This is an odd one as far as GPU rumors go: NVIDIA is reportedly preparing a confusingly-named “RTX 3050 A” laptop GPU that uses the silicon intended for its RTX 40 series GPUs, codenamed Ada Lovelace.
RTX 3050 A: (Almost) Same Name, Different Chip?
The RTX 3050 A is reportedly using AD106 silicon – in its full-fat configuration, it features 4,608 CUDA cores, which is nearly double the maximum core count offered by the original silicon that powers the RTX 3050 laptop chip (GA107, 2,560 CUDAs). One can safely assume the AD106 bound for this specialty RTX 3050 is going to be a heavily cut-down model with lots of defective cores.
Perhaps more interestingly, this information didn’t come from any leakers (even if they are reputable), but rather from NVIDIA drivers. The PCI-ID database shows references to the name “NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU”, while a separate discussion thread comes with a message of “3050 is no typo…” under the “AD106M” listing.
It’s worth noting that NVIDIA has used this kind of naming system before, with the RTX 2050. This SKU didn’t exist under the Turing generation; instead, it features a cut-down Ampere silicon originally intended for RTX 30 series. Since RTX 3050 already exists under the Ampere lineup, and NVIDIA seemingly doesn’t want the SKU number to go lower than xx50 (for whatever reason), it’s explainable that Team Green spins up a new (and confusing) name to make it fit into the existing lineup.
Source: Videocardz
Pokdepinion: What a weird name. Why not RTX 4040?
