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

✅+23.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $1,330 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 991.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 5.8 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon R9 295X2 across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.

Radeon R9 295X2

2014

Why buy it

✅0.5% more average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (8,734 vs 10,749).
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 8 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
787% HIGHER MSRP
$1,499 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 5.8 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($1,499 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Radeon R9 295X2

2014

Why buy it

✅+23.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $1,330 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
✅Delivers 991.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 5.8 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $1,499 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅0.5% more average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon R9 295X2 across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (8,734 vs 10,749).
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 8 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
787% HIGHER MSRP
$1,499 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 5.8 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($1,499 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB better than Radeon R9 295X2?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is clearly the better overall GPU here. Radeon R9 295X2 averages 0.5% more FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 10,749 vs 8,734 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is a 2024 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while Radeon R9 295X2 is a 2014 model from an older generation with FSR upscaling. 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 2014, 23.1% more raw performance headroom, the stronger feature stack with DLSS Super Resolution instead of FSR upscaling, and a 8nm process instead of 28nm. That broader feature stack should age better as more games lean on modern upscaling and frame-generation support.

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

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is about $1,330 cheaper on MSRP at $169 MSRP versus $1,499 MSRP, and you are getting lower estimated average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data and 23.1% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 991.6%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is Radeon R9 295X2 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. Radeon R9 295X2 is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $1,499 MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

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

Radeon R9 295X2 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon R9 295X2
1080p
low	109 FPS	105 FPS
medium	92 FPS	89 FPS
high	77 FPS	73 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	49 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	89 FPS
medium	81 FPS	75 FPS
high	59 FPS	55 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	36 FPS
4K
low	30 FPS	36 FPS
medium	28 FPS	32 FPS
high	19 FPS	20 FPS
ultra	16 FPS	17 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon R9 295X2

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon R9 295X2
1080p
low	174 FPS	193 FPS
medium	149 FPS	169 FPS
high	118 FPS	141 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	110 FPS
1440p
low	129 FPS	137 FPS
medium	106 FPS	111 FPS
high	83 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	62 FPS	68 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	63 FPS
medium	62 FPS	53 FPS
high	48 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	39 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon R9 295X2

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon R9 295X2
1080p
low	484 FPS	393 FPS
medium	387 FPS	314 FPS
high	322 FPS	262 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	197 FPS
1440p
low	363 FPS	295 FPS
medium	290 FPS	236 FPS
high	242 FPS	197 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	147 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	197 FPS
medium	193 FPS	157 FPS
high	161 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	121 FPS	98 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon R9 295X2

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon R9 295X2
1080p
low	243 FPS	240 FPS
medium	210 FPS	207 FPS
high	171 FPS	168 FPS
ultra	144 FPS	143 FPS
1440p
low	185 FPS	179 FPS
medium	166 FPS	155 FPS
high	131 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	98 FPS
4K
low	104 FPS	103 FPS
medium	87 FPS	82 FPS
high	69 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	50 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon R9 295X2

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and Radeon R9 295X2

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 R9 295X2

The Radeon R9 295X2 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 29 2014. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 1018 MHz. It has 2816 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 500W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,734 points. Launch price was $1,499.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the Radeon R9 295X2's 8,734 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 23.1%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the Radeon R9 295X2 uses GCN 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 2,816 (Radeon R9 295X2). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 5.733 TFLOPS ×2 (Radeon R9 295X2). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 1018 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon R9 295X2
G3D Mark Score	10,749+23%	8,734
Architecture	Ampere	GCN 2.0
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2304	2816 ×2+22%
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS+18%	5.733 TFLOPS ×2
Boost Clock	1470 MHz+44%	1018 MHz
ROPs	32	64 ×2+100%
TMUs	72	176 ×2+144%
L1 Cache	2.3 MB+233%	0.69 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB+100%	1 MB

✨

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 Radeon R9 295X2 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon R9 295X2
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

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R9 295X2 has 8 GB. The Radeon R9 295X2 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 320 GB/s x2 (Radeon R9 295X2) — a 1806% advantage for the Radeon R9 295X2. Bus width: 96-bit vs 512-bit x2. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 1 MB (Radeon R9 295X2) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon R9 295X2
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	320 GB/s x2+90%
Bus Width	96-bit	512-bit x2+433%
L2 Cache	2 MB+100%	1 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12.0 (Radeon R9 295X2). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 6.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon R9 295X2
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.0
Vulkan	1.3+18%	1.1
OpenGL	4.6+7%	4.3
Max Displays	4	6+50%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs VCE 2.0 (Radeon R9 295X2). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs UVD 4.2. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 (Radeon R9 295X2).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon R9 295X2
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	VCE 2.0
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	UVD 4.2
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the Radeon R9 295X2's 500W — a 150.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 1000W (Radeon R9 295X2). Power connectors: None vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 160mm vs 307mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 65°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon R9 295X2
TDP	70W-86%	500W
Recommended PSU	300W-70%	1000W
Power Connector	None	2x 8-pin
Length	160mm	307mm
Height	—	114mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	65°C-13%
Perf/Watt	153.6+778%	17.5

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169 MSRP, while the Radeon R9 295X2 launched at $1499. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB costs 88.7% less ($1330 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 5.8 (Radeon R9 295X2) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 996.6% better value. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2014).