GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book

CPU

GPU

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024Core: 1042 MHzBoost: 1470 MHz

Popular choices:

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Maxwell GPU Surface Book

2015Core: 954 MHzBoost: 993 MHz

Popular choices:

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Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

6 GB 70

10,749

+224.6%

GeForce GTX 770

GeForce GTX 1650 (móvel)

GeForce GTX Titan

GeForce RTX 3050 4GB Mobile

GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile

GeForce RTX 2070 Super Mobile

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

GeForce RTX 3080

Maxwell GPU Surface Book

2 GB 30

3,311

0.0%

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.

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

✅+224.6% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 188.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 22.1 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌133.3% higher power demand at 70W vs 30W.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $19 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 70W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,311 vs 10,749).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 22.1 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Maxwell GPU Surface Book

2015

Why buy it

✅+224.6% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 188.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 22.1 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Costs $19 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 70W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌133.3% higher power demand at 70W vs 30W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,311 vs 10,749).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 22.1 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB better than Maxwell GPU Surface Book?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 10,749 vs 3,311 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is a 2024 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Maxwell GPU Surface Book is a 2015 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2024 generation instead of 2015, 224.6% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 6 GB instead of 2 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is about 12.7% more expensive on MSRP at $169 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and you are getting 224.6% higher G3D Mark. Maxwell GPU Surface Book really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Maxwell GPU Surface Book still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Maxwell GPU Surface Book is 2015 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM, 3,311 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

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

Maxwell GPU Surface Book Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
1080p
low	85 FPS	77 FPS
medium	72 FPS	65 FPS
high	60 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	40 FPS	28 FPS
1440p
low	74 FPS	61 FPS
medium	64 FPS	51 FPS
high	47 FPS	31 FPS
ultra	30 FPS	19 FPS
4K
low	27 FPS	22 FPS
medium	25 FPS	21 FPS
high	17 FPS	13 FPS
ultra	15 FPS	11 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
1080p
low	174 FPS	97 FPS
medium	149 FPS	68 FPS
high	118 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	31 FPS
1440p
low	129 FPS	53 FPS
medium	106 FPS	31 FPS
high	83 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	62 FPS	15 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	18 FPS
medium	62 FPS	11 FPS
high	48 FPS	9 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	7 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
1080p
low	484 FPS	149 FPS
medium	387 FPS	119 FPS
high	322 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	74 FPS
1440p
low	363 FPS	112 FPS
medium	290 FPS	89 FPS
high	242 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	56 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	74 FPS
medium	193 FPS	60 FPS
high	161 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	121 FPS	37 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
1080p
low	243 FPS	149 FPS
medium	210 FPS	119 FPS
high	171 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	144 FPS	74 FPS
1440p
low	185 FPS	110 FPS
medium	166 FPS	88 FPS
high	131 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	56 FPS
4K
low	104 FPS	64 FPS
medium	87 FPS	50 FPS
high	69 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	30 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and Maxwell GPU Surface Book

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.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book

The Maxwell GPU Surface Book is manufactured by an unknown manufacturer. It was released in October 1 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 954 MHz to 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the Maxwell GPU Surface Book's 3,311 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 224.6%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book uses Maxwell, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 384 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 993 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
G3D Mark Score	10,749+225%	3,311
Architecture	Ampere	Maxwell
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2304+500%	384
Boost Clock	1470 MHz+48%	993 MHz

✨

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 Maxwell GPU Surface Book relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
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 Maxwell GPU Surface Book has 2 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 96-bit vs 128-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+200%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	Unknown
Bus Width	96-bit	128-bit+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12 (11_0) (Maxwell GPU Surface Book). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 3.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 (11_0)
Vulkan	1.3+18%	1.1
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4+33%	3

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs None (Maxwell GPU Surface Book). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs PureVideo VP6. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	None
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	PureVideo VP6
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the Maxwell GPU Surface Book's 30W — a 80% difference. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 350W (Maxwell GPU Surface Book). Power connectors: None vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 160mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 85.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Maxwell GPU Surface Book
TDP	70W	30W-57%
Recommended PSU	300W-14%	350W
Power Connector	None	PCIe-powered
Length	160mm	0mm
Height	—	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75°C-12%	85
Perf/Watt	153.6+39%	110.4

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169 MSRP, while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book launched at $150. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book costs 11.2% less ($19 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 22.1 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 187.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2015).