GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs GeForce RTX 5050

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024Core: 1042 MHzBoost: 1470 MHz
RTX family
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VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 5050

2025Core: 2317 MHzBoost: 2572 MHz
RTX family
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GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs GeForce RTX 5050 Performance Spectrum

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.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs GeForce RTX 5050 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 RTX 3050 6GB vs GeForce RTX 5050: 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 RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Why buy it

  • Costs $80 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
  • Draws 70W instead of 130W, a 60W reduction.
  • Measures 160mm instead of 241mm, a 81mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5050 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
  • GeForce RTX 5050 is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 5050

2025

Why buy it

  • 55.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
  • 33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
  • Better long-term bet: Blackwell on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • 85.7% higher power demand at 130W vs 70W.
  • 50.6% longer card at 241mm vs 160mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 5050 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 55.1% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 59% in PassMark G3D (17,087 vs 10,749), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 5050 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025), while GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, and 20 vs 18 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 5050 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $80 more expensive on MSRP at $249 vs $169, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 7.9% (68.6 vs 63.6), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs GeForce RTX 5050 Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 5050

The GeForce RTX 5050 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 24 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2317 MHz to 2572 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 130W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 20 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 17,087 points. Launch price was $249.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the GeForce RTX 5050's 17,087 — the GeForce RTX 5050 leads by 59%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 5050 uses Blackwell 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 5050). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 13.17 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5050). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 2572 MHz. Ray tracing: 18 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 20 (GeForce RTX 5050) with 72 Tensor cores vs 80.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBGeForce RTX 5050
G3D Mark Score
10,749
17,087+59%
Architecture
Ampere
Blackwell 2.0
Process Node
8 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
2304
2560+11%
Compute (TFLOPS)
6.774 TFLOPS
13.17 TFLOPS+94%
Boost Clock
1470 MHz
2572 MHz+75%
ROPs
32
32
TMUs
72
80+11%
L1 Cache
2.3 MB
2.5 MB+9%
L2 Cache
2 MB
24 MB+1100%
Ray Tracing Cores
18
20+11%
Tensor Cores
72
80+11%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 5050 is support for DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 5050 supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBGeForce RTX 5050
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation
Not Supported
DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction
No
Yes (DLSS 4)
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
NVIDIA Reflex
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 5050 carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 5050 gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 320 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5050) — a 90.5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 5050. Memory bus width is 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 5050. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 24 MB (GeForce RTX 5050) — the GeForce RTX 5050 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBGeForce RTX 5050
VRAM Capacity
6 GB
8 GB+33%
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
168 GB/s
320 GB/s+90%
Bus Width
96-bit
128-bit+33%
L2 Cache
2 MB
24 MB+1100%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 5050). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBGeForce RTX 5050
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12.2+2%
Vulkan
1.3
1.4+8%
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 9th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 5050). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs 6th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 5050).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBGeForce RTX 5050
Encoder
NVENC (5th Gen)
9th Gen NVENC
Decoder
NVDEC (7th Gen)
6th Gen NVDEC
Codecs
H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the GeForce RTX 5050'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 5050). Power connectors: None vs 8-pin. Card length: 160mm vs 241mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBGeForce RTX 5050
TDP
70W-46%
130W
Recommended PSU
300W-33%
450W
Power Connector
None
8-pin
Length
160mm
241mm
Height
111mm
Slots
2
2
Temp (Load)
75°C
75°C
Perf/Watt
153.6+17%
131.4
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB came in at $169, while the GeForce RTX 5050 launched at $249. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB was 32.1% cheaper ($80 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 68.6 (GeForce RTX 5050) — the GeForce RTX 5050 offers 7.9% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 5050 (2025 vs 2024).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBGeForce RTX 5050
MSRP
$169-32%
$249
Performance per Dollar
63.6
68.6+8%
Codename
GA107
GB207
Release
February 2 2024
June 24 2025
Ranking
#252
#112

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