Colorful GTX1050 OC-2GB Review

You might think that the Colorful GTX1050 OC-2GB is no where to be compared to the GTX1050 Ti model but don’t be fooled by this simple card.

The card is of a no-frills 2-fan design, the shape might seem awfully familiar but we’ll just leave it at that.

What’s this? A GTX 1050 that needs a PCI-E power connector? Apparently it seems so, while many GTX 1050 Ti cards are running without a PCI-E power connector, this GTX 1050 requires it – why? Oh and by the way I’ve tested it without the power connector, it won’t run.

Lastly the output ports for the card are DisplayPort, HDMI and DVI. As you can see also the card is without a backplate.

There’s no product page for this card, I can’t find it at all so here is the GPU-Z of the card.

Test Setup

Overclocking

Now here’s the thing about this card – it’s a GTX 1050 that requires a PCI-E connection and from the stock benchmark, it’s unattractive and the PCI-E power connector doesn’t do justice ………. or at least, it seems that way until you overclock it.

The card took a 200Mhz boost on my overclocking attempt and passed most of the test!

What’s even more amazing is that it comes really close to the GTX 1050 Ti model!

Benchmarks

Unigine Heaven 4.0

*NOTE : Details are set to maximum.

Metro Last Light

Shadow of Mordor

Settings : Set to ULTRA, V-sync off.

Bioshock Infinite

Settings are at
2 – UltraDX11_DDOF | 2 – Custom | 1 – 16:9 | 4 – FullHD / 4K

Grand Theft Auto V

Settings : Every option to the MAX setting available.

The Division

Settings : Set to ULTRA, V-sync OFF.

*I suspect the benchmark for the ASUS model was due to driver issue, it was tested quite some time ago.

Ashes of the Singularity (DX12)

Settings : Set to CRAZY

*OK so it passed this one but with adverse result.

Hitman (DX12)

Settings : Maximum

Now as you can see, the NORMAL mode and TURBO mode does have a performance gap but the gap varies, in some cases it’s very little. It makes one wonder – what’s the point of having that button? There’s no reason to lower its speed ……. or is there?

Temperature

Furmark Burn-in Test was used to stress the card. Fan settings are at Auto. Room set to ~25c.

The cooling system runs silent as the fan hovers at around 44% the spinning capacity to keep it cool and quiet.

Power Consumption

The stress was done with Furmark Burn-in Test. Power consumption reading was taken from the watt-meter, actual power draw by the entire system from the wall point. I’m using an Cooler Master V850 with around 90% efficiency and the estimated system power draw (CPU, not including GPU) during Furmark test is 90w.

So the power draw is same as the GTX 1050 Ti model but what it does is that with that power draw it is capable of achieving greater performance with some overclocking done. What you get is GTX 1050 Ti performance level at GTX 1050 price tag of being under RM 700!

The Verdict

The Colorful GTX1050 OC-2GB retails at RM 629, it’s not exactly a great looking card but it sure performs really well and it comes with 3-years warranty. Look at it, an RM 629 graphics card that performs very close to the RM 839 counter part which is the GTX 1050 Ti model. Basically you’re paying 25% less and get around 90% the performance of the other card.

Of course the performance is subjective, on games that occupy more VRAM you will see this 2GB baby losing out but games that don’t push that much RAM you could even get it going really well.