GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs RadeonT RX 6850M XT

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

2022Core: 1552 MHzBoost: 1777 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
AMD

RadeonT RX 6850M XT

2022Core: 2321 MHzBoost: 2581 MHz

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - GPU

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.

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 8GB

2022

Why buy it

  • Costs $751 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,000 MSRP).
  • Delivers 259.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.3 vs 14.0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,000 MSRP).
  • Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
  • Draws 130W instead of 165W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than RadeonT RX 6850M XT across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.

RadeonT RX 6850M XT

2022

Why buy it

  • 35.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • 50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
  • More future proof: RDNA 2.0 (2020−2025) on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
  • 301.6% HIGHER MSRP
    $1,000 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 14.0 vs 50.3 G3D/$ ($1,000 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
  • 26.9% higher power demand at 165W vs 130W.

Quick Answers

So, is RadeonT RX 6850M XT better than GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Yes. RadeonT RX 6850M XT is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 35.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data, 11.6% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 12 GB vs 8 GB of VRAM.
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting the stronger feature stack with DLSS Super Resolution instead of FSR upscaling. 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?
RadeonT RX 6850M XT is about 301.6% more expensive on MSRP at $1,000 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 35.9% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 11.6% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB 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, RadeonT RX 6850M XT is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3050 8GB still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.
When does GeForce RTX 3050 8GB make more sense than RadeonT RX 6850M XT?
Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It makes more sense if your priority is lower power draw (130W vs 165W), future-proofing, and staying closer to $249 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of RadeonT RX 6850M XT. The trade-off is that RadeonT RX 6850M XT currently gives you 11.6% higher G3D Mark and 35.9% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
1080p
low130 FPS179 FPS
medium113 FPS159 FPS
high99 FPS145 FPS
ultra83 FPS122 FPS
1440p
low119 FPS145 FPS
medium96 FPS117 FPS
high81 FPS108 FPS
ultra69 FPS97 FPS
4K
low64 FPS87 FPS
medium57 FPS73 FPS
high39 FPS60 FPS
ultra33 FPS52 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
1080p
low245 FPS446 FPS
medium211 FPS365 FPS
high165 FPS296 FPS
ultra128 FPS243 FPS
1440p
low163 FPS281 FPS
medium135 FPS229 FPS
high112 FPS195 FPS
ultra92 FPS162 FPS
4K
low89 FPS126 FPS
medium74 FPS107 FPS
high62 FPS90 FPS
ultra49 FPS69 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
1080p
low564 FPS630 FPS
medium451 FPS504 FPS
high376 FPS420 FPS
ultra282 FPS315 FPS
1440p
low423 FPS472 FPS
medium338 FPS378 FPS
high282 FPS315 FPS
ultra212 FPS236 FPS
4K
low282 FPS315 FPS
medium226 FPS252 FPS
high188 FPS210 FPS
ultra141 FPS157 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
1080p
low469 FPS630 FPS
medium415 FPS504 FPS
high336 FPS420 FPS
ultra282 FPS315 FPS
1440p
low373 FPS472 FPS
medium326 FPS378 FPS
high237 FPS315 FPS
ultra198 FPS236 FPS
4K
low200 FPS315 FPS
medium175 FPS252 FPS
high152 FPS210 FPS
ultra126 FPS157 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 8GB and RadeonT RX 6850M XT

NVIDIA

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.

AMD

RadeonT RX 6850M XT

The RadeonT RX 6850M XT is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 4 2022. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2321 MHz to 2581 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 165W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. It features 40 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 13,992 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB scores 12,535 versus the RadeonT RX 6850M XT's 13,992 — the RadeonT RX 6850M XT leads by 11.6%. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is built on Ampere while the RadeonT RX 6850M XT uses RDNA 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 2,560 (RadeonT RX 6850M XT). Raw compute: 9.098 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 13.21 TFLOPS (RadeonT RX 6850M XT). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2581 MHz. Ray tracing: 20 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 40 (RadeonT RX 6850M XT) with 80 Tensor cores.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
G3D Mark Score
12,535
13,992+12%
Architecture
Ampere
RDNA 2.0
Process Node
8 nm
7 nm
Shading Units
2560
2560
Compute (TFLOPS)
9.098 TFLOPS
13.21 TFLOPS+45%
Boost Clock
1777 MHz
2581 MHz+45%
ROPs
32
64+100%
TMUs
80
160+100%
L1 Cache
2.5 MB+400%
0.5 MB
L2 Cache
2 MB
3 MB+50%
Ray Tracing Cores
20
40+100%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The RadeonT RX 6850M XT relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
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 8GB comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the RadeonT RX 6850M XT has 12 GB. The RadeonT RX 6850M XT offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 3 MB (RadeonT RX 6850M XT) — the RadeonT RX 6850M XT has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
VRAM Capacity
8 GB
12 GB+50%
Memory Type
GDDR6
GDDR6
Bus Width
128-bit
128-bit
L2 Cache
2 MB
3 MB+50%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 12.2 (RadeonT RX 6850M XT). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 1.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
DirectX
12 Ultimate
12.2+2%
Vulkan
1.4
1.4
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4+300%
1
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs VCN 3.0 (RadeonT RX 6850M XT). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs VCN 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (RadeonT RX 6850M XT).

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
Encoder
NVENC 7th gen
VCN 3.0
Decoder
NVDEC 5th gen
VCN 3.0
Codecs
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB draws 130W versus the RadeonT RX 6850M XT's 165W — a 23.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 500W (RadeonT RX 6850M XT). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 242mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 66°C vs 85°C.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
TDP
130W-21%
165W
Recommended PSU
450W-10%
500W
Power Connector
8-pin
PCIe-powered
Length
242mm
0mm
Height
112mm
0mm
Slots
2
0-100%
Temp (Load)
66°C-22%
85°C
Perf/Watt
96.4+14%
84.8
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB launched at $249 MSRP, while the RadeonT RX 6850M XT launched at $1000. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB costs 75.1% less ($751 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 50.3 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 14.0 (RadeonT RX 6850M XT) — the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB offers 259.3% better value.

FeatureGeForce RTX 3050 8GBRadeonT RX 6850M XT
MSRP
$249-75%
$1000
Performance per Dollar
50.3+259%
14.0
Codename
GA106
Navi 22
Release
January 4 2022
January 4 2022
Ranking
#211
#103