Introduction
Back in 2016, NVIDIA released two small but powerful graphics cards, the GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti.
They were built for gamers who didn’t want to spend alot but still wanted to play modern games smoothly.
Even though many years have passed, these two GPUs are still very popular in the used market.
People often ask: “Which one is better for gaming today?” or “Can they still handle new games in 2025?”
In this article, we’ll go over everything like their specs, gaming performance, power use, temperatures, and price. By the end, you’ll know exactly which one fits your setup and budget better.
If you’re new to PC hardware, you can start with our beginner guide on what a GPU actually is.
GTX 1050 vs GTX 1050 Ti Specifications
| Feature | GTX 1050 | GTX 1050 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal (GP107) | Pascal (GP107) |
| CUDA Cores | 640 | 768 |
| Base Clock | 1354 MHz | 1290 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1455 MHz | 1392 MHz |
| VRAM | 2GB GDDR5 | 4GB GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| TDP | 75W | 75W |
| Power Connector | Not Required | Not Required |
| Release Year | 2016 | 2016 |
Price and Availability in 2025
When the GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti first came out back in 2016, they were designed as budget-friendly gaming cards.
- The GTX 1050 launched at an MSRP of $109 USD
- The GTX 1050 Ti launched at an MSRP of $139 USD
At that time, they were great options for gamers who wanted solid 1080p performance without spending much.
Prices in 2025
Today, in 2025, both cards are long discontinued, so you’ll only find them in the used market.
Here’s what you can usually expect:
- GTX 1050 (2GB): around $50–$70 USD
- GTX 1050 Ti (4GB): around $70–$100 USD
The prices depend on condition, brand, and cooling design. Avoid listings that look too cheap some might be mining cards or heavily used.
Launch History and Market Position
The GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti came out in 2016 as budget GPUs from NVIDIA.
They were made for gamers who wanted smooth 1080p gaming without spending much.
The GTX 1050 had 2GB of VRAM, while the GTX 1050 Ti came with 4GB, giving it a small performance boost.
At launch, they were priced around $109 and $139, which made both great value cards for low-end builds.
Even today, they’re still popular in the used GPU market because they’re cheap, power efficient, and easy to run on basic PCs.
Architecture Breakdown — The Pascal Foundation
Both the GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti are built on NVIDIA’s Pascal architecture, the same technology used in cards like the GTX 1060 and 1070.
Pascal was a big improvement when it launched.
It was designed to give more gaming performance while using less power, which was a huge deal back then.
This design made GPUs more efficient, they didn’t need large coolers or extra power cables to run smoothly.
Because of this, the GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti still perform well even today.
They stay cool, quiet, and stable, even after years of use.
That’s one reason these cards have aged better than many other budget GPUs from the same time.
The same Pascal architecture also powered higher-end beasts like the GTX 1080 and 1080 Ti, which pushed the limits of gaming performance at the time.
Test Setup
To test the GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti, we used a modern mid-range gaming PC.
This helps both cards show their best performance without any bottlenecks.
Test System:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-12400F
- Motherboard: B660 chipset
- RAM: 16GB DDR4 (3200MHz)
- Storage: 512GB SSD
- Power Supply: 550W Bronze
- Driver: Latest NVIDIA Game Ready Drivers
Testing Method:
- All games were tested at 1080p resolution with medium to high settings, depending on the game.
- MSI Afterburner was used to record average FPS, 1% lows, and temperatures.
- Each test ran for about 5 minutes in the same scene or map for fair results.
This setup makes sure both GPUs are tested equally, giving a clear look at how they perform in real games.
Gaming Benchmarks
Power Efficiency and Thermals
When it comes to power efficiency, both the GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti are excellent examples of how well NVIDIA’s Pascal architecture was optimized. Neither card requires an external power connector, pulling just 75 watts directly from the PCIe slot. That makes them perfect for older or budget systems with basic power supplies.
Thermals are equally solid under heavy gaming loads, both GPUs usually stay between 60°C to 68°C, depending on the cooler design and case airflow. Even after hours of gameplay, you won’t hear jet-engine fans screaming; most models stay quiet and stable, often below 35 dB.
In short:
- Both cards sip power.
- They stay cool even under long sessions.
- You can game comfortably without worrying about heat or fan noise.
You can also read our GPU Temperature Guide to learn what’s considered safe for gaming and long-term use.
Driver and Software Support
Many people still ask in 2025:
Do the GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti still get driver updates?
The answer is yes, but only basic ones now.
NVIDIA has moved these cards to “legacy support.”
That means:
- You’ll still get security updates (so your PC stays safe).
- You’ll get stability fixes for older games.
- But you won’t get new “Game Ready” drivers for the latest titles.
Beyond gaming, GPUs like the GTX 1050 are also used in creative workloads, we covered this in our article on GPU uses in multimedia.
What We Think…
After testing, comparing benchmarks, and looking at prices in 2025, here’s the bottom line.
The GTX 1050 and 1050 Ti were great budget cards for their time, but today, they’re only worth buying if you’re on a tight budget or building a simple 1080p gaming PC.
They’ll still handle eSports titles and older games fine, but you’ll struggle in new, demanding ones.
If you find a GTX 1050 Ti for under $80, it’s not a bad pickup, just don’t expect miracles. For better long-term performance, look for a GTX 1650 or RX 6400.
Those cards run cooler, support newer features, and give you a smoother experience overall.
In short:
- Yes, they still work.
- But no, they’re not a smart investment unless you’re extremely limited on budget.
The GTX 1050 series had a good run, but in 2025, it’s time to move on.
On the opposite end of the spectrum, you can check our RTX 4090 Review to see how far NVIDIA has come from the GTX 1050 days.
YouTube Review
To give you a real-world look at how these two GPUs perform, here’s a benchmark test from SK Benchmark, comparing the GTX 1050 and GTX 1050 Ti across 15 popular games. It’s a great visual reference to see just how much performance difference there really is between the two cards in 2025.
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