Retailer Newegg is gearing up with 13 variants of RTX 5050 graphics cards in anticipation of baby Blackwell's launch, yet it's questionable why anyone would spend $250 or even $290 for a marginally boosted model.
Nvidia has released its latest desktop graphics card, the GeForce RTX 5050, to the market. However, the pricing of the Asus Prime RTX 5050 model, listed at around $290 on Newegg, has raised some eyebrows. This is because it is only $10 cheaper than the cheapest RTX 5060 models, despite offering lower performance.
The RTX 5060, priced at a $300 MSRP, is considered the more sensible entry-level option from Nvidia's Blackwell lineup. It boasts a peak pixel rate of 120.6 Gpixels/s, which is 39% higher than the RTX 5050's 86.6 Gpixels/s. The RTX 5060 also comes with an 8 GB GDDR6 VRAM, compared to the RTX 5050's GDDR7 VRAM.
The Asus Prime RTX 5050, while equipped with the full DLSS 4 package, struggles to compete with the RTX 5060 in terms of raw performance. It has fewer shader cores, TMU count, ROPs count, and a lower boost clock. The FP32 peak throughput and peak texture rate of the RTX 5060 are also higher.
The RTX 5060 also uses around 15 W more power than the RTX 5050, but it offers significantly better performance and VRAM superiority. Given that the RTX 5060 is only about $10 more expensive than the Asus RTX 5050, it represents a much better value for gaming or general use.
In conclusion, the Asus Prime RTX 5050 being listed at $290 is an unusual pricing choice that makes it hard to justify buying over the RTX 5060. Unless the Asus model offers unique features that matter to you, the RTX 5060 is the smarter purchase for gamers and general users looking for the best performance in the $300 range.
| Model | Approximate Price (Newegg) | VRAM Type | Performance Tier | Value Proposition | |------------------|----------------------------|-----------|--------------------|-------------------------------------| | Asus Prime RTX 5050 | $290 | GDDR6 | Entry-level, below RTX 4060 | Poor value at this price, close to RTX 5060 | | RTX 5060 (lowest) | ~$300 | GDDR7 | Solid entry-level | Better performance and features for $10 more |
[1] TechRadar. (2022). Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 review: A powerful budget GPU for gamers. [online] Available at: https://www.techradar.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5060 [3] Tom's Hardware. (2022). Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 Review: A Lacklustre Budget GPU. [online] Available at: https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-rtx-5050-review,6364.html
- Fans of gaming technology might find it worthwhile to consider the RTX 5060, as it offers better performance and VRAM superiority at a price only $10 more than the Asus Prime RTX 5050, despite the latter being equipped with the full DLSS 4 package.
- In contrast, the artificial-intelligence community might find the Asus Prime RTX 5050 more appealing due to its full DLSS 4 package, although it laggs behind in raw performance compared to the RTX 5060.
- For those who enjoy gathering game-related collectibles, the RTX 5060 could be considered a 'winning bet', offering a higher-performing and more feature-rich card for a minimal increase in cost.
- With the launch of the GeForce RTX 5050, the market now has a new contender for the best gaming gadget, but the higher pricing might deter some technology enthusiasts from making a 'bet' on the Asus Prime RTX 5050.
- As we move into the new season, the debate between the RTX 5050 and RTX 5060 continues, with the latter offering a superior performance for a price that's hard to pass up for many gamers and general users.
