NVIDIA Officially Unveils GeForce RTX 5050 Desktop Graphics Card, Priced at $249 and Launching Mid-July
NVIDIA has formally introduced the GeForce RTX 5050 desktop GPU, marking the seventh official entry in its next-generation RTX 50 series powered by the Blackwell architecture. The company has published all technical specifications and pricing details on its official product page, confirming a $249 USD starting price and availability beginning in the second half of July.
Following the earlier launch of the RTX 5050 for laptops, this desktop model is based on the GB207 die and features 2560 CUDA cores, 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, a 128-bit memory interface, and a total bandwidth of 320 GB/s. While the laptop version uses faster GDDR7 memory, the desktop variant relies on high-speed 20 Gbps GDDR6. With a TDP of 130W, the RTX 5050 requires a 550W PSU and connects via a single 8-pin PCIe power connector. Clock speeds are listed at 2.31 GHz base and 2.57 GHz boost.
The GPU integrates NVIDIA’s latest 4th Generation Ray Tracing Cores and 5th Generation Tensor Cores, delivering up to 421 TOPs of AI performance—nearly six times more than the RTX 3050. This leap in AI compute power positions the RTX 5050 as a strong contender for entry-level gamers seeking future-proofed performance at 1080p with DLSS 4 support.
Compared to the RTX 3050, the new card offers 43% higher memory speed and bandwidth, bringing a noticeable performance improvement even outside of DLSS acceleration. NVIDIA claims up to 4x the performance uplift in supported DLSS 4 titles, and in native rendering, games like Apex Legends, Counter-Strike 2, and Overwatch 2 show frame rate gains of 50–60%. Interestingly, NVIDIA also compared it to the RTX 4050 laptop GPU, where the RTX 5050 desktop sees a 10–20% advantage.
Despite its position as an entry-level model, the RTX 5050 does not receive a Founders Edition, but custom AIB partner variants are expected to ship at launch. Most board designs are expected to follow a standard 5-phase VRM layout.
Priced at $249, the RTX 5050 will sit below the $299 RTX 5060 and compete directly with Intel's Arc B580 12GB and Arc B570 10GB GPUs, which are priced similarly. Its performance advantage in ray tracing and DLSS scenarios may give NVIDIA the edge for gamers focused on newer rendering technologies.
With digital game prices on the rise and fewer bundled extras, budget GPUs like the RTX 5050 offer a solid middle ground for players looking to upgrade affordably—especially when factoring in frequent seasonal discounts on digital storefronts. Savvy gamers might find it wise to wait for game deals and invest in future-proof hardware now.
Are you planning to grab the RTX 5050, or are you holding out for something higher up the stack or a price drop later this year? Let us know your thoughts below.
