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 $7,331 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $7,500 MSRP).
✅Delivers 2282.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 2.7 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $7,500 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Draws 70W instead of 300W, a 230W reduction.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 267mm, a 107mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (10,749 vs 20,023).
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.

L40S

2022

Why buy it

✅+86.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅700% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
4337.9% HIGHER MSRP
$7,500 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.7 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($7,500 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
❌328.6% higher power demand at 300W vs 70W.
❌66.9% longer card at 267mm vs 160mm.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

L40S

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $7,331 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $7,500 MSRP).
✅Delivers 2282.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 2.7 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $7,500 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Draws 70W instead of 300W, a 230W reduction.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 267mm, a 107mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅+86.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅700% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (48 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (10,749 vs 20,023).
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 48 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
4337.9% HIGHER MSRP
$7,500 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.7 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($7,500 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
❌328.6% higher power demand at 300W vs 70W.
❌66.9% longer card at 267mm vs 160mm.

Quick Answers

So, is L40S better than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?

Yes. L40S is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 20,023 vs 10,749 in G3D Mark. On top of that, L40S is a 2022 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is a 2024 model from an older generation with DLSS Super Resolution. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

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

L40S is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 86.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 48 GB instead of 6 GB, the stronger feature stack with no meaningful modern upscaling stack instead of DLSS Super Resolution, and a 5nm process instead of 8nm. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

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

L40S is about 4337.9% more expensive on MSRP at $7,500 MSRP versus $169 MSRP, and you are getting 86.3% 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, L40S 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 L40S?

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 300W), and staying closer to $169 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of L40S. The trade-off is that L40S currently gives you 86.3% higher G3D Mark. 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

L40S Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	L40S
1080p
low	109 FPS	287 FPS
medium	92 FPS	256 FPS
high	77 FPS	216 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	136 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	256 FPS
medium	81 FPS	214 FPS
high	59 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	98 FPS
4K
low	30 FPS	117 FPS
medium	28 FPS	98 FPS
high	19 FPS	68 FPS
ultra	16 FPS	59 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open L40S

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	L40S
1080p
low	174 FPS	784 FPS
medium	149 FPS	629 FPS
high	118 FPS	478 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	416 FPS
1440p
low	129 FPS	646 FPS
medium	106 FPS	528 FPS
high	83 FPS	411 FPS
ultra	62 FPS	332 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	338 FPS
medium	62 FPS	273 FPS
high	48 FPS	240 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	201 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open L40S

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	L40S
1080p
low	484 FPS	901 FPS
medium	387 FPS	721 FPS
high	322 FPS	601 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	451 FPS
1440p
low	363 FPS	676 FPS
medium	290 FPS	541 FPS
high	242 FPS	451 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	338 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	451 FPS
medium	193 FPS	360 FPS
high	161 FPS	300 FPS
ultra	121 FPS	225 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open L40S

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	L40S
1080p
low	243 FPS	483 FPS
medium	210 FPS	422 FPS
high	171 FPS	376 FPS
ultra	144 FPS	288 FPS
1440p
low	185 FPS	345 FPS
medium	166 FPS	312 FPS
high	131 FPS	274 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	209 FPS
4K
low	104 FPS	224 FPS
medium	87 FPS	193 FPS
high	69 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	117 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open L40S

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and L40S

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.

L40S

The L40S is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 13 2022. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1110 MHz to 2520 MHz. It has 18176 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 142 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,023 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the L40S's 20,023 — the L40S leads by 86.3%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the L40S uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 18,176 (L40S). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 91.61 TFLOPS (L40S). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 2520 MHz. Ray tracing: 18 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 142 (L40S) with 72 Tensor cores vs 568.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	L40S
G3D Mark Score	10,749	20,023+86%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2304	18176+689%
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS	91.61 TFLOPS+1252%
Boost Clock	1470 MHz	2520 MHz+71%
ROPs	32	192+500%
TMUs	72	568+689%
L1 Cache	2.3 MB	17.8 MB+674%
L2 Cache	2 MB	48 MB+2300%
Ray Tracing Cores	18	142+689%
Tensor Cores	72	568+689%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The L40S relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	L40S
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 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the L40S has 48 GB. The L40S offers 700% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 960 GB/s (L40S) — a 471.4% advantage for the L40S. Bus width: 96-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 48 MB (L40S) — the L40S has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	L40S
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	48 GB+700%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	960 GB/s+471%
Bus Width	96-bit	384-bit+300%
L2 Cache	2 MB	48 MB+2300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12.2 (L40S). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	L40S
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 NVENC 8th Gen (L40S). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs H.264,H.265,AV1 (L40S).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	L40S
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	NVENC 8th Gen
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	H.264,H.265,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the L40S's 300W — a 124.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 800W (L40S). Power connectors: None vs 16-pin. Card length: 160mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 85°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	L40S
TDP	70W-77%	300W
Recommended PSU	300W-63%	800W
Power Connector	None	16-pin
Length	160mm	267mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C-12%	85°C
Perf/Watt	153.6+130%	66.7

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169 MSRP, while the L40S launched at $7500. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB costs 97.7% less ($7331 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 2.7 (L40S) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 2255.6% better value. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2022).