msi Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC Graphics Card (NVIDIA RTX 3050, 96-Bit, Boost Clock: 1492 MHz, 6GB GDDR6 14 Gbps, HDMI/DP, Ampere Architecture)
Want the best price and purchase timing?
Our AI advisor analyzes real-time pricing across all channels to find you the best deal.
AI Verdict
The MSI RTX 3050 LP 6G is a 70W slot-powered lifesaver for upgrading ancient small-form-factor office PCs, but it's too weak and overpriced for standard desktop builds.
This card exists solely to solve physical space and power constraints. If you own a small-form-factor case with a weak 240W proprietary power supply, this is the fastest GPU you can physically install without case modifications. Standard mid-tower case owners waste money buying this cut-down 96-bit silicon.
If your PC case fits full-height cards and your power supply has an 8-pin PCIe cable, search for an RX 6600 or RTX 3060 12GB to get nearly double the frame rates for the exact same price.
Regret Score™
Medium RiskLower is better — measures purchase-regret risk from real buyer complaints, review credibility, and product maturity
Issues discovered after purchase
Critically weak dimension
Amazon rating vs actual quality
Chance this product isn't for you
Pros
- Draws exactly 70W entirely from the PCIe slot, requiring zero 6-pin or 8-pin power cables.
- Low-profile 69mm height fits perfectly into SFF cases like the Dell Optiplex 7010 or 7060.
- Dual HDMI 2.1a and one DisplayPort 1.4a allow for a native triple-monitor setup without adapters.
- Dual-fan cooler keeps temperatures between 50°C and 70°C during 1080p gaming loads.
Cons
- Cut down to 6GB of VRAM and a 96-bit memory bus, making it significantly weaker than the standard 8GB 128-bit RTX 3050.
- Installing the included low-profile bracket requires unscrewing and removing the plastic fan shroud first.
- PCIe 4.0 x8 interface severely bottlenecks frame rates if installed in an older PCIe Gen 2 or Gen 3 x4 motherboard slot.
- Priced around $180, carrying a steep low-profile tax for RX 6400-level raw rasterization performance.
Dimension Scores
The 6GB VRAM and 96-bit bus struggle with modern AAA titles, though it handles 1080p eSports easily.
The dual-fan design keeps temps under 70°C, though the 40mm fans whine under heavy load.
Maxing out at 70W without needing external power cables solves major upgrade headaches.
6GB severely limits texture quality in newer games and bottlenecks AI tasks.
Best For
- Upgrading an old Dell Optiplex or HP EliteDesk SFF PC into a 1080p budget gaming rig.
- Home theater PCs (HTPCs) requiring HDMI 2.1a for 4K 120Hz TV output.
- Systems with proprietary 200W-300W power supplies lacking PCIe power cables.
Not Recommended For
- Standard ATX desktop builds where a full-size dual-slot GPU fits.
- Playing modern AAA games at 1440p resolution.
- Workloads requiring heavy ray tracing or large AI models.
Watch Out For
- The low-profile bracket installation requires a screwdriver to remove the plastic fan shroud before you can access the bracket screws.
- If your old motherboard only has a PCIe Gen 3 x4 slot, this card's x8 interface drops performance by 10-15%.
- The 6GB VRAM buffer fills up instantly in 2024 AAA titles, forcing you to drop texture settings to medium or low to avoid stuttering.
Full Specifications
| ASIN | B0CTJZCJH1 |
| Brand | msi |
| Color | Black |
| Series | RTX 3050 LP 6G OC |
| Item Weight | 1.15 pounds |
| Manufacturer | MSI |
| Memory Speed | 1492 MHz |
| Chipset Brand | NVIDIA |
| GPU Clock Speed | 1492 GHz |
| Card Description | This is an MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC graphics card with an NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 chipset, 6GB GDDR6 video memory, 96-bit memory interface, and boost clock speed of 1492 MHz. The graphics card supports DisplayPort 1.4a and HDMI 2.1a outputs. |
| Graphics Ram Size | 6 GB |
| Item model number | GeForce RTX 3050 LP 6G OC |
| Product Dimensions | 10.32 x 7.17 x 2.64 inches |
| Graphics Coprocessor | NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 |
| Max Screen Resolution | 7680x4320 |
| Graphics Card Ram Size | 6 GB |
| Item Dimensions LxWxH | 10.32 x 7.17 x 2.64 inches |
| Video Output Interface | DisplayPort |
What Buyers Say
SFF PC builders view this card as a necessary evil for space-constrained upgrades. Buyers pay a premium for the 169mm length and 70W power draw, sacrificing raw frame rates in the process. Forum threads frequently detail installing this exact model into Dell Optiplex and HP ProDesk systems to enable 1080p gaming on 240W proprietary power supplies. The most frequent mechanical complaint involves the bracket swap; MSI designed the plastic fan shroud so it physically blocks the bracket screws, forcing users to dismantle part of the cooler. Despite the installation hassle, owners rely heavily on the included DLSS support and NVENC encoder to stretch the 6GB VRAM limit.
