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 GTX 1060 5GB 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 GTX 1060 5GB 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 GTX 1060 5GB

2017

Why buy it

✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 5 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌2017 hardware with 5 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌
47.3% HIGHER MSRP
$249 MSRPvs$169 MSRP

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Why buy it

✅22.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Delivers 72.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 36.8 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅20% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 5 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

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 22.5% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 17.2% in PassMark G3D (10,749 vs 9,175), 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 5 GB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 16nm, 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 $80 cheaper on MSRP at $169 vs $249, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 72.6% (63.6 vs 36.8), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 1060 5GB vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 1060 5GB

The GeForce GTX 1060 5GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 26 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1506 MHz to 1709 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 120W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,175 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 GTX 1060 5GB scores 9,175 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's 10,749 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 17.2%. The GeForce GTX 1060 5GB is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB uses Ampere, both on 16 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Raw compute: 4.375 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Boost clocks: 1709 MHz vs 1470 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
G3D Mark Score	9,175	10,749+17%
Architecture	Pascal	Ampere
Process Node	16 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1280	2304+80%
Compute (TFLOPS)	4.375 TFLOPS	6.774 TFLOPS+55%
Boost Clock	1709 MHz+16%	1470 MHz
ROPs	40+25%	32
TMUs	80+11%	72
L1 Cache	0.47 MB	2.3 MB+389%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB	2 MB+60%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 5GB is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	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 GTX 1060 5GB has 5 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB carries 6 GB. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives you 20% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 160 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — a 5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB. Memory bus width is 160-bit on the GeForce GTX 1060 5GB and 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB. L2 Cache: 1.25 MB (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
VRAM Capacity	5 GB	6 GB+20%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	160 GB/s	168 GB/s+5%
Bus Width	160-bit+67%	96-bit
L2 Cache	1.25 MB	2 MB+60%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (6th Gen) (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Decoder: NVDEC (3rd Gen) vs NVDEC (7th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9 (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
Encoder	NVENC (6th Gen)	NVENC (5th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC (3rd Gen)	NVDEC (7th Gen)
Codecs	H.264,H.265,VP9	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 5GB draws 120W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's 70W — a 52.6% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Power connectors: 6-pin vs None. Card length: 250mm vs 160mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
TDP	120W	70W-42%
Recommended PSU	400W	300W-25%
Power Connector	6-pin	None
Length	250mm	160mm
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75	75°C
Perf/Watt	76.5	153.6+101%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 1060 5GB came in at $249, while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB was 32.1% cheaper ($80 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 36.8 (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 72.8% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2017).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
MSRP	$249	$169-32%
Performance per Dollar	36.8	63.6+73%
Codename	GP106	GA107
Release	December 26 2017	February 2 2024
Ranking	#289	#252

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