GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Radeon HD 7290

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 Radeon HD 7290 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 Radeon HD 7290: 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

✅2841.3% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 1035.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 5.6 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $20 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅1100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 512 MB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Radeon HD 7290

2013

Why buy it

✅Costs $149 less on MSRP ($20 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌2013 hardware with 512 MB 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 5.6 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($20 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. In our data, it leads by 2841.3% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 9497.3% in PassMark G3D (10,749 vs 112), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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 512 MB of VRAM, a 8nm process instead of 28nm, 18 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2024 generation instead of 2013. 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 to buy today. It is $149 more expensive on MSRP at $169 vs $20, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 1035.8% (63.6 vs 5.6), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Radeon HD 7290 Technical Specifications

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

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.

Radeon HD 7290

The Radeon HD 7290 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 24 2013. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 950 MHz to 1000 MHz. It has 2048 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 375W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 112 points. Launch price was $999.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the Radeon HD 7290's 112 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 9497.3%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the Radeon HD 7290 uses GCN 1.0, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 2,048 (Radeon HD 7290). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 4.096 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon HD 7290). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 1000 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 7290
G3D Mark Score	10,749+9497%	112
Architecture	Ampere	GCN 1.0
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2304+13%	2048 ×2
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS+65%	4.096 TFLOPS ×2
Boost Clock	1470 MHz+47%	1000 MHz
ROPs	32	32 ×2
TMUs	72	128 ×2+78%
L1 Cache	2.3 MB+360%	0.5 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB+167%	0.75 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon HD 7290 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 7290
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 7290 carries 512 MB. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives you 1100% 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 128-bit on the Radeon HD 7290. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 0.75 MB (Radeon HD 7290) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 7290
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+1100%	0.5 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	Unknown
Bus Width	96-bit	128-bit+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB+167%	0.75 MB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the Radeon HD 7290's 375W — a 137.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 350W (Radeon HD 7290). Power connectors: None vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 7290
TDP	70W-81%	375W
Recommended PSU	300W-14%	350W
Power Connector	None	1x 6-pin
Length	160mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	75°C	—
Perf/Watt	153.6+51100%	0.3

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB came in at $169, while the Radeon HD 7290 launched at $20. On MSRP, Radeon HD 7290 was 88.2% cheaper ($149 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 5.6 (Radeon HD 7290) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 1035.7% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2013).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 7290
MSRP	$169	$20-88%
Performance per Dollar	63.6+1036%	5.6
Codename	GA107	Malta
Release	February 2 2024	April 24 2013
Ranking	#252	#412

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