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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

2019

Why buy it

✅Measures 229mm instead of 235mm, a 6mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
12% HIGHER MSRP
$279 MSRPvs$249 MSRP

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

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

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

2019

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

Why buy it

✅Measures 229mm instead of 235mm, a 6mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌
12% HIGHER MSRP
$279 MSRPvs$249 MSRP

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1660 Ti better than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 12,747 vs 11,892 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is the overall package: you are getting no meaningful modern upscaling stack.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2019, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB, better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, and a 8nm process instead of 12nm. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is still the slightly faster card overall, but GeForce RTX 3050 OEM probably makes more sense for most people right now. GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is about 12.0% more expensive on MSRP at $279 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 7.2% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. In practice, GeForce RTX 3050 OEM keeps the cost lower without giving up much real gaming performance. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is the newer 2022 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce RTX 3050 OEM make more sense than GeForce GTX 1660 Ti?

Yes. In this matchup, GeForce RTX 3050 OEM probably makes more sense for most people because it stays around $249 MSRP instead of $279 MSRP, while only giving up 7.2% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM also gives you a practical upside through newer architecture and future-proofing.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	98 FPS	130 FPS
medium	88 FPS	113 FPS
high	76 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	63 FPS	83 FPS
1440p
low	90 FPS	119 FPS
medium	77 FPS	96 FPS
high	66 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	54 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	45 FPS	64 FPS
medium	41 FPS	57 FPS
high	30 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	33 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	269 FPS	239 FPS
medium	227 FPS	206 FPS
high	170 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	128 FPS
1440p
low	183 FPS	163 FPS
medium	156 FPS	135 FPS
high	124 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	100 FPS	92 FPS
4K
low	106 FPS	88 FPS
medium	89 FPS	74 FPS
high	72 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	56 FPS	49 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	574 FPS	535 FPS
medium	459 FPS	428 FPS
high	382 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	287 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	430 FPS	401 FPS
medium	344 FPS	321 FPS
high	287 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	215 FPS	201 FPS
4K
low	287 FPS	268 FPS
medium	229 FPS	214 FPS
high	191 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	143 FPS	134 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	401 FPS	467 FPS
medium	326 FPS	414 FPS
high	263 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	330 FPS	372 FPS
medium	268 FPS	321 FPS
high	206 FPS	236 FPS
ultra	164 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	158 FPS	199 FPS
medium	119 FPS	175 FPS
high	107 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	125 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1660 Ti and GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti

The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 22 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1770 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 120W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,747 points. Launch price was $279.

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 4 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1515 MHz to 1755 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: 11,892 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti scores 12,747 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM's 11,892 — the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti leads by 7.2%. The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,536 (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Raw compute: 5.437 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 8.986 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Boost clocks: 1770 MHz vs 1755 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
G3D Mark Score	12,747+7%	11,892
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1536	2560+67%
Compute (TFLOPS)	5.437 TFLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS+65%
Boost Clock	1770 MHz	1755 MHz
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	96+20%	80
L1 Cache	1.5 MB	2.5 MB+67%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
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 1660 Ti comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 288 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — a 28.6% advantage for the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	288 GB/s+29%	224 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
DirectX	12	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Decoder: NVDEC 4th gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9 (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC 4th gen	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti draws 120W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM's 130W — a 8% difference. The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 229mm vs 235mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 Ti	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
TDP	120W-8%	130W
Recommended PSU	450W	450W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	229mm	235mm
Height	111mm	124mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	75°C
Perf/Watt	106.2+16%	91.5

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1660 Ti launched at $279 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM launched at $249. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM costs 10.8% less ($30 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 45.7 (GeForce GTX 1660 Ti) vs 47.8 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM offers 4.6% better value. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2019).