and might not see the light of day. That said, Nvidia has been known to stealth drop questionably specced GPUs from time to time, and a new GeForce RTX 3050 variant could very well be shown off at CES alongside Blackwell-based RTX 5000 models.