Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 variant with 6 GB VRAM reportedly in the works

A year after Nvidia's flagship Ada Lovelace GPUs were introduced, the lineup is more or less complete, with the desktop GeForce RTX 4050 still being notable absent. Those on the prowl for an entry-level graphics card will now have an additional choice, with one major caveat: it will be Ampere-based. Wccftech has learned that Nvidia plans to launched a nerfed version of the GeForce RTX 3050.

It will use a GA107-325 GPU, a further cut-down version of the GA106 used on the original. While its CUDA core count is unknown, it will feature 6 GB of VRAM on a 96-bit bus. Other specs include a base clock of 1,470 MHz and a TDP of 70 Watts.

These are nearly identical to that of the GeForce RTX 3050 6 GB laptop version. It wouldn't be outlandish to assume Nvidia will slap a laptop GPU onto a desktop board and sell it as a new product. It isn't necessarily bad, as it gives gamers access to affordable GPUs while getting rid of excess Ampere dies.

Nvidia will supposedly unveil the GeForce RTX 3050 6 GB sometime in January. There is no word about its price, with the best estimate being US$150 for now. There isn't much competition in the segment and features like DLSS will help it stand above the rest. One can pair it with an Intel Core i5-13400 or Core i3-13100 and get a serviceable sub-US$500 1080p e-sports machine.

Buy the Asus GeForce RTX 4060 on Amazon