G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce 8400 GS vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce 8400 GS vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce 8400 GS

2014

Why buy it

✅Costs $139 less on MSRP ($30 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
✅Draws 33W instead of 70W, a 37W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌2014 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 5.4 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($30 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Why buy it

✅2234.4% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 1070.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 5.4 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $30 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅1100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 512 MB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌112.1% higher power demand at 70W vs 33W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 2234.4% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 6494.5% in PassMark G3D (10,749 vs 163), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 6 GB vs 512 MB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 28nm, and 18 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB makes the most sense to buy today. It is $139 more expensive on MSRP at $169 vs $30, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 1070.6% (63.6 vs 5.4), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce 8400 GS vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce 8400 GS

The GeForce 8400 GS is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 17 2014. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1029 MHz to 1124 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 33W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 163 points.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 2 2024. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1042 MHz to 1470 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 70W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 18 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 10,749 points. Launch price was $179.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce 8400 GS scores 163 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's 10,749 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 6494.5%. The GeForce 8400 GS is built on Maxwell while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 384 (GeForce 8400 GS) vs 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Raw compute: 0.8632 TFLOPS (GeForce 8400 GS) vs 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Boost clocks: 1124 MHz vs 1470 MHz.

Feature	GeForce 8400 GS	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
G3D Mark Score	163	10,749+6494%
Architecture	Maxwell	Ampere
Process Node	28 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	384	2304+500%
Compute (TFLOPS)	0.8632 TFLOPS	6.774 TFLOPS+685%
Boost Clock	1124 MHz	1470 MHz+31%
ROPs	8	32+300%
TMUs	16	72+350%
L1 Cache	0.19 MB	2.3 MB+1111%
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce 8400 GS is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce 8400 GS	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce 8400 GS has 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB carries 6 GB. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives you 1100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce 8400 GS and 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB. L2 Cache: 1 MB (GeForce 8400 GS) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce 8400 GS	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
VRAM Capacity	0.5 GB	6 GB+1100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	168 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit+33%	96-bit
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 10.0 (GeForce 8400 GS) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Vulkan: None vs 1.3. OpenGL: 3.3 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce 8400 GS	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
DirectX	10.0	12 Ultimate+20%
Vulkan	None	1.3
OpenGL	3.3	4.6+39%
Max Displays	2	4+100%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: No (GeForce 8400 GS) vs NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP2 vs NVDEC (7th Gen). Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264 (GeForce 8400 GS) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB).

Feature	GeForce 8400 GS	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
Encoder	No	NVENC (5th Gen)
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP2	NVDEC (7th Gen)
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce 8400 GS draws 33W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's 70W — a 71.8% difference. The GeForce 8400 GS is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce 8400 GS) vs 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Power connectors: Legacy vs None. Card length: 170mm vs 160mm, occupying 1 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 65°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce 8400 GS	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
TDP	33W-53%	70W
Recommended PSU	350W	300W-14%
Power Connector	Legacy	None
Length	170mm	160mm
Height	106mm	—
Slots	1-50%	2
Temp (Load)	65°C-13%	75°C
Perf/Watt	4.9	153.6+3035%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce 8400 GS came in at $30, while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169. On MSRP, GeForce 8400 GS was 82.2% cheaper ($139 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 5.4 (GeForce 8400 GS) vs 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 1077.8% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2014).

Feature	GeForce 8400 GS	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
MSRP	$30-82%	$169
Performance per Dollar	5.4	63.6+1078%
Codename	GM108	GA107
Release	March 17 2014	February 2 2024
Ranking	#850	#252

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