GTX 1050 vs 1050 Ti

When it comes to choosing a graphics card, there are so many different options available to purchase. Often it can be difficult to narrow down your choices.

To help with your decision, we have compared two of Nvidia’s popular and more affordable graphics cards. The 1050 (3GB) and the 1050 ti. These are both great if you are looking to build your first PC and want to purchase a good quality GPU on a budget.

We have compared the specifications of both GPUs to find out which would be the better option. We have looked at specifications such as architecture, VRAM, and cooling systems. In addition to this, we have carried out benchmarking for fps to see how well these GPUs performed in-game when put to the test.

Nvidia Background

When you are looking to purchase a graphics card, there are many companies that you can choose from. Nvidia is certainly one of the best. While they may be a new entry into the gaming industry they have had success after success.

Nvidia produces some of the best graphics cards available to purchase. When looking at their higher-end GPUs, even the likes of AMD cannot fully complete.
When looking at Nvidia as a company, they are a fairly new entry to the gaming world in comparison to other more established companies such as AMD.

If your motherboard is compatible with Nvidia GPUs, it is not a case of whether you should purchase one, it is which one you should purchase.

Architecture

When it comes to GPUs, the architecture is key and controls your overall graphics will be. Architecture is integral to successful gaming performance.

Both the 1050 and the 1050 ti use the same type of architecture. This architecture is specific to Nvidia GPUs and it is called Nvidia Pascal.

Nvidia Pascal remains some of the most advanced gaming architecture available. While Nvidia Turing does take the top spot, the Nvidia Pascal is still impressive. When looking at the overall performance and efficiency, both are far better than previous Nvidia graphics cards. When this architecture was released it was innovative and at the top of its game.

It features DirectX 12 support which is essential for gaming and ultra-fast FinFET. The bandwidth is good, and it also can support next-gen VR. It can support next-generation displays which is important for futureproofing, and the Nvidia GameWorks provides smooth gameplay.

Here are the engine specs for the 1050 and the 1050 ti:

1050

• Cores – 768
• Boost Clock – 1518MHz
• Base Clock – 1392Hz

1050 ti:

• Cores – 768
• Boost Clock – 1392MHz
• Base Clock – 1290MHz

When looking at the raw engine specs, the 1050 is surprisingly better. However, many different aspects need to be considered before deciding on the better GPU overall.

Cooling

While the majority of GPUs are equipped with their cooling systems, if your GPU is nearing the max temperature, additional cooling may be required.

The 1050 and the 1050 ti have reasonably good cooling systems and both take advantage of the IceStorm thermal regulation. They have a good heatsink, and the heat pipes help to remove any excess heat generated from the core.

They use triple EKO fans that are dual-blade and run quietly. The EKO fan provides a 30% better heat dissipation, which is impressive.

Here are the 1050 and the 1050 ti’s temperature specifications for both the 1050 and the 1050 ti:

• Maximum GPU Temperature – 97℃
• Graphics Card Power – 75W
• Recommended Power System – 300W

There is no difference in the temperatures of each. Given this, it makes little thermal difference which one you choose.

Dimensions

When choosing a GPU, the dimensions are something that you should not overlook. While graphics cards do not vary significantly in size, there may be one that will fit your build slightly better than another.

The dimensions of these graphics cards are:

Height: 4.38”
Length: 5.7”
Width: 2-slot

As both have the same dimensions, the sizing will not affect your build.

The bus support for these GPUs is PCIe 3.0. While this is still a popular interface, PCIe 4.0 is now available. Given this, PCIe 3.0 is only likely to be future-proof for the next few years as it is being slowly replaced by PCIe 4.0.

Resolution/FPS

The resolution and fps of a GPU are the most important specs you will need to take into consideration. The resolution for both is 7680 x 4320 @ 60Hz, which is at a maximum 8K Ultra UHD.

This resolution is more than sufficient for the standard 1080p gameplay. You will also be able to game at 4K with little to no issues, which is great for futureproofing.

Let’s take a look at the fps for each GPU. The benchmarking that we carried out, but these models to the test to find out which provides the better gameplay overall.

First, we tested both GPUs with Battlefield 1. The 1050 had an average of 47fps, and the 1050 ti performed slightly better at 56fps. This is only a 9% difference, which is minimal.

For Far Cry 5, the 1050 ti performed slightly better again. It had 48fps, in comparison to the 1050s 41fps. Again while the 1050 ti is better overall, it was only 15% quicker.

While the 1050 ti did perform better when benchmarked overall. The differences were minimal. Even with Far Cry 5, the difference is unlikely to be noticeable for the majority of gamers.

Ray tracing?

Ray tracing is a fantastic addition to newer high-end graphics cards. It helps to improve the variable ray shading in-game which can significantly improve gameplay.

As these GPUs are older models and are more affordable, they do not feature ray tracing. However, the overall lighting in-game that these graphics cards provide is still reasonably good, especially when you take into consideration their price tag.

If you play many AAA games, it is worth considering a more expensive GPU that does have ray tracing capabilities as you will likely notice the difference while playing games. However, it is not essential and you can still play AAA games without ray tracing capabilities.

VRAM

Before deciding on a GPU, VRAM is important to consider. The VRAM stores the frame buffer, which is important for gaming. To run games with no issues, you will need a reasonable amount of VRAM at the least.

Ideally, to game with no issues at 1080p you should have a minimum of 4GB of VRAM. While you can still play games with less VRAM than this, newer next-gen games may not run as well.

The memory configuration of these two GPUs is what sets them apart from each other. The 1050 has a 3GB GDDR5. As you can see, this amount of VRAM is not fantastic. While it will run older games with no issues, it is not going to future proof for much longer and is likely going to affect gameplay slightly.

The 1050 ti has a memory configuration of 4GB GDDR5. This GPU will run games significantly better in comparison to the 1050. When looking at the GDDR5, this is slightly outdated as GDDR6 is now available.

Finally, let’s take a look at the memory speed. Both graphics cards use 7 Gbps. While this is not the best specification, it is sufficient and great for a lower-end graphics card.

Conclusion

To conclude, the 1050 ti is the better graphics card overall and is the more futureproof of the two. The increased VRAM will make a difference to your gameplay, and overall, the 1050 ti provided a better performance when benchmarked.

However, these GPUs were not overly different when it came to performance. Given that these graphics cards were released a few years ago, they are not the most future proof. However, they are great options if you are looking for a reliable GPU on a budget.

While the 1050 ti is the better GPU overall it is more expensive. However, it is worth purchasing over the 1050 as it is the more superior and newer model.