GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs RTX 4000 Ada Generation

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024Core: 1042 MHzBoost: 1470 MHz
VS
NVIDIA

RTX 4000 Ada Generation

2023Core: 1500 MHzBoost: 1560 MHz

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs RTX 4000 Ada Generation Performance Spectrum

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.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs RTX 4000 Ada Generation 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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation: 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

  • Costs $1,830 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
  • Delivers 428.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 12.0 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
  • 200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).
  • Measures 160mm instead of 267mm, a 107mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than RTX 4000 Ada Generation across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • RTX 4000 Ada Generation is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

RTX 4000 Ada Generation

2023

Why buy it

  • 58.3% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 1082.8% HIGHER MSRP
    $1,999 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 12.0 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
  • 66.9% longer card at 267mm vs 160mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
RTX 4000 Ada Generation is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 58.3% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 123.7% in PassMark G3D (24,046 vs 10,749), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
RTX 4000 Ada Generation is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, and 48 vs 18 ray-tracing units. That gives it the more rounded hardware package for newer games.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce RTX 3050 6GB makes the most sense to buy today. It is $1,830 cheaper on MSRP at $169 vs $1,999, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 428.8% (63.6 vs 12.0), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and strong 1440p headroom, RTX 4000 Ada Generation has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs RTX 4000 Ada Generation Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

NVIDIA

RTX 4000 Ada Generation

The RTX 4000 Ada Generation is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 9 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1560 MHz. It has 6144 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 70W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 48 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 24,046 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 24,046 — the RTX 4000 Ada Generation leads by 123.7%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the RTX 4000 Ada Generation uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 6,144 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 26.73 TFLOPS (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 1560 MHz. Ray tracing: 18 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 48 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) with 72 Tensor cores vs 192.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBRTX 4000 Ada Generation
G3D Mark Score
10,749
24,046+124%
Architecture
Ampere
Ada Lovelace
Process Node
8 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
2304
6144+167%
Compute (TFLOPS)
6.774 TFLOPS
26.73 TFLOPS+295%
Boost Clock
1470 MHz
1560 MHz+6%
ROPs
32
64+100%
TMUs
72
192+167%
L1 Cache
2.3 MB
6 MB+161%
L2 Cache
2 MB
48 MB+2300%
Ray Tracing Cores
18
48+167%
Tensor Cores
72
192+167%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the RTX 4000 Ada Generation is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The RTX 4000 Ada Generation supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBRTX 4000 Ada Generation
Upscaling Tech
DLSS 2 Super Resolution
DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation
Not Supported
DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction
No
Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
NVIDIA Reflex
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has 6 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 4000 Ada Generation carries 2 GB. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives you 200% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 360 GB/s (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) — a 114.3% advantage for the RTX 4000 Ada Generation. Memory bus width is 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and 160-bit on the RTX 4000 Ada Generation. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 48 MB (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) — the RTX 4000 Ada Generation has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBRTX 4000 Ada Generation
VRAM Capacity
6 GB+200%
2 GB
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6 ECC
Memory Bandwidth
168 GB/s
360 GB/s+114%
Bus Width
96-bit
160-bit+67%
L2 Cache
2 MB
48 MB+2300%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12.2 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBRTX 4000 Ada Generation
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12.2+2%
Vulkan
1.3
1.3
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 8th Gen NVENC (3x) (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBRTX 4000 Ada Generation
Encoder
NVENC (5th Gen)
8th Gen NVENC (3x)
Decoder
NVDEC (7th Gen)
5th Gen NVDEC
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 RTX 4000 Ada Generation's 70W — a 0% difference. The RTX 4000 Ada Generation is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 750W (RTX 4000 Ada Generation). Power connectors: None vs 1x 8-pin. Card length: 160mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBRTX 4000 Ada Generation
TDP
70W
70W
Recommended PSU
300W-60%
750W
Power Connector
None
1x 8-pin
Length
160mm
267mm
Height
111mm
Slots
2
2
Temp (Load)
75°C-6%
80°C
Perf/Watt
153.6
343.5+124%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB came in at $169, while the RTX 4000 Ada Generation launched at $1999. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB was 91.5% cheaper ($1830 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12.0 (RTX 4000 Ada Generation) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 430% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2023).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 6GBRTX 4000 Ada Generation
MSRP
$169-92%
$1999
Performance per Dollar
63.6+430%
12.0
Codename
GA107
AD104
Release
February 2 2024
August 9 2023
Ranking
#252
#47

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