MSI GeForce RTX 3050 VENTUS 2X E 6G OC review

The MSI RTX 3050 VENTUS 2X E 6G OC is built around the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, with 2304 CUDA cores and a 1492 MHz boost clock. It carries 6GB of GDDR6 at 14 Gbps on a 96-bit bus. Board power is 70 W, and MSI recommends a 300 W power supply. With that power figure and a card weight of 381 g, it points at small builds and modest machines rather than demanding workloads. The sections below cover performance, memory, outputs, noise, size and warranty.

Tom's Hardware reports that the 6GB version runs about 20% slower than the 8GB RTX 3050. ComputerBase found a gap of about 20% as well, in preliminary tests. That matters because this is the cut-down version of the card. Owners reflect it: one recurring complaint is that performance feels weak. Judged on the 20% gap and the owner reports, it suits light gaming and general desktop duty better than anything heavy.

Owners say the VRAM is limiting on the 6GB version. The card has 6GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus, and that is the memory it has to work with. The 14 Gbps memory speed and 96-bit bus are the other memory figures MSI lists. Buyers who know their workloads need more than 6GB should weigh that against the card's small size and low power draw.

The card uses an NVIDIA GPU with 2304 CUDA cores. Outputs are one DisplayPort 1.4a and two HDMI, with HDMI supporting 4K at 120 Hz. The card can drive up to three displays, which suits a multi-monitor desk.

MSI rates the card at 70 W, and itc.ua measured 69-70 W under FurMark. Owners praise the low power consumption as suitable for compact builds.

Noise is where opinions split. Some owners praise quiet and cool operation, including the Zero Frozr fan-stop. Yet the minimum fan speed is 1400 rpm and the fans never switch off. Other owners complain about fans that are always spinning, with an aggressive fan curve and no passive mode. TechSpot found the fan at 2,000 RPM a bit loud, and clearly audible over case fans. With a 1400 rpm floor and no stop, a silent or near-silent build is the wrong use for this card.

The card measures 189 x 109 x 42 mm and weighs 381 g. Cooling comes from two 80 mm axial fans. Owners call the 70 W draw suitable for compact builds, so it makes sense to check the 189 mm length and 42 mm thickness against your case.

MSI gives a 3-year (36-month) warranty on new retail graphics cards. The cooler is a dual-fan design with 80 mm axial fans. Owner complaints about the fans concern their behaviour: always spinning, with an aggressive curve.

This card makes sense where size and power draw come first. That means a compact desktop, an older machine with a modest power supply, or a multi-display setup that needs three outputs. The 6GB of memory and the roughly 20% gap to the 8GB card are the trade-offs. Owners describe the 6GB of VRAM as limiting, so buyers who need more memory should weigh that.