The prices for RAM are currently exploding worldwide. AMD is responding with a new entry-level graphics card that hasn’t been seen in this form for years.
What kind of graphics card is this? AMD has introduced the Radeon RX 9050, a new entry-level graphics card, in two versions. The 8GB variant is set to be available for purchase soon at a normal price of 279 USD (approx. 242 Euro) according to IGN. However, the 4GB version is not available for individual purchase, as it is reserved for complete PC manufacturers, according to tomshardware.com, and will only be found in budget pre-built PCs, such as a currently listed model from CyberpowerPC for around 889 USD (approx. 771 Euro).
Both versions use the same GPU with 1,024 shader units across 16 compute units. For comparison: the RX 9060 XT has 32 of these, while the APU of the Steam Machine has 28.
The 4GB card additionally has a narrower memory interface and thus less bandwidth; savings are made not only on RAM but also on speed. Realistically, this is sufficient for current games at 1080p on medium settings, but you shouldn’t expect much more from such a card.
Between budget constraints and entry-level opportunities
Why is the card coming out now? The reason lies in the current memory crisis. RAM prices have exploded over the last year, significantly raising the cost of anything that uses memory, including graphics cards, which had already become significantly more expensive during the crypto boom.
A card with less memory can now be offered at a correspondingly lower price than one with more.
This can be viewed critically; a 4GB graphics card seems like a step backwards at first glance in 2026. On the other hand, AMD is not responsible for the exploded memory prices, and chip manufacturers are just as affected as everyone else.
Especially for casual gamers who just want to play current titles without needing the highest quality visuals, a new, reasonably priced card is often a better alternative to an overpriced second-hand market that has also seen prices skyrocket due to the memory crisis.
Why is RAM currently so expensive? The main driver is the AI boom. Memory manufacturers prefer to sell their capacities to operators of AI data centers, where significantly more can currently be earned than in the traditional customer market, which includes your graphics cards. As a result, there is less available for the regular PC and console market, and what is left is more expensive.
No improvement is in sight for the time being. It is not only the PC market that is affected; the Xbox Series X is already getting its second price increase in less than a year due to the AI demand for memory, and Xbox head Asha Sharma expects things to get even worse.
What do you think about the idea of bringing entry-level graphics cards to the market? Is that a good idea, or do you think the limited capacities should be bundled for stronger cards instead? Feel free to let us know in the comments! Just recently, Valve explained how dire the situation is regarding RAM: Valve reveals how bad the situation really is regarding RAM, sounds like a RAM mafia
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