GTX 1050 (2GB) vs. RX 460 (4GB), what would you choose if you had to make a choice?

[cbn]

Both these cards are about $100 (After rebate) on sale...... so which card what would you choose if you had to make a choice?

P.S. Keep in mind the question is "if you had to make a choice" (I know a card like the MSI RX 470 4GB for $139.99 AR FS (with free Hitman game) has a much better performance per dollar)

 

[cbn]

Here are some sale prices:

PowerColor Red Dragon RX460 4GB $97 AR AP FS ---> https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814131698&ignorebbr=1

ASUS ROG STRIX RX 460 4GB $104.99 AR FS---> https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814126126

MSI GTX 1050 2GB $99.99 AR FS ---> https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137057&ignorebbr=1

 

[cbn]

Here is a performance summary from Techpowerup with the GTX 1050 2GB leading over the RX460 4GB:

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1050_Gaming_X/27.html

However, I do wonder about stuttering in current high VRAM games like Deus EX Mankind Divided (and future high VRAM games) as well as DX12 performance differences? On the other hand, Nvidia's drivers are supposed to work better with lesser CPUs in DX11 games due to the multi-threading.

 

[tviceman]

If this is for 1080p, I'd probably say to get the 4gb card. Even if you have to reduce graphics settings, the last setting you want to turn down is texture quality and that setting is directly related to how much vram you have. If it's 720p, then I'd say get the faster of the two

EDIT: After seeing this post, https://forums.anandtech.com/thread...to-make-a-choice.2497367/page-2#post-38690732 , it looks like Nvidia has voodoo (RIP 3dFX) like magic when working with 2gb on their GTX 1050. If this truly is the case across the board, then at the same price I have no qualms with recommending the 1050 2gb over the RX 460 4gb.

 

[frozentundra123456]

I voted 1050 because the only reason I see to buy one of these cards is for the lower power usage and lack of a need for a six pin connector, which I believe most 460s require and the 1050 doesnt. (Obligatory "dont buy a 2gb card" and "power use doesnt matter" diatribes incoming.)

 

[cbn]

I voted 1050 because the only reason I see to buy one of these cards is for the lower power usage and lack of a need for a six pin connector, which I believe most 460s require and the 1050 doesnt. (Obligatory "dont buy a 2gb card" and "power use doesnt matter" diatribes incoming.)

Actually the RX460 doesn't need a 6 pin power connector (see first RX460 in post #2)......though some cards do have it (see second RX460 I linked in post #2).

Same goes for the GTX 1050 Ti (and probably the GTX 1050)...some cards don't have 6 pin power connector and some do.

With that mentioned, I am surprised we have yet to see a low profile RX460....to me that would make a lot of sense for card that doesn't need 6 pin.

 

[IllogicalGlory]

Personally, I wouldn't like to buy either of them. I dislike the 460 for its poor performance and power consumption, but on the other hand, 2GB?

I'd much rather have a 1050 Ti or even better, a 470. 470 is a beauty.

Still my pick would probably be a 460, but I don't think I'd be very enthusiastic about it. It's close to a coin toss. They're both bad choices. Only worth buying if your CPU can't handle better or you simply can't afford something else.

 

[whm1974]

Personally, I wouldn't like to buy either of them. I dislike the 460 for its poor performance and power consumption, but on the other hand, 2GB?

I'd much rather have a 1050 Ti or even better, a 470. 470 is a beauty.

Still my pick would probably be a 460, but I don't think I'd be very enthusiastic about it. It's close to a coin toss. They're both bad choices. Only worth buying if your CPU can't handle better or you simply can't afford something else.

Agreed. At best the these cards are suitable for older systems that are still very usable but are old enough to not want to spend too much money on.

 

[daxzy]

There should be a third option called "Neither".

For $40 lower, a RX 460 2GB can be had for as low as $60 AR. And for $40 more, you can buy a RX 470 4GB for $140 AR. Those options offer way more perf/$.

 

[Bacon1]

Completely depends on the game(s) to be played. Some are memory intensive (460 pref) some are compute heavy (1050 much faster) as well as the price. Without more info (also do they have freesync monitor? That would help a ton for low end card) its very hard to recommend either as both have big downsides and are terrible price/perf. If you find one on a huge sale maybe, but buying an older gen card (if price not power limited) is better way to go.

 

[happy medium]

Are these gpu's fast enough to use 4gb? 97% of the time ,No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz5qH2vuOqs

The gtx1050 uses less power and is faster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuJZ1hbBV4I&t=737s

The 1050 is the better card.

