NVIDIA Confirms new RTX 3050 A for notebooks with details technical specifications

Following recent leaks, NVIDIA has quietly unveiled the GeForce RTX 3050 A, a new version of its entry-level laptop GPU. This updated model features the Ada Lovelace architecture, also found in the more advanced GeForce RTX 4000 series. In a brief statement to NotebookCheck, NVIDIA outlined some specifications of this new solution, which, despite its more modern architecture, comes with significant reductions compared to the standard mobile RTX 3050.

Discussions about the RTX 3050 A began earlier this week when its name appeared in NVIDIA’s drivers registered in the PCI ID repository. While the codes provided limited details, they revealed the use of the AD106 chip (AD signifying Ada Lovelace architecture), contrasting with the GA107 of the original version (GA representing the Ampère architecture used in the RTX 3000 family).

This architectural shift is noteworthy, as the AD106 is typically found in the desktop RTX 4060 Ti and mobile RTX 4070. This places the RTX 3050 A in a category above even the RTX 4060 and RTX 4050, which use the simpler AD107. Generally, in NVIDIA’s GPU naming convention, a higher code number indicates a smaller, less feature-rich chip.

However, using the AD106 doesn’t necessarily translate to higher performance, as the chip’s configuration greatly influences its capabilities. According to the specifications NVIDIA provided to NotebookCheck, the RTX 3050 A appears to be a very basic and limited graphics solution, likely designed for professional task acceleration and less demanding games.

The RTX 3050 A will feature 1,792 CUDA cores, 4 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a 64-bit interface, and configurable power consumption between 35 W and 50 W. In comparison, the original RTX 3050 offers 2,048 CUDA cores, 4 GB of GDDR6 VRAM on a more comprehensive 128-bit interface, and configurable power consumption between 35 W and 115 W. Additionally, a more robust model of the original RTX 3050 with 6 GB of VRAM and 2,560 cores is also available.

Based on the available data, the RTX 3050 A has fewer cores, less power draw, and more limited memory, which should result in a significant performance decrease compared to its predecessor. To mitigate these losses, NVIDIA may have opted for higher frequencies and the newer architecture, along with access to DLSS 3 with frame generation. However, users shouldn’t expect this new GPU to run recent games smoothly.

We will have to wait for the launch of notebooks equipped with the new GPU to know its real capabilities, something that may take some time — so far. No manufacturer has announced the use of the 3050 A. More information should be released in the coming weeks.