GeForce RTX 5050 Series Debuts Globally, Malaysian Availability Still Pending
NVIDIA has officially announced the launch of its new GeForce RTX 5050 desktop graphics cards and GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPUs, bringing the power of the NVIDIA Blackwell RTX architecture to a broader range of gamers. The new x50-class GPUs aim to make next-generation gaming experiences more accessible, with desktop cards starting at USD249 (approximately RM1,175) and gaming laptops featuring the new GPUs beginning at USD999 (approximately RM4,720).
The release of the RTX 5050 series will significantly enhance gameplay for esports titles such as Counter-Strike 2, Marvel Rivals, and Apex Legends through NVIDIA Reflex, which is now supported in over 150 games. For single-player immersive experiences, the new GPUs leverage DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation, promising high settings and improved performance in graphically demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077 and Avowed. NVIDIA highlights that over 800 games and applications are now accelerated by GeForce RTX technologies.
The x50-class GeForce GPUs have historically been a popular choice among gamers, second only to the x60-class on Steam, due to their compelling price point and power efficiency. These new cards are ideal for first-time RTX users, those upgrading older x50-class systems (Pascal, Turing, or Ampere-based GPUs), students, and for building power-efficient home theatre PCs.
Desktop GeForce RTX 5050: Performance and Availability
NVIDIA will launch the GeForce RTX 5050 desktop graphics cards in the second half of July, starting at USD249. Models will be available from leading add-in card partners, including ASUS, Colorful, Gainward, Galaxy, GIGABYTE, INNO3D, MSI, Palit, PNY, and ZOTAC. System integrators will also feature these cards in their pre-built desktops.
A single PCIe 8-pin cable powers each RTX 5050 desktop card, allowing it to draw up to 130 Watts, which makes it suitable for systems with power supplies as low as 550 Watts. They boast a minimum Base Clock speed of 2.31GHz, 2,560 NVIDIA Blackwell CUDA Cores, 5th Generation AI Tensor Cores, 4th Generation Ray Tracing Cores, a 9th Generation NVIDIA Encoder (NVENC), and a 6th Generation NVIDIA Decoder (NVDEC). The cards come equipped with 8GB of GDDR6 video memory on a 128-bit memory bus.
NVIDIA states that the GeForce RTX 5050 desktop cards are, on average, 60% faster in traditional rasterisation and up to 4X faster in games utilising the full suite of DLSS 4 technologies compared to the previous RTX 3050. The performance leap is even more significant for gamers currently on GTX 1650 cards, which lack DLSS or hardware-accelerated ray tracing support.
GeForce RTX 5050 Laptops: Immediate Availability and Efficiency
Gaming laptops featuring the GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPUs are available globally starting today, with prices commencing at USD999. These laptops will gradually appear on retailer listings.
The RTX 5050 Laptop GPUs also feature 2,560 NVIDIA Blackwell CUDA Cores, 5th Generation AI Tensor Cores, 4th Generation Ray Tracing Cores, a 9th Generation NVIDIA Encoder (NVENC), and a 6th Generation NVIDIA Decoder (NVDEC. A notable upgrade for the laptop variants is the inclusion of 8GB of GDDR7 video memory, running at 24 Gbps. GDDR7 memory promises up to 2X more energy efficiency than GDDR6, contributing to thinner, lighter laptops (as thin as 15 millimetres and as light as 1.3 kilograms) with extended battery life and quieter, cooler operation.
According to NVIDIA, GeForce RTX 5050 Laptop GPUs are, on average, 2.4X faster in raster FPS and consistently more than 4X faster when utilising DLSS 4 with Multi Frame Generation compared to RTX 3050 Laptop GPUs across various games.
Malaysian Release Details Remain Undisclosed
While the global launch is underway, there is currently no news regarding a Malaysian release date for either the GeForce RTX 5050 desktop graphics cards or the laptops featuring the new GPUs. Brands and retailers will reveal the local retail price for these products closer to the potential Malaysian launch date. Meanwhile, gamers in Malaysia should follow local tech news outlets and retailer announcements for future updates.
NVIDIA will release a new GeForce Game Ready Driver in early July, providing full support for all GeForce RTX 5050 GPUs (desktop and laptop). Laptops shipping now come with an initial factory pre-installed driver.