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 970 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 970 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 970

2014

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 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌2014 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌
94.7% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$169 MSRP

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Why buy it

✅20.2% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $160 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 117.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 29.3 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 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 20.2% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 11.5% in PassMark G3D (10,749 vs 9,640), 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 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 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 $160 cheaper on MSRP at $169 vs $329, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 117.1% (63.6 vs 29.3), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 970 vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 970

The GeForce GTX 970 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 19 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1050 MHz to 1178 MHz. It has 1664 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,640 points. Launch price was $329.

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 970 scores 9,640 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's 10,749 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 11.5%. The GeForce GTX 970 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,664 (GeForce GTX 970) vs 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Raw compute: 3.92 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 970) vs 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Boost clocks: 1178 MHz vs 1470 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
G3D Mark Score	9,640	10,749+12%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ampere
Process Node	28 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1664	2304+38%
Compute (TFLOPS)	3.92 TFLOPS	6.774 TFLOPS+73%
Boost Clock	1178 MHz	1470 MHz+25%
ROPs	56+75%	32
TMUs	104+44%	72
L1 Cache	0.61 MB	2.3 MB+277%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 970 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	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 970 has 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB carries 6 GB. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives you 50% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce GTX 970) vs 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — a 33.3% advantage for the GeForce GTX 970. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce GTX 970 and 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	6 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s+33%	168 GB/s
Bus Width	256-bit+167%	96-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (FL 12_1) (GeForce GTX 970) 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 970	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
DirectX	12 (FL 12_1)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 2nd gen (GeForce GTX 970) vs NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Decoder: PureVideo VP6 vs NVDEC (7th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 970) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
Encoder	NVENC 2nd gen	NVENC (5th Gen)
Decoder	PureVideo VP6	NVDEC (7th Gen)
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 970 draws 150W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's 70W — a 72.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 970) vs 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs None. Card length: 267mm vs 160mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
TDP	150W	70W-53%
Recommended PSU	500W	300W-40%
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	None
Length	267mm	160mm
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	80°C	75°C-6%
Perf/Watt	64.3	153.6+139%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 970 came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB was 48.6% cheaper ($160 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 29.3 (GeForce GTX 970) vs 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 117.1% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2014).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
MSRP	$329	$169-49%
Performance per Dollar	29.3	63.6+117%
Codename	GM204	GA107
Release	September 19 2014	February 2 2024
Ranking	#269	#252

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