GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Iris Graphics 540

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

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

Iris Graphics 540

2015Core: 300 MHzBoost: 1000 MHz
Similar parts
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GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Iris Graphics 540 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 Iris Graphics 540: 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

  • +746.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 0 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
  • 100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs Unknown).
  • Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • 366.7% higher power demand at 70W vs 15W.

Iris Graphics 540

2015

Why buy it

  • Draws 15W instead of 70W, a 55W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (1,270 vs 10,749).
  • Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
  • 2015 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 63.6 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 746.4% in PassMark G3D (10,749 vs 1,270), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
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 Unknown of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 14nm, 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 today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Iris Graphics 540 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.

Intel

Iris Graphics 540

The Iris Graphics 540 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in September 1 2015. It features the Generation 9.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1000 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 14 nm+ process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,270 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the Iris Graphics 540's 1,270 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 746.4%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the Iris Graphics 540 uses Generation 9.0, both on 8 nm vs 14 nm+. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 384 (Iris Graphics 540). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 0.768 TFLOPS (Iris Graphics 540). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 1000 MHz.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBIris Graphics 540
G3D Mark Score
10,749+746%
1,270
Architecture
Ampere
Generation 9.0
Process Node
8 nm
14 nm+
Shading Units
2304+500%
384
Compute (TFLOPS)
6.774 TFLOPS+782%
0.768 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1470 MHz+47%
1000 MHz
ROPs
32+433%
6
TMUs
72+50%
48

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Iris Graphics 540 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBIris Graphics 540
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
Standard
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Iris Graphics 540 carries 0 MB. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and System on the Iris Graphics 540.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBIris Graphics 540
VRAM Capacity
6 GB
Shared System RAM
Memory Type
GDDR6
Shared
Memory Bandwidth
168 GB/s
System
Bus Width
96-bit
System
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12 (FL 12_1) (Iris Graphics 540). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 3.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBIris Graphics 540
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12 (FL 12_1)
Vulkan
1.3
1.3
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4+33%
3
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs Quick Sync (Iris Graphics 540). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs Quick Sync. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs H.264,HEVC,VP8 (Iris Graphics 540).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBIris Graphics 540
Encoder
NVENC (5th Gen)
Quick Sync
Decoder
NVDEC (7th Gen)
Quick Sync
Codecs
H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)
H.264,HEVC,VP8
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the Iris Graphics 540's 15W — a 129.4% difference. The Iris Graphics 540 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 1W (Iris Graphics 540). Power connectors: None vs Integrated.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBIris Graphics 540
TDP
70W
15W-79%
Recommended PSU
300W
1W-100%
Power Connector
None
Integrated
Length
160mm
Slots
2
0-100%
Temp (Load)
75°C
Perf/Watt
153.6+81%
84.7
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB came in at $169, while the Iris Graphics 540 launched at $0. On MSRP, Iris Graphics 540 was 100+% cheaper ($169 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs Infinity (Iris Graphics 540) — the Iris Graphics 540 offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2015).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBIris Graphics 540
MSRP
$169
$0-100%
Performance per Dollar
63.6
Infinity
Codename
GA107
Skylake GT3e
Release
February 2 2024
September 1 2015
Ranking
#252
#808

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