Gainward GeForce RTX 5050 Pegasus OC specifications and in-depth review

Gainward GeForce RTX 5050 Pegasus OC

Manufacturer: Gainward

The Gainward GeForce RTX 5050 Pegasus OC is a mid-range graphics card based on NVIDIA's Blackwell architecture, manufactured on a 5 nm process with 16,900 million transistors. Built for systems where efficiency and compact integration matter, it ships with a 2617 MHz boost clock alongside a 2317 MHz base frequency, and delivers 13.4 TFLOPS of floating-point performance across its 2560 shading units.

On the memory side, the card carries 8GB of GDDR6 across a 128-bit memory bus, reaching an effective speed of 20,000 MHz and a maximum bandwidth of 320 GB/s. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, OpenCL 3, ray tracing, and DLSS, along with Intel Resizable BAR. Display output options include one HDMI 2.1b port and three DisplayPort connections for a total of four supported displays, while the card operates within a 130W thermal design power envelope at dimensions of 169.9 mm by 118 mm.

Pros
  • Supports ray tracing and DLSS, enabling advanced rendering features in compatible applications
  • ECC memory support adds a layer of data integrity for error-sensitive workloads
  • Four simultaneous display outputs via one HDMI 2.1b port and three DisplayPort connections offer flexible multi-monitor setups
  • Intel Resizable BAR support allows the processor to access the full GPU frame buffer, which can benefit overall throughput
  • The compact 169.9 mm x 118 mm footprint makes it suitable for smaller chassis builds
  • Double Precision Floating Point (DPFP) support extends usability to compute workloads beyond standard graphics tasks
Cons
  • The 128-bit memory bus width limits memory bandwidth scalability compared to wider bus configurations
  • No USB-C display output is available, restricting connectivity options for displays or devices that rely on that interface
  • Air cooling only — no water-cooling support is included, which may be a limitation in thermally constrained or high-ambient environments
  • No RGB lighting for users who prioritize visual customization in their builds
  • 8GB of VRAM may prove restrictive for memory-intensive workloads at higher resolutions
Who is this for?

This card is a reasonable fit for users building compact desktop systems who need a capable GPU without a large physical footprint, given its 169.9 mm x 118 mm dimensions and 130W TDP. It suits those working with multi-monitor setups of up to four displays, whether for productivity or light creative work, thanks to its HDMI 2.1b and three DisplayPort outputs. Users with an interest in compute workloads requiring ECC memory and DPFP support will also find the card accommodating, as these features extend its usefulness beyond purely graphical tasks. DLSS and ray tracing support additionally make it viable for gaming scenarios where these technologies are relevant.

Who is this NOT for?

Users targeting high-resolution or memory-intensive workloads — such as large-scale 3D rendering, video editing with heavy asset loads, or AI inference with sizable models — may find the 8GB VRAM and 128-bit memory bus limiting over time. The card is also not well-suited for those requiring USB-C display connectivity, as no such output is available. Additionally, system builders working in thermally constrained or high-ambient-temperature environments should note that the card offers air cooling only, with no water-cooling support, which may restrict sustained performance headroom in demanding conditions.

Performance:

GPU clock speed 2317 MHz
GPU turbo 2617 MHz
pixel rate 83.74 GPixel/s
floating-point performance 13.4 TFLOPS
texture rate 209.4 GTexels/s
GPU memory speed 2500 MHz
shading units 2560
texture mapping units (TMUs) 80
render output units (ROPs) 32
Has Double Precision Floating Point (DPFP)

The Performance section of this card centers on a base GPU clock of 2317 MHz that climbs to a boost frequency of 2617 MHz, feeding into a floating-point throughput of 13.4 TFLOPS. Its 2560 shading units work alongside 80 texture mapping units and 32 render output units, producing a texture rate of 209.4 GTexels/s and a pixel rate of 83.74 GPixel/s. The GPU memory operates at 2500 MHz, and the card includes support for Double Precision Floating Point (DPFP), broadening its suitability beyond purely graphics-oriented workloads.

Memory:

effective memory speed 20000 MHz
maximum memory bandwidth 320 GB/s
VRAM 8GB
GDDR version GDDR6
memory bus width 128-bit
Supports ECC memory

This card is equipped with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM running across a 128-bit memory bus, reaching an effective memory speed of 20,000 MHz and delivering a maximum bandwidth of 320 GB/s. ECC memory support is included, which helps maintain data integrity in workloads sensitive to memory errors.

Features:

DirectX version DirectX 12 Ultimate
OpenGL version 4.6
OpenCL version 3
Supports multi-display technology
supports ray tracing
Supports 3D
supports DLSS
has XeSS (XMX)
AMD SAM / Intel Resizable BAR Intel Resizable BAR
has LHR
has RGB lighting
supported displays 4

The card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and OpenCL 3, covering a broad range of graphics and compute workloads. Ray tracing and DLSS are both supported, alongside stereoscopic 3D and multi-display technology spanning up to four displays simultaneously. Intel Resizable BAR is included to help the processor access GPU memory more efficiently, while XeSS (XMX), LHR, and RGB lighting are not present on this model.

Ports:

has an HDMI output
HDMI ports 1
HDMI version HDMI 2.1b
DisplayPort outputs 3
USB-C ports 0
DVI outputs 0
mini DisplayPort outputs 0

The card's output configuration consists of one HDMI 2.1b port and three DisplayPort outputs, providing a total of four display connections. There are no USB-C, DVI, or mini DisplayPort outputs on this model.

General info:

GPU architecture Blackwell
Thermal Design Power (TDP) 130W
PCI Express (PCIe) version 5
semiconductor size 5 nm
number of transistors 16900 million
Has air-water cooling
width 169.9 mm
height 118 mm

Built on the Blackwell architecture and fabricated using a 5 nm process, this card integrates 16,900 million transistors and connects via a PCIe 5 interface. It operates within a 130W TDP and relies solely on air cooling, with no water-cooling support. The card measures 169.9 mm in width and 118 mm in height, keeping its physical footprint relatively compact.

Final Verdict

The Gainward GeForce RTX 5050 Pegasus OC occupies a clear niche as a compact, moderately capable graphics card built on the Blackwell architecture. Its combination of DLSS, ray tracing, ECC memory support, and DPFP capability gives it a broader functional range than a purely gaming-focused card, making it a reasonable choice for users who need versatility within a restrained power envelope. That said, its 8GB GDDR6 frame buffer across a 128-bit bus sets a practical ceiling on how demanding a workload it can comfortably handle, and the absence of USB-C output or water-cooling support narrows its appeal in certain build scenarios. For users prioritizing a small form factor, multi-display flexibility, and a manageable 130W TDP without sacrificing modern feature support, this card represents a focused and coherent option — provided the workload stays within the boundaries its memory configuration allows.