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

✅8.9% more average FPS across 28 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $180 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
✅Delivers 10.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 57.4 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Measures 160mm instead of 240mm, a 80mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (10,749 vs 20,024).
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

2025

Why buy it

✅+86.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: RDNA 4 (2025) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB across 28 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌
106.5% HIGHER MSRP
$349 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 57.4 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($349 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
❌50% longer card at 240mm vs 160mm.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

2025

Why buy it

✅8.9% more average FPS across 28 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $180 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
✅Delivers 10.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 57.4 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Measures 160mm instead of 240mm, a 80mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅+86.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: RDNA 4 (2025) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (10,749 vs 20,024).
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB across 28 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌
106.5% HIGHER MSRP
$349 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 57.4 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($349 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
❌50% longer card at 240mm vs 160mm.

Quick Answers

So, is Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB better than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?

Yes. Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB averages 8.9% more FPS across 28 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 20,024 vs 10,749 in G3D Mark. On top of that, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is a 2025 card with FSR Upscaling + Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1, 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?

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2025 generation instead of 2024, 86.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 16 GB instead of 6 GB, and better upscaling support with FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025) instead of DLSS Super Resolution. 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?

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is about 106.5% more expensive on MSRP at $349 MSRP versus $169 MSRP, and you are getting lower estimated average FPS across 28 tracked games in our benchmark data and 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, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB 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.

Is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $169 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

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 RX 9060 XT 16GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
1080p
low	109 FPS	160 FPS
medium	92 FPS	140 FPS
high	77 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	82 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	143 FPS
medium	81 FPS	120 FPS
high	59 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	61 FPS
4K
low	30 FPS	65 FPS
medium	28 FPS	57 FPS
high	19 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	16 FPS	35 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
1080p
low	174 FPS	133 FPS
medium	149 FPS	100 FPS
high	118 FPS	70 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	48 FPS
1440p
low	129 FPS	91 FPS
medium	106 FPS	59 FPS
high	83 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	62 FPS	33 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	47 FPS
medium	62 FPS	33 FPS
high	48 FPS	26 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	19 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
1080p
low	484 FPS	630 FPS
medium	387 FPS	497 FPS
high	322 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	364 FPS
1440p
low	363 FPS	404 FPS
medium	290 FPS	338 FPS
high	242 FPS	282 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	229 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	269 FPS
medium	193 FPS	221 FPS
high	161 FPS	170 FPS
ultra	121 FPS	117 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
1080p
low	243 FPS	235 FPS
medium	210 FPS	197 FPS
high	171 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	144 FPS	130 FPS
1440p
low	185 FPS	180 FPS
medium	166 FPS	153 FPS
high	131 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	104 FPS	97 FPS
medium	87 FPS	77 FPS
high	69 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	49 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

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 RX 9060 XT 16GB

The Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 2 2025. It features the RDNA 4 architecture. The boost clock speed is 2530 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,024 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB's 20,024 — the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB leads by 86.3%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB uses RDNA 4, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 2,048 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 2530 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
G3D Mark Score	10,749	20,024+86%
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 4
Process Node	8 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	2304+13%	2048
Boost Clock	1470 MHz	2530 MHz+72%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is support for FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.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 RX 9060 XT 16GB relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1
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 RX 9060 XT 16GB has 16 GB. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB offers 166.7% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 320 GB/s (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB) — a 90.5% advantage for the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB. Bus width: 96-bit vs 128-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	16 GB+167%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	320 GB/s+90%
Bus Width	96-bit	128-bit+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12.2 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs VCN 5.0 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs VCN 5.0. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	VCN 5.0
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	VCN 5.0
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB's 75W — a 6.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 550W (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB). Power connectors: None vs 8-pin. Card length: 160mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
TDP	70W-7%	75W
Recommended PSU	300W-45%	550W
Power Connector	None	8-pin
Length	160mm	240mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	75°C
Perf/Watt	153.6	267.0+74%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB launched at $349. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB costs 51.6% less ($180 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 57.4 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 10.8% better value. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is the newer GPU (2025 vs 2024).