GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU
GeForce GTX 980
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GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU is significantly newer (2022 vs 2014). The GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce GTX 980 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.5% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 980.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.5%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)) | 🏆Elite Architecture (Ampere (2020−2025) / 8nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 3/4 + Frame Gen Support |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (4 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
Performance Check
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 7800X3D 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 980 and GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU
GeForce GTX 980
The GeForce GTX 980 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 19 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1064 MHz to 1216 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 220W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 11,077 points. Launch price was $549.
GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU
The GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU 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: 11,240 points. Launch price was $249.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 980 scores 11,077 and the GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU reaches 11,240 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 980 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,048 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 4.981 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 980) vs 9.098 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1216 MHz vs 1777 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 11,077 | 11,240+1% |
| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 | Ampere |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 2048 | 2560+25% |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 4.981 TFLOPS | 9.098 TFLOPS+83% |
| Boost Clock | 1216 MHz | 1777 MHz+46% |
| ROPs | 64+100% | 32 |
| TMUs | 128+60% | 80 |
| L1 Cache | 0.75 MB | 2.5 MB+233% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 2 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | DLSS 2.0 |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | FSR 3 / AFMF (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 4 GB of video memory. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce GTX 980) vs 128 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU) — a 75% advantage for the GeForce GTX 980. Bus width: 256-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 224 GB/s+75% | 128 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 256-bit+300% | 64-bit |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 2 MB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 12_2 (GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 0.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12.1 | 12_2 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 0 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 3.0 (GeForce GTX 980) vs NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 980) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 3.0 | NVENC 7th Gen |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP6 | NVDEC 5th Gen |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC | H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 980 draws 220W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU's 130W — a 51.4% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 980) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 267mm vs 1mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80°C.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 220W | 130W-41% |
| Recommended PSU | 500W | 500W |
| Power Connector | 2x 6-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 267mm | 1mm |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 80°C | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 50.4 | 86.5+72% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2014).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Laptop GPU |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $549 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | — |
| Codename | GM204 | GA106 |
| Release | September 19 2014 | January 4 2022 |
| Ranking | #245 | #211 |
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