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 1650 vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB 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 1650 vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB: 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 1650

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($149 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 75W instead of 130W, a 55W reduction.
✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 8GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Older hardware, 4 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in newer AAA releases.

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

2022

Why buy it

✅58.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
67.1% HIGHER MSRP
$249 MSRPvs$149 MSRP
❌73.3% higher power demand at 130W vs 75W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 58.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 59.3% in PassMark G3D (12,535 vs 7,869), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 4 GB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 12nm, and 20 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 GTX 1650 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $100 cheaper on MSRP at $149 vs $249, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 4.9% (52.8 vs 50.3), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce GTX 1650 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and lighter 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 3050 8GB has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 1650 vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 1650

The GeForce GTX 1650 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 23 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1485 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 896 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,869 points. Launch price was $149.

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 4 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1552 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 130W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 20 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,535 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1650 scores 7,869 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB's 12,535 — the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB leads by 59.3%. The GeForce GTX 1650 is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 896 (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Raw compute: 2.984 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 9.098 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Boost clocks: 1665 MHz vs 1777 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
G3D Mark Score	7,869	12,535+59%
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	896	2560+186%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.984 TFLOPS	9.098 TFLOPS+205%
Boost Clock	1665 MHz	1777 MHz+7%
ROPs	32	32
TMUs	56	80+43%
L1 Cache	0.88 MB	2.5 MB+184%
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1650 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
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 1650 has 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 128 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) — a 75% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 1650 and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB. L2 Cache: 1 MB (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	8 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	128 GB/s	224 GB/s+75%
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
DirectX	12	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4	1.4
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	3	4+33%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 5th gen (Volta) (GeForce GTX 1650) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Decoder: NVDEC 4th gen vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9 (GeForce GTX 1650) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
Encoder	NVENC 5th gen (Volta)	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC 4th gen	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1650 draws 75W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB's 130W — a 53.7% difference. The GeForce GTX 1650 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Power connectors: None vs 8-pin. Card length: 229mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 70°C vs 66°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
TDP	75W-42%	130W
Recommended PSU	300W-33%	450W
Power Connector	None	8-pin
Length	229mm	242mm
Height	111mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	70°C	66°C-6%
Perf/Watt	104.9+9%	96.4

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 1650 came in at $149, while the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB launched at $249. On MSRP, GeForce GTX 1650 was 40.2% cheaper ($100 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 52.8 (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 50.3 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) — the GeForce GTX 1650 offers 5% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 8GB (2022 vs 2019).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
MSRP	$149-40%	$249
Performance per Dollar	52.8+5%	50.3
Codename	TU117	GA106
Release	April 23 2019	January 4 2022
Ranking	#323	#211

Search GeForce GTX 1650 on Amazon

Search GeForce RTX 3050 8GB on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.