Radeon RX 9050: The 4 GB model is up to 37% less powerful than the 8 GB version

We weren't expecting much from this 4 GB version of the Radeon RX 9050. Well, we're still disappointed.

As we knew, AMD has released two variants of its compact Radeon RX 9050: the first, sold at retail, features 8 GB of video memory, while the second, with only 4 GB, is reserved for system builders. On paper, the two cards are similar. They’re based on the same GPU, featuring 1,024 stream processors and a boost clock of up to 2.6 GHz. In practice, however, the memory subsystem makes a significant difference. The 4 GB model not only loses half its video memory, but its memory interface is also throttled, dropping from 128-bit to 64-bit, which reduces bandwidth from 288 to 144 GB/s. The amount of Infinity Cache is also cut in half, to 16 MB compared to 32 MB for the 8 GB version. All of these technical limitations largely explain the performance differences observed in games.

VideoCardz reports here on the test conducted by Hardware Unboxed, which ran 18 games—results that speak for themselves. At 1080p with low graphics settings, the Radeon RX 9050 4 GB averages 78 frames per second, compared to 107 fps for the 8 GB version. The latter thus has a 37% advantage across the entire test suite. The gap does not disappear when graphics quality is lowered further: at the lowest settings, the two cards achieve 111 and 147 fps, respectively—still a difference of about 32%. The difference is also evident in minimum performance; the well-known “1% low” is an important indicator for evaluating a game’s smoothness. Results range from 55 to 78 fps between the 4GB and 8GB versions in the 1080p Low test. In other words, the model with more memory doesn’t just post a higher average; it also manages to maintain a more consistent frame rate throughout all gaming sessions.

No, the Radeon RX 9050 4 GB is not a compelling graphics card. © Hardware Unboxed

This is an unusual situation because, as we’ve mentioned, the Radeon RX 9050 4 GB isn’t available directly from retailers. AMD has reserved it for its OEM partners, and the only way to get your hands on one is to buy a fully assembled machine—a ready-to-use PC, but one that’s also likely to be a letdown. Customers buying these types of machines aren’t the most tech-savvy, and they might easily be swayed by the name “Radeon RX 9050” alone, without paying attention to details related to the memory subsystem. One can imagine their disappointment, especially if they’re able to compare it with a friend or acquaintance who owns the Radeon RX 9050 8 GB. AMD is playing a nasty trick on potential buyers here.