GeForce GTX 1050 3GB review - Introduction

GeForce GTX 1050 3GB
A GeForce 1050 Ti in disguise?

Nvidia recently inserted a new entry-level SKU into the graphics arena, a GeForce GTX 1050 with 3GB graphics memory. In this review, we'll confirm if this product really is a GeForce GTX 1050, or a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 1GB less memory. If so, that might make these cards an interesting and attractive product to purchase as it has a little more oomph under that hood at a small budget price level.

We say budget minded as these cards are supposed to be very affordable and positioned in a 129~139 dollar (US) segment with a product as tested today costing closer towards €139,- here in the EU. A while ago we mentioned that there would be a new SKU released based on the Geforce GTX 1050, a 3GB version of the GeForce GTX 1050. The card is to fill the gap between the GTX 1050 with 2GB and the GTX 1050 Ti with 4GB.  Back then I already mentioned that it would be interesting to see how that would work out memory controller wise. Nvidia, shortly ago, posted the full specs. That 3GB version is a real thing, it, however, comes with a deficit in the memory controller, one chip less means it's 96-bit and that is a significant change especially since low-end entry-level graphics cards are always very memory deprived in bandwidth. It will also have an effect on the ROP count, going from 32 towards 24 ROPs. So you gain 1GB more memory but your memory bandwidth will drop by 25% One good thing, however, is that the shader proc count and base clock has been increased a bit over the 2GB model. This product is set at 768 shader processors (coming from 640 on the 2 GB 1050). And I can see you smile already, as yes, that means the card is based on a 1050 Ti. Is the new 3GB 1050 really a GeForce GTX 1050 Ti with 1GB cut away? Well yeah, we do think so. 

	GTX 1060 6 GB	GTX 1060 3 GB	GTX 1050 Ti	GTX 1050 3GB	GTX 1050	GTX 950
GPU	GP106-400	GP106-300	GP107-400	GP107-301	GP107-300	GM206-250/251
Shader processors	1280	1152	768	768	640	768
TMU's	80	72	48	48	40	48
ROP's	48	48	32	24	32	32
GPU freq	1,506 MHz	1,506 MHz	1,290 MHz	1,392 MHz	1,354 MHz	1,024 MHz
Boost freq	1,709 MHz	1,709 MHz	1,392 MHz	1,518 MHz	1,455 MHz	1,188 MHz
Mem freq	2,002 MHz	2,002 MHz	1,752 MHz	1,752 MHz	1,752 MHz	1,653 MHz
Mem size	6 GB GDDR5	3 GB GDDR5	4 GB GDDR5	3 GB GDDR5	2 GB GDDR5	2 GB GDDR5
mem bus	192-bit	192-bit	128-bit	96-bit	128-bit	128-bit
TDP	120W	120W	75W	75W	75W	90W/75W

With 768 shader processors, it means the GPU has six shader clusters aka active six streaming multi-processors x (2x64) 128 shader cores. The cards will be equipped with 3GB memory, that brings it down to that 96-bit memory controller. In this review, we are testing an MSI GeForce GTX 1050 3GB. Our particular model was not released just yet, ergo I do not even have a full official name for it just yet. Our card comes fitted with a dual-fan solution, which we'll gladly take off and show you the following.

  
 
GeForce GTX 1050 3GB series with the Nvidia GP107-A1 GPU.