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

2019

Why buy it

✅11.9% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 53.1 vs 0 G3D/$ ($219 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

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.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 6 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌166.7% higher power demand at 120W vs 45W.

GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile

2024

Why buy it

✅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.
✅Draws 45W instead of 120W, a 75W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1660 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 53.1 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $219 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1660

2019

GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile

2024

Why buy it

✅11.9% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 53.1 vs 0 G3D/$ ($219 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Why buy it

✅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.
✅Draws 45W instead of 120W, a 75W reduction.

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.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 6 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌166.7% higher power demand at 120W vs 45W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1660 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 53.1 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $219 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1660 better than GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1660 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce GTX 1660 averages 11.9% more FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 11,639 vs 11,269 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce GTX 1660 is a 2019 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile is a 2024 model from an older generation with DLSS Super Resolution. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

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

GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2024 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 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce GTX 1660 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $219 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 11.9% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 3.3% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile is the newer 2024 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture, lower power draw (45W vs 120W), and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile make more sense than GeForce GTX 1660?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (45W vs 120W), future-proofing, and staying closer to an unclear MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 1660. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 1660 currently gives you 3.3% higher G3D Mark and 11.9% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%.

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 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660	GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
1080p
low	101 FPS	107 FPS
medium	89 FPS	89 FPS
high	78 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	64 FPS	51 FPS
1440p
low	91 FPS	92 FPS
medium	78 FPS	76 FPS
high	67 FPS	57 FPS
ultra	56 FPS	37 FPS
4K
low	47 FPS	37 FPS
medium	44 FPS	33 FPS
high	33 FPS	21 FPS
ultra	29 FPS	18 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Open GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660	GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
1080p
low	197 FPS	164 FPS
medium	168 FPS	141 FPS
high	138 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	88 FPS
1440p
low	130 FPS	120 FPS
medium	105 FPS	99 FPS
high	86 FPS	76 FPS
ultra	64 FPS	59 FPS
4K
low	60 FPS	72 FPS
medium	50 FPS	60 FPS
high	48 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	32 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Open GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660	GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
1080p
low	524 FPS	500 FPS
medium	419 FPS	406 FPS
high	346 FPS	338 FPS
ultra	262 FPS	254 FPS
1440p
low	393 FPS	349 FPS
medium	314 FPS	297 FPS
high	262 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	196 FPS	190 FPS
4K
low	262 FPS	227 FPS
medium	210 FPS	195 FPS
high	164 FPS	145 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	106 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Open GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660	GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
1080p
low	364 FPS	238 FPS
medium	301 FPS	208 FPS
high	251 FPS	171 FPS
ultra	216 FPS	143 FPS
1440p
low	296 FPS	184 FPS
medium	243 FPS	164 FPS
high	192 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	156 FPS	106 FPS
4K
low	150 FPS	100 FPS
medium	113 FPS	83 FPS
high	102 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	81 FPS	52 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 Open GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1660 and GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile

GeForce GTX 1660

The GeForce GTX 1660 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 14 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1530 MHz to 1785 MHz. It has 1408 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 120W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 11,639 points. Launch price was $219.

GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile

The GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in 2024. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1065 MHz to 1343 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 45W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 14 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 11,269 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 1660 scores 11,639 and the GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile reaches 11,269 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 1660 is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,408 (GeForce GTX 1660) vs 1,792 (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile). Raw compute: 5.027 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1660) vs 4.813 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile). Boost clocks: 1785 MHz vs 1343 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660	GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
G3D Mark Score	11,639+3%	11,269
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1408	1792+27%
Compute (TFLOPS)	5.027 TFLOPS+4%	4.813 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1785 MHz+33%	1343 MHz
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	88+57%	56
L1 Cache	1.4 MB	1.8 MB+29%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

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

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660	GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
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 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1660) vs 128 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile) — a 50% advantage for the GeForce GTX 1660. Bus width: 192-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1660) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile) — the GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660	GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s+50%	128 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+200%	64-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1660) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660	GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
DirectX	12.1	12.2
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 7th Gen NVENC (GeForce GTX 1660) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (GeForce GTX 1660) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660	GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
Encoder	7th Gen NVENC	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1660 draws 120W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile's 45W — a 90.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce GTX 1660) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 229mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660	GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
TDP	120W	45W-63%
Recommended PSU	450W-10%	500W
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	229mm	0mm
Height	111mm	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75°C	75°C
Perf/Watt	97.0	250.4+158%