Budget-minded PC builders, lend me your ears – word on the street is Nvidia may scrap the existing RTX 3050 graphics card for a cheaper 6GB model come January 2024. Ostensibly a cost-cutting measure, this VRAM downgrade could also hint at incoming RTX 4000 replacements to rule the lower price brackets.
Rumors thus far, backed by Chinese site Benchlife, claim this hypothetical RTX 3050 6GB would shave 10-15% off the current 8GB version’s price. We’re talking ballpark $180 rather than around $200 stateside. Plus potential CUDA core and power draw limits to maximize profit margins further still.
On paper, a bit less visual grunt for nearly 20% cost savings feels like a smart concession for the cash-conscious. Then again, uncertainty clouds exactly how much real-world performance takes a hit – a wait-and-see approach feels wise once hard specs emerge.
But Nvidia didn’t get this far lacking business savvy. Why undermine an existing product unless new arrivals pressure the price spectrum elsewhere? Benchlife suggests the 3050 6GB shuffle may “meet consumers in different price ranges” beyond this rare discount.
Read between the lines, and that smells strongly like an incoming RTX 4050 successor to restore performance equilibrium. With the RTX 4060 already confirmed at $300+, a new entry-level 4000 card feels inevitable to compete with AMD’s rumored 7600 XT around $200.
If so, budget hunters could find better value skipping the speculative 3050 6GB for team green’s next-gen offerings later this year. Either way, clear skies seem ahead for affordable 1080p and 1440p gaming into 2024. Stay tuned as the situation evolves!
