New leaks suggest Nvidia is planning mid-generation refreshes for its entry-level Blackwell GPUs, along with a potential return for the popular RTX 3060.
Nvidia is reportedly developing a second variant of its entry-level GeForce RTX 5050 graphics card with 9GB of VRAM, compared to the 8GB configuration on the original model. The company is also said to be working on a new GeForce RTX 5060 variant based on a partially disabled version of the GB205 GPU, the same chip architecture used in the GeForce RTX 5070.
Nvidia is reportedly developing an alternate version of the GeForce RTX 5050 that features 9GB of VRAM, slightly more than the 8GB found in the original configuration. In addition, the company is said to be preparing a new RTX 5060 model that uses a partially disabled GB205 GPU, the same architecture used in the RTX 5070.
Leaker MEGAsizeGPU says the updated Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 might switch to three 3GB GDDR7 memory chips running at 28Gbps instead of the slower 20Gbps GDDR6 memory used before. That would bring the card to 9GB of VRAM on a 96-bit interface, pushing memory bandwidth to around 336GB/s.
For reference, the current Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050 comes with 8GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, which provides about 320GB/s of bandwidth. The rumored version would mainly improve the memory setup. Aside from that, the rest of the specs are expected to stay the same, including the Nvidia GB207 Blackwell GPU with 2,560 CUDA cores, 80 Tensor cores, and a 130W power rating.
The rumored changes may not stop with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5050. Nvidia is also said to be exploring a different take on the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060, this time built around a cut-down Nvidia GB205 GPU instead of the smaller Nvidia GB206 GPU. According to industry rumors, these chips could come from GB205 dies that didn’t make the cut for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070.
The scaled-down version of the Nvidia GB205 GPU is rumored to pack about 3,840 CUDA cores and run on a 128-bit memory bus. That’s quite a bit less than the full chip inside the Nvidia GeForce RTX 5070, which carries 6,144 CUDA cores and a wider 192-bit interface. Power connectors may differ too, the RTX 5070 uses a 12V-2×6 plug, while the new Nvidia GeForce RTX 5060 variant is expected to stick with the familiar 8-pin connector.
Nvidia is reportedly transitioning the RTX 5060 lineup to the GB205 architecture because board partners are reserving the GB206 GPU for the higher-margin GeForce RTX 5060 Ti variant. Graphics card manufacturers are said to be designing new printed circuit boards for GB205-based RTX 5060 models that will continue using an 8-pin power connector.
Beyond the rumored refresh of the RTX 5000 series, Nvidia is also expected to restart production of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3060 as supply shortages continue to affect certain memory components. The updated cards could arrive before the end of the month, though it is still unclear whether the company will bring back the original 12GB model with a 192-bit memory interface or release a reduced 8GB version with a 128-bit bus.
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