“Overpriced for a 3050 but it literally saved my optiplex 7060 build since I only have a 200w psu, just wish I didn't have to take the whole plastic cover off to change the bracket.”
Common Praise
- Runs entirely off motherboard power with zero extra cables needed.
- Fits perfectly in ultra-compact 10-liter cases like the Optiplex SFF series.
- Dual-fan cooler rarely exceeds 70°C during long gaming sessions.
- NVENC encoder handles Plex server transcoding without dropping frames.
Common Complaints
- Plastic shroud blocks the screws needed to swap to the low-profile bracket.
- 6GB of VRAM causes texture pop-in on 2024 AAA games.
- Tiny dual fans sound like a drone taking off when pushed past 80% speed.
- Raw rasterization performance barely beats a cheaper RX 6400 in some titles.
Ownership Tips
- Installing this in a PCIe Gen 3 x4 slot drops performance by 10-15% due to the x8 interface.
- The fans feature a zero-RPM mode and stay completely silent during web browsing or video playback.
- Aggressive DLSS upscaling is mandatory to maintain 60fps in newer games due to the 6GB VRAM limit.
Frequently Asked Questions
Does this need a power supply cable?
No. It draws the required 70W directly from the motherboard's PCIe slot.
Will this fit in a Dell Optiplex SFF?
Yes, it fits SFF models like the 7010, 7060, and 9020. You must swap to the included low-profile bracket first.
Is this the same as the regular RTX 3050?
No. This 6GB version features less VRAM, a narrower 96-bit memory bus, and lower 1492 MHz clock speeds than the original 8GB RTX 3050.
Can it run modern games at 1080p?
Yes, but you must use medium settings or rely on DLSS upscaling for demanding titles like Cyberpunk 2077. Lighter games like Overwatch 2 run easily at 120 fps.
Does it come with the low-profile bracket in the box?
Yes, the LP bracket is included. You have to unscrew the plastic fan shroud to install it.
Buying Guide
You are buying this card for its 169mm length and 70W power draw. If you are building a standard desktop PC, close this page and look elsewhere. This GPU is specifically engineered to rescue old office PCs equipped with weak power supplies and zero room for a normal graphics card. You pay a low-profile tax, meaning you get less silicon for your dollar in exchange for the tiny footprint.
70W TDP (Slot Powered)
The card pulls all its electricity directly from the motherboard. You skip the headache of upgrading your power supply to get 6-pin or 8-pin cables.
Low Profile (LP) Form Factor
The circuit board is 69mm tall, half the height of a normal graphics card. This is mandatory if you own a Small Form Factor PC case that is too skinny to close the lid on a standard GPU.
6GB GDDR6 VRAM
VRAM acts as the short-term memory for game graphics. 6GB is the bare minimum for 1080p gaming today; think of it like having a small desk where you can only open a few folders at once before things slow down.
Alternatives
If your PC case fits full-height cards and your power supply has an 8-pin PCIe cable, search for an RX 6600 or RTX 3060 12GB to get nearly double the frame rates for the exact same price.
You Might Also Like
HP NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 8GB OEM Graphics Card (Renewed)
$150-$299This is a renewed HP OEM NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 with 8GB VRAM, a gamble for budget-conscious 1440p gamers who understand the risks of refurbished hardware.
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5070 Twin Edge OC DLSS 4 12GB GDDR7 192-bit 28 Gbps PCIE 5.0 Gaming Graphics Card, IceStorm 2.0 Cooling, SFF-Ready, ZT-B50700H-10A
$600+This is a 2-slot, SFF-ready NVIDIA RTX 5070 with 12GB GDDR7 and a 2542 MHz boost clock, built for compact gaming rigs needing high 1440p performance.
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5080 Solid CORE OC DLSS 4 16GB GDDR7 256-bit 30 Gbps PCIE 5.0 Gaming Graphics Card, IceStorm 3.0 Advanced Cooling, Spectra RGB Lighting, ZT-B50800J2-10A
$600+This ZOTAC RTX 5080 with 16GB GDDR7 and a 2640 GHz clock speed is built for high-end 4K gaming and content creation on the NVIDIA Blackwell architecture.
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5060 Ti 8GB Twin Edge OC DLSS 4 8GB GDDR7 128-bit 28 Gbps PCIE 5.0 Gaming Graphics Card, IceStorm 2.0 Cooling, SFF-Ready, ZT-B50610H-10A
$300-$599This is a compact, 2-slot RTX 5060 Ti with 8GB GDDR7 and a 2602 MHz clock, built for SFF gaming rigs.