AMD is reportedly working on a new entry-level graphics card, the Radeon RX 9050, built on the RDNA 4 architecture. Despite its entry-level designation, the card could pack some surprising specs and even outperform the standard RX 9060.
Rumors point to a Navi 44 GPU with 2,048 stream processors. The game clock is said to hit 1,920 MHz, with boost reaching up to 2,600 MHz.
The RX 9050 is also expected to feature 8GB of GDDR6 memory at 18 Gbps over a 128-bit bus. Other specs include PCIe 5.0 x16 support, two DisplayPort 2.1a ports, and one HDMI 2.1b.
Interestingly, the core count matches the RX 9060 XT 8GB exactly. The main differences are lower clock speeds and slower memory. The RX 9060 XT, by comparison, offers GDDR6 memory at 20 Gbps and a boost clock of up to 3.1 GHz — about 24% higher GPU frequency.
Power consumption details for the RX 9050 are not yet available, but it is expected to be significantly more efficient than the RX 9060 XT. That could make it an appealing option for budget gaming rigs.
The RX 9050's unusual specs raise questions, especially since the standard RX 9060 already exists but is currently limited to OEM supply. Sources suggest AMD may have designed the RX 9050 specifically to take on the GeForce RTX 5050, offering a more competitive entry-level option.
Earlier reports claimed the RX 9060 can beat the RTX 5050 by about 20% in some tests, though independent reviews are still pending.
The RX 9050's pricing remains unknown. For context, the cheapest RTX 5050 currently goes for around $289. AMD could unveil more details at Computex in Taipei, which is just weeks away.