AMD quietly launched its new entry-level RDNA 4 GPU, the Radeon RX 9050 8GB graphics card, in July, with a 92W cut-down version of the Navi 44 chip that powers the mainstream Radeon RX 9060 XT. According to AMD, the Radeon RX 9050 targets 1080p gaming at 'Medium' settings and has a $279 USD MSRP. However, AMD also launched an OEM-exclusive version of the Radeon RX 9050 with only 4GB of VRAM.
Sold exclusively in prebuilt systems, this version also cuts memory bandwidth in half, to 144 GB/s on a 64-bit interface. From a memory perspective, it feels like a GPU from the past and not something that makes a lot of sense in 2026. And based on reviews, it doesn't. After spending some considerable time trying to get their hands on one, which included purchasing a pre-built system with a Radeon RX 9050 4GB in it, the tech gurus at Hardware Unboxed put it through its paces to see what 4GB of noticeably slower memory meant for PC gaming.
The thumbnail sums it up: the outlet believes the Radeon RX 9050 4GB is essentially a scam, as across 18 games tested at 1080p, the Radeon RX 9050 8GB was, on average, 37% faster than the 4GB model. And with the memory limitation, it meant that games like Assassin's Creed Black Flag Resynced were unable to hit 60 FPS even when playing with 'Low' or 'Ultra Low' settings.
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Of course, for popular competitive titles like Fortnite, Counter-Strike 2, and Rainbow Six Siege, the card can easily deliver 100+ FPS on Medium or Low settings. Still, in several games, the Radeon RX 9050 8GB's 100+ FPS performance drops by 30-40% simply because of the memory configuration. It's enough to make the Radeon RX 9050 4GB feel like a different tier or class of card, with Hardware Unboxed saying one reason it's a "scam" is that AMD didn't name it the Radeon RX 9040.
