Leaks Point to Return of 4GB GPUs as AI Flash Memory Crisis Worsens - Digital Foundry

Leaked information suggests AMD is preparing a Radeon RX 9050 graphics card that would be the first modern GPU to ship with just 4GB of VRAM, harking back to budget cards from four years ago.
The leak originated from ASRock, which listed a RX 9050 Challenger card on its website in both 4GB and 8GB versions, with placeholder text for the 4GB model, though AMD has since confirmed an 8GB model with frame-rate figures.
The reported news follows Valve's warning that the AI-driven PC component shortage is "still getting worse," with rising demand for flash and memory rippling through the hardware industry.
Specifications point to the RX 9050 using a cut-down Navi 44 die with 16 compute units, a 2600MHz max boost, GDDR6 memory, a 64-bit or 128-bit interface, and around 100W of board power via a single eight-pin connector.
The 4GB variant could use only two memory chips, limiting it to a 64-bit bus and further constraining performance, whereas four 1GB chips would enable a 128-bit bus.
The last new 4GB cards, including the Intel Arc A310, Nvidia GTX 1630, and AMD's RX 6400 and 6500 XT, sold for $99 to $199, with expectations the 9050 will land at the higher end despite its limited memory for 1080p or lower gaming.