NVIDIA has officially introduced the GeForce RTX 5050, its long-awaited and much rumoured entry-level Blackwell GPU, marking the return of the xx50 series to desktops after the company skipped the RTX 4050 desktop generation entirely. The RTX 5050 will be available for both desktops and laptops in the second half of July 2025, while Game Ready Driver support is scheduled to arrive earlier in the same month.
For desktops, the RTX 5050 brings 2,560 CUDA cores based on NVIDIA’s new Blackwell architecture, paired with 8GB of GDDR6 memory running on a 128-bit interface. It has a total graphics power (TGP) of 130W, requiring either a 6-pin or 8-pin power connector. Boost clock speeds are rated up to 2,570MHz, with expected factory overclocked versions from board partners like ASUS, Gigabyte, MSI, and Zotac. This card also introduces DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation (MFG) to the xx50 lineup, offering significant performance uplifts in supported titles.
Despite the same core count and memory configuration as the older RTX 3050 8GB, NVIDIA claims that the RTX 5050 delivers around 60 percent more performance in full raster workloads, thanks to the newer architecture and higher clock speeds. DLSS 4 and the improved AI cores also allow for high frame rates in ray-traced games such as Cyberpunk 2077 and Avowed, with NVIDIA quoting over 150 fps in certain scenarios using 4x MFG.
One unusual decision is the choice of GDDR6 memory for the desktop version, while the mobile RTX 5050 features newer GDDR7 VRAM. Although the GDDR6-equipped desktop card is expected to outperform its laptop counterpart, the use of last-generation memory stands out within NVIDIA’s current Blackwell GPU line, where GDDR7 has become more common. Notably, the RTX 5050 desktop model also has 1,280 fewer CUDA cores than the RTX 5060.
Meanwhile, the laptop version of the RTX 5050 features the same CUDA core count and 8GB of GDDR7 VRAM. Power draw varies between 35W and 100W depending on the laptop design, which allows the GPU to be integrated into thinner and cooler notebooks.
The desktop version of the new Nvidia RTX 5050 is priced from $249 (~RM1,054), while laptop pricing will vary depending on individual brands. Expect manufacturers like Zotac, Acer, and others to begin announcing their RTX 5050-equipped products in the coming weeks.
Although the GPU is slated for a July release in the US and other key markets, availability in Malaysia has yet to be confirmed. Local pricing details are expected to be revealed closer to launch.
