GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

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 8GB vs GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU 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 8GB vs GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU: 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 8GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.3 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Draws 130W instead of 170W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (80 vs 112), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022

Why buy it

✅18.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅40% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (112 vs 80).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 50.3 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌30.8% higher power demand at 170W vs 130W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 18.5% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 5.1% in PassMark G3D (13,170 vs 12,535), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 4 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1552 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 130W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 20 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,535 points. Launch price was $249.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 12 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 13,170 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB scores 12,535 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU's 13,170 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU leads by 5.1%. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 9.098 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1777 MHz. Ray tracing: 20 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 28 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) with 80 Tensor cores vs 112.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	12,535	13,170+5%
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2560	3584+40%
Compute (TFLOPS)	9.098 TFLOPS	12.74 TFLOPS+40%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	1777 MHz
ROPs	32	48+50%
TMUs	80	112+40%
L1 Cache	2.5 MB	3.5 MB+40%
L2 Cache	2 MB	3 MB+50%
Ray Tracing Cores	20	28+40%
Tensor Cores	80	112+40%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB has 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU carries 6 GB. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) — a 50% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	8 GB+33%	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	336 GB/s+50%
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	2 MB	3 MB+50%

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4	1.4
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

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Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	NVENC (7th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	NVDEC (5th Gen)
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB draws 130W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU's 170W — a 26.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 66°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
TDP	130W-24%	170W
Recommended PSU	450W-10%	500W
Power Connector	8-pin	Mobile
Length	242mm	—
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	66°C-12%	75°C
Perf/Watt	96.4+24%	77.5