GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
GeForce GTX 980
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GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile
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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 Mobile
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile is significantly newer (2024 vs 2014). The GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile 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 Mobile is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.7% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (8 GB vs 4 GB). 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 Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.7%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.7%) |
| 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 (8 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile 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 Mobile
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 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 980 scores 11,077 and the GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile reaches 11,269 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 980 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,048 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 1,792 (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile). Raw compute: 4.981 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 980) vs 4.813 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile). Boost clocks: 1216 MHz vs 1343 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 11,077 | 11,269+2% |
| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 | Ampere |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 8 nm |
| Shading Units | 2048+14% | 1792 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 4.981 TFLOPS+3% | 4.813 TFLOPS |
| Boost Clock | 1216 MHz | 1343 MHz+10% |
| ROPs | 64+100% | 32 |
| TMUs | 128+129% | 56 |
| L1 Cache | 0.75 MB | 1.8 MB+140% |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB | 2 MB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| 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)
The GeForce GTX 980 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce GTX 980) vs 128 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile) — a 75% advantage for the GeForce GTX 980. Bus width: 256-bit vs 64-bit.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 8 GB+100% |
| 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 Mobile). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12.1 | 12.2 |
| Vulkan | 1.1 | 1.3+18% |
| OpenGL | 4.5 | 4.6+2% |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 3.0 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 980) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 3.0 | 8th Gen NVENC |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP6 | 5th Gen NVDEC |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC | MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 980 draws 220W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile's 45W — a 132.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 980) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 267mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 75°C.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 220W | 45W-80% |
| Recommended PSU | 500W | 500W |
| Power Connector | 2x 6-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 267mm | 0mm |
| Height | 111mm | 0mm |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 80°C | 75°C-6% |
| Perf/Watt | 50.4 | 250.4+397% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2014).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 A Mobile |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $549 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50 | — |
| Codename | GM204 | GA106 |
| Release | September 19 2014 | 2024 |
| Ranking | #245 | #242 |
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