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 RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Delivers 33.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 70W instead of 130W, a 60W reduction.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 235mm, a 75mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (72 vs 80), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

Why buy it

✅24.1% more average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅11.1% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (80 vs 72).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌
47.3% HIGHER MSRP
$249 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 47.8 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 130W vs 70W.
❌46.9% longer card at 235mm vs 160mm.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Delivers 33.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 70W instead of 130W, a 60W reduction.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 235mm, a 75mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅24.1% more average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅11.1% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (80 vs 72).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (72 vs 80), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Trade-offs

❌
47.3% HIGHER MSRP
$249 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 47.8 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
❌85.7% higher power demand at 130W vs 70W.
❌46.9% longer card at 235mm vs 160mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3050 OEM better than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 24.1% more average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data, 10.6% higher PassMark G3D performance, 80 vs 72 Tensor cores, and 8 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2022 instead of 2024, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2024 generation instead of 2022. That makes it the safer long-run choice for modern games.

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

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is about 47.3% more expensive on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $169 MSRP, and you are getting 24.1% more estimated average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data and 10.6% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

When does GeForce RTX 3050 6GB make more sense than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB 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 (70W vs 130W), future-proofing, and staying closer to $169 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 3050 OEM. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 3050 OEM currently gives you 10.6% higher G3D Mark and 24.1% more estimated average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

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 RTX 3050 6GB Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	109 FPS	130 FPS
medium	92 FPS	113 FPS
high	77 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	83 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	119 FPS
medium	81 FPS	96 FPS
high	59 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	30 FPS	64 FPS
medium	28 FPS	57 FPS
high	19 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	16 FPS	33 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	174 FPS	239 FPS
medium	149 FPS	206 FPS
high	118 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	128 FPS
1440p
low	129 FPS	163 FPS
medium	106 FPS	135 FPS
high	83 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	62 FPS	92 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	88 FPS
medium	62 FPS	74 FPS
high	48 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	49 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	484 FPS	535 FPS
medium	387 FPS	428 FPS
high	322 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	363 FPS	401 FPS
medium	290 FPS	321 FPS
high	242 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	201 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	268 FPS
medium	193 FPS	214 FPS
high	161 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	121 FPS	134 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	243 FPS	467 FPS
medium	210 FPS	414 FPS
high	171 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	144 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	185 FPS	372 FPS
medium	166 FPS	321 FPS
high	131 FPS	236 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	104 FPS	199 FPS
medium	87 FPS	175 FPS
high	69 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	125 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

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.

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 RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM's 11,892 — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM leads by 10.6%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 8.986 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 1755 MHz. Ray tracing: 18 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 20 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) with 72 Tensor cores vs 80.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
G3D Mark Score	10,749	11,892+11%
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2304	2560+11%
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS+33%
Boost Clock	1470 MHz	1755 MHz+19%
ROPs	32	32
TMUs	72	80+11%
L1 Cache	2.3 MB	2.5 MB+9%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	18	20+11%
Tensor Cores	72	80+11%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	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 RTX 3050 6GB 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: 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — a 33.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM. Bus width: 96-bit vs 128-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	224 GB/s+33%
Bus Width	96-bit	128-bit+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM's 130W — a 60% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Power connectors: None vs 8-pin. Card length: 160mm vs 235mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
TDP	70W-46%	130W
Recommended PSU	300W-33%	450W
Power Connector	None	8-pin
Length	160mm	235mm
Height	—	124mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	75°C
Perf/Watt	153.6+68%	91.5

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM launched at $249. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB costs 32.1% less ($80 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 47.8 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 33.1% better value. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2022).