Radeon RX 9050 4 GB OEM graphics card with significantly lower performance

In a comprehensive test suite consisting of 18 different games, all played at a resolution of 1080p with low settings, the 4-GB model showed significantly lower performance than the 8-GB version. The 4-GB card averaged 78 frames per second (FPS) with 1% lows of 55 FPS. In contrast, the 8-GB model averaged 107 FPS with 1% lows of 78 FPS, representing a performance advantage of about 37% for the model with more memory.

Even when using the lowest possible graphics settings, the difference remained clearly noticeable. The 8-GB model achieved 147 FPS compared to the 4-GB model’s 111 FPS, maintaining a lead of about 32%.

Specifications

The performance differences are attributable solely to the memory architecture, as both the 4-GB and 8-GB versions have identical core specifications. Both cards utilize 1,024 stream processors and feature a boost clock frequency of up to 2.6 GHz.

The main bottleneck in the 4-GB model is its reduced memory subsystem. The 4-GB variant is equipped with a 64-bit memory bus, resulting in a bandwidth of 144 GB/s and an Infinity Cache capacity of 16 MB. These figures are exactly half those of the 8-GB model, which severely limits the card’s ability to handle modern games—even though it has the same computing power as its larger counterpart.

The Radeon RX 9050 4 GB was developed specifically for a partner system aimed at entry-level users. There are currently no plans to release this version as a standalone product. The hardware can be found in the “CyberPowerPC Gamer Master” pre-built system, which is listed at Best Buy for $889.99. A visual inspection of the hardware reveals that the card is manufactured by XFX and features a dual-fan cooling system as well as a single 8-pin power connector. This suggests that multiple board partners are involved in the production of these OEM-specific units.