NVIDIA's Bold Move: GeForce RTX 5050 to Feature Unusual 9GB GDDR7 Memory Amid Chip Shortage

The chip shortage continues and leads to unexpected solutions from component manufacturers, including graphics cards, besides significant price increases.

What is known

According to insider MEGAsizeGPU, NVIDIA is working on an updated version of the GeForce RTX 5050 graphics card, which will feature an unusual video memory configuration—9 GB of GDDR7. This makes the model the only one in the RTX 50 lineup with such a volume and type of memory.

According to the leak, NVIDIA plans to replace the current configuration of four 2 GB GDDR6 modules with three 3 GB GDDR7 modules.

Due to the reduction in the number of chips, the bus width will decrease from 128 to 96 bits, but the transition to GDDR7 will compensate for this with increased bandwidth—from 20 to 28 Gbps.

Sources suggest that the reason for this decision is a memory shortage and the company's desire to optimally use available GDDR7 modules.

The 9 GB configuration looks unconventional but allows NVIDIA to keep the cost of the lower-end model in the series low, despite not releasing any new consumer models in 2026.

In addition to the RTX 5050, NVIDIA is rumored to be preparing an updated version of the GeForce RTX 5060 as well. It is reported to potentially use the GB205 GPU, used in the RTX 5070, but in a reduced version:

• the number of CUDA cores will be reduced from 6144 to 3840,
• and the bus width from 192 to 128 bits.

This could be a model aimed at specific markets where NVIDIA traditionally releases non-standard versions of graphics cards.

Source: VideoCardz