Key Points
- The NVIDIA GTX 1050 is a cost-effective graphics card that allows eSports gamers to enjoy their favorite games in Full HD.
- The GTX 1050 uses the Pascal architecture with a GP107 chip, manufactured in a 14nm process at Samsung.
- The GPU is an excellent choice for gaming on a budget, but a 4GB GTX 1050 Ti would perform better with more intensive games.
If you are looking for a cost-effective graphics card, chances are high that you are considering purchasing NVIDIA GTX 1050. The GTX 1050 is known for its ability to allow eSports gamers to enjoy their favorite games in Full HD. But the card is not only for eSports! It can also play most of the latest games in Full HD, including Civilization VI and Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
As a mainstream GPU, the NVIDIA GTX 1050 uses the Pascal architecture with a GP107 chip, manufactured in a 14nm process at Samsung.
We can easily go on and on and mention the great features of this GPU — but not so fast! It’s important to learn the crucial information about this GPU to guide your decision-making. Let’s break down everything you need to know.
NVIDIA GTX 1050 Overview
NVIDIA announced the anticipated launch of NVIDIA GTX 1050 in October 2016, after a break of a couple of months that allowed the Pascal launch schedule. The NVIDIA GTX 1050 was launched in January 2017 as a mainstream GPU featuring the Pascal Architecture.
NVIDIA created the GTX 1050 series for the entry-level video card market to round up the GeForce lineup. You might be wondering why NVIDIA went for entry-level video cards. Well, of all video cards in NVIDIA’s product lineup, the entry-level cards were most due for a refresh.
The GTX 1050 followed the GTX 750 series, a success for NVIDIA. The 1050 series emulates quite several beats from its predecessor. The GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti are faster.
The two cards feature configurations that draw power from the PCle bus for maximum compatibility. So, you won’t need an external power connection when using either of the cards. As entry-level GPUs, the NVIDIA GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti are not ideal for a horde of NVIDIA’s enthusiastic PC gamers.
These cards lack the power to run 1080p games with bells and whistles turned on. All the GTX 1050 cards feature vendor-custom designs; the best part is that this series has no dedicated mobile variants.
The NVIDIA GTX 1050 is a mid-range graphics card based on GP 107 graphics processor. The GP 107-300A1 variant supports DirectX 12, ensuring modern games run on the GTX 1050.
- Affordable GPU with impressive performance
- Suitable for gaming at 1080p
- Power-efficient model
- Support for the latest DirectX 12
- 2GB GDDR5 memory capacity
NVIDIA GTX 1050 Specifications
Let’s start with the GTX 1050 Ti. The GPU is fully based on GP107 and is arguably an anchor to NVIDIA’s entry-level GPUs. The GPU is six SMs-enabled with 4GB of GDDR5 memory. It is a power-limited and budget card with a power consumption starting from 75W.
The GTX 1050 is a smaller and cheaper sibling than the GTX 1050 Ti. It is also based on GP107 GPU but drops to 2GB memory. So, the GTX 1050 leaves gamers with a five SM (640 CUDA core) paired with GDDR5 2GB memory at a speed of 7 Gbps.
The GTX 1050 has several features, including HDMI 2.0b, support for DisplayPort 1.4, Simultaneous Multi-Projection (SMP), HDR, and improved H.265 video de and encoding (PlayReady 3.0). The NVIDIA GTX 1050 is compact, making it easy to install in small-factor PCs or HTPC builds.
The GTX 1050 can be as fast as your desktop. It can run games from 2016 in Full HD resolution and high settings.
When it comes to power consumption, the GPU is almost at par with the old NVIDIA GTX 960 M, which requires 40-50 Watts. The GTX 1050’s power consumption is slightly lower than its desktop counterpart, making it ideal for powerful multimedia and entry-level gaming with 15.4 inches.
Problems with the GTX 1050
It is only fair to decide based on the good and bad of the GTX 1050. Like any other GPU, the GTX 1050 has reported several issues that play a significant role in guiding your buying journey.
One user reported a significant drop in performance when Windows installed a new NVIDIA driver update. Rolling back to the previous driver resolved the problem.
Another major issue with the NVIDIA 1050 is the stuttering problem on almost all games, even with updates. While it might not seem like a big problem, it is annoying. In the Mirror’s Edge Catalyst game, the stuttering problem occurs when characters approach the 90 degrees rotating thing.In GTA V, you are likely to experience stuttering when driving faster, while in Minecraft, it could happen when you minimize the game for too long.
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NVIDIA GTX 1050 Pros and Cons
Pros
- Superior performance
- If idle, the fans turn off to save power
- Affordable
- Handles your games in Full HD
- Does not require additional power connectors, making it perfect for upgrades
Cons
- With only 2GB memory, the NVIDIA GTX 1050 is not future-proof
- Its DVI output no longer has analog VGA signals
- You may be forced to drop some games to their medium settings
- Affordable GPU with impressive performance
- Suitable for gaming at 1080p
- Power-efficient model
- Support for the latest DirectX 12
- 2GB GDDR5 memory capacity
Is the NVIDIA GTX 1050 Still Worth it?
The best thing about the NVIDIA GTX 1050 is that it is a perfect companion for budget gaming laptops. Even on higher settings, the GPU approaches or exceeds 60 FPS on games like Dirt Rally and Gears of War 4. The GPU can do much more, but more profoundly, it is best suited for eSports titles.
With the GTX 1050, you can play your favorite games on Ultrabook at high frame rates. The GPU is an excellent choice if gaming is your focus, but a 4GB GTX 1050 Ti would do a better job with more intensive games like Gears of War 4.
Buy it if…
You are looking for something budget-friendly, low power consumption, and compact size.
The GPU will cost you around $199.99 and is an excellent companion for playing fun games like League of Legends, Rocket League, Dota 2GO, and all games that are playable on low-end hardware.
Do Not Buy it if…
You want to play a game with a higher resolution of 1080p.
We recommend looking elsewhere if you plan to go above 1080p. GTX 1070 is an ideal GPU for 1440p, but if you want to hit 4K, you need to step up again to GTX 1080 or GTX 1080 Ti.
You prefer playing games and streaming at the same time
If you are a streamer and gamer, you may be predominantly restricted to only streaming and not streaming and gaming at ago. It is best to save up more to get something powerful.
Final Words
The NVIDIA GTX 1050 is one of the few graphics cards that give eSports gamers value for their money. The GPU puts the Pascal Architecture to good use and shouldn’t require you to upgrade your power supply.
Summary Table
| Feature | NVIDIA GTX 1050 |
|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal |
| Launch Date | January 2017 |
| Memory | 2GB GDDR5 |
| Power Consumption | 75W |
| Pros | Cost-effective, good for eSports, compact size |
| Cons | Driver issues, stuttering in some games, not ideal for above 1080p |
| Price | $199.99 |
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