 

[mohit9206]

I would choose rx460 4gb over 1050 2gb

Are these gpu's fast enough to use 4gb? 97% of the time ,No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz5qH2vuOqs

The gtx1050 uses less power and is faster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuJZ1hbBV4I&t=737s

The 1050 is the better card.

Sorry i disagree with you. These cards are well capable of using 4gb. I don't need to watch any video to know that.

 

[SPBHM]

tough one, but the 1050 will be faster more often than not, probably nicer to OC and more efficient (with CPU usage) on DX11, now the drawback is pretty significant, only 2GB, but I believe neither of these cards will last long being good enough, and they already make you lower settings in games, so keeping 2GB in check should be fine on most games.

 

[f2bnp]

The cards perform almost identically. 4GB is a no brainer here.

 

[cbn]

Are these gpu's fast enough to use 4gb? 97% of the time ,No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz5qH2vuOqs

The results here in that video above are pretty shocking though.

A 50% higher average frame rate (and double the minimum frame rate) for RX460 4GB compared to RX460 2GB in Doom (Vulkan API).

 

[cbn]

Looking at this video here comparing GTX 1050 2GB vs. RX460 2GB in Battlefield 1 using both DX11 and DX12.......

The GTX 1050 2GB has an average FPS of 49 (and minimum FPS of 42 ) in DX11 and an average FPS of 38 (and minimum FPS of 25 ) in DX12 while the RX460 2GB has an average FPS of 35 (and minimum FPS of 30 ) in DX11 and an average FPS of 41 (and minimum FPS of 29 ) in DX12.

So the RX460 2GB gets faster in DX12 while the GTX 1050 2GB becomes slower.

I wonder how an RX460 4GB would have done here? Faster in DX12 than the GTX 1050 2GB is in DX11?

 

[nathanddrews]

As you can see, OP, this is not an easy choice. I voted for the RX 460 based purely on the fact that you can get more VRAM for less money (which may benefit in some situations, not all) and I really like AMD's new driver support structure. Plus, you can Crossfire a second one later, however useless that may be...

 

[raghu78]

Even though the GTX 1050 2GB is faster by roughly 10% I would recommend the Rx 460 4GB. 2GB VRAM is a definite no in 2017 even for entry level 1080p gaming. But as you know I think the Rx 470 4GB is the card to get. Unbeatable perf/$ and hits the sweet spot for 1080p gaming.

 

[AtenRa]

Are these gpu's fast enough to use 4gb? 97% of the time ,No
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=mz5qH2vuOqs

The gtx1050 uses less power and is faster.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=TuJZ1hbBV4I&t=737s

The 1050 is the better card.

They use the RX 460 2GB not the 4GB and you can also unlock the RX 460 4GB for an extra 128 Shaders.

 

[caswow]

rx470 4g

 

[MrTeal]

The 4GB 460 over the 2GB 1050. The performance delta between them isn't that great, but at least the larger VRAM pool lets you keep texture quality higher if you customize your settings rather than just using presets. That, and the negatives of stalling out due to insufficient VRAM are so much worse than being a few percentage points faster overall that I think the 460 is the safer bet.

 

[happy medium]

Quote:
"Interestingly whereas the 2GB VRAM buffer kills off the RX 460 it doesn’t hamper the GTX 1050’s performance nearly as much."

http://www.hardwareunboxed.com/msi-gtx-1050-2g-oc-the-new-budget-king/

direct x 12?

 

[happy medium]

The results here in that video above are pretty shocking though.

A 50% higher average frame rate (and double the minimum frame rate) for RX460 4GB compared to RX460 2GB in Doom (Vulkan API).

but that's an AMD card with 2gb, the gtx1050 must have better memory compression, its just fine with 2gb.
And that is the ONLY game that hampers the 2gb 460 to that extent.
Truth is if you want to run games at over 40fps, these cards will fall down before you reach the point of using more than 2gb of memory.
I have a gtx960 4gb and I cant remember EVER seeing my card use more than 3gb of memory before the framerates were unplayable.
My gtx 960 4gb overclocked is a good 25% faster than these cards.

 

[happy medium]

So the RX460 2GB gets faster in DX12 while the GTX 1050 2GB becomes slower.

I wonder how an RX460 4GB would have done here? Faster in DX12 than the GTX 1050 2GB is in DX11?

The answer is the gtx1050 is faster with direct x 11 than the 460 in direct x 12. Direct x 12 minimums also suck!

 

[happy medium]

Now lets talk overclocking...............

It seems even the best 460's will give you a 3% overclock compared to the gtx1050's 15% overclocks. This makes the gtx1050 2gb even more faster than the 460 4gb.

Here is a 460's Asus Strix model.
https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/RX_460_STRIX_OC/27.html

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1050_Gaming_X/30.html