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 $130 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Draws 70W instead of 150W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 240mm, a 80mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 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 8GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

2025

Why buy it

✅56.7% more average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: RDNA 4.0 (2025) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌114.3% higher power demand at 150W vs 70W.
❌50% longer card at 240mm vs 160mm.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $130 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Draws 70W instead of 150W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 240mm, a 80mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅56.7% more average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: RDNA 4.0 (2025) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 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 8GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌114.3% higher power demand at 150W vs 70W.
❌50% longer card at 240mm vs 160mm.

Quick Answers

So, is Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB better than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?

Yes. Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is clearly the better overall GPU here. Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB averages 56.7% more FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 19,883 vs 10,749 in G3D Mark. On top of that, Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB 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 8GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2025 generation instead of 2024, 85.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 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 8GB is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is about 76.9% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $169 MSRP, and you are getting 56.7% more estimated average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data and 85.0% higher G3D Mark. It only holds a slight 4.6% edge in G3D-per-dollar, so the value lead is real but narrow. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB 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 $169 MSRP, even if Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB 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 RX 9060 XT 8GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
1080p
low	109 FPS	172 FPS
medium	92 FPS	152 FPS
high	77 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	112 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	144 FPS
medium	81 FPS	116 FPS
high	59 FPS	100 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	91 FPS
4K
low	30 FPS	90 FPS
medium	28 FPS	77 FPS
high	19 FPS	61 FPS
ultra	16 FPS	54 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
1080p
low	174 FPS	437 FPS
medium	149 FPS	360 FPS
high	118 FPS	257 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	191 FPS
1440p
low	129 FPS	259 FPS
medium	106 FPS	214 FPS
high	83 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	62 FPS	120 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	125 FPS
medium	62 FPS	104 FPS
high	48 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
1080p
low	484 FPS	827 FPS
medium	387 FPS	675 FPS
high	322 FPS	593 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	447 FPS
1440p
low	363 FPS	640 FPS
medium	290 FPS	516 FPS
high	242 FPS	443 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	336 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	443 FPS
medium	193 FPS	354 FPS
high	161 FPS	298 FPS
ultra	121 FPS	224 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
1080p
low	243 FPS	693 FPS
medium	210 FPS	596 FPS
high	171 FPS	509 FPS
ultra	144 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	185 FPS	554 FPS
medium	166 FPS	477 FPS
high	131 FPS	396 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	336 FPS
4K
low	104 FPS	342 FPS
medium	87 FPS	304 FPS
high	69 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	224 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB

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 8GB

The Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 4 2025. It features the RDNA 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1700 MHz to 3130 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. It features 32 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,883 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB's 19,883 — the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB leads by 85%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB uses RDNA 4.0, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 2,048 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 25.64 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 3130 MHz. Ray tracing: 18 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 32 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB) with 72 Tensor cores.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
G3D Mark Score	10,749	19,883+85%
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 4.0
Process Node	8 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	2304+13%	2048
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS	25.64 TFLOPS+279%
Boost Clock	1470 MHz	3130 MHz+113%
ROPs	32	64+100%
TMUs	72	128+78%
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%
Ray Tracing Cores	18	32+78%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB 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 8GB 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 8GB
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 8GB has 8 GB. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB 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 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB) — a 90.5% advantage for the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB. Bus width: 96-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 4 MB (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB) — the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	320 GB/s+90%
Bus Width	96-bit	128-bit+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12.2 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB). 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 8GB
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 8GB). 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 8GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB
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 8GB's 150W — a 72.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 500W (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB). 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 8GB
TDP	70W-53%	150W
Recommended PSU	300W-40%	500W
Power Connector	None	8-pin
Length	160mm	240mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	75°C
Perf/Watt	153.6+16%	132.6

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB launched at $299. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB costs 43.5% less ($130 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 66.5 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB) — the Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB offers 4.6% better value. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 8GB is the newer GPU (2025 vs 2024).