AMD has introduced the Radeon RX 9050 graphics card, featuring both 8GB and 4GB memory configurations, as a response to the significant increase in memory prices over the past year. The 8GB version is slated for retail availability at $279, while the 4GB model will be exclusive to original equipment manufacturers (OEMs), meaning it will only appear in pre-built, low-end gaming PCs.
The 4GB RX 9050 will feature a narrower 64-bit memory bus, resulting in a memory bandwidth of 288GB/s. This combination of limited memory capacity and reduced bandwidth suggests that more demanding PC games will likely face performance issues. The card's GPU specifications include 1,024 shading cores across 16 Compute Units, a figure notably lower than higher-tier cards like the Radeon RX 9060 XT, which boasts 32 Compute Units. These specifications indicate that the RX 9050 will likely be restricted to 1080p gaming, and even then, players may need to reduce graphical settings to medium.
While aftermarket variants from manufacturers such as Powercolor, ASRock, and Sapphire have been observed, they are not yet available for purchase and are expected to reach online retailers like Newegg and Amazon within the next week. A pre-built CyberpowerPC system featuring the 4GB RX 9050, a Ryzen 5 5500 processor, and 8GB of DDR4 RAM is currently available at Best Buy for $889.
The ongoing memory crisis shows no signs of immediate resolution. Valve has noted a several-month lag between supplier price increases and retail pricing. The issue extends beyond gaming PCs; the Xbox Series X is reportedly facing its second price increase in under a year due to demand from AI data centers, with Xbox CEO Asha Sharma predicting further price hikes.