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 GeForce RTX 4080 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 GeForce RTX 4080: 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 $1,030 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 121.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 28.7 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).
✅Draws 70W instead of 320W, a 250W reduction.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 310mm, a 150mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4080 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌GeForce RTX 4080 is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 4080

2022

Why buy it

✅179.5% 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).
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
609.5% HIGHER MSRP
$1,199 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 28.7 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($1,199 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
❌357.1% higher power demand at 320W vs 70W.
❌93.8% longer card at 310mm vs 160mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4080 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 179.5% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 220.4% in PassMark G3D (34,445 vs 10,749), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 4080 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 16 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM, 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 76 vs 18 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB makes the most sense to buy today. It is $1,030 cheaper on MSRP at $169 vs $1,199, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 121.4% (63.6 vs 28.7), 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 1440p and 4K headroom, GeForce RTX 4080 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs GeForce RTX 4080 Technical Specifications

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

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.

GeForce RTX 4080

The GeForce RTX 4080 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 20 2022. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2205 MHz to 2505 MHz. It has 9728 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 320W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 76 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 34,445 points. Launch price was $1,199.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the GeForce RTX 4080's 34,445 — the GeForce RTX 4080 leads by 220.4%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4080 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 9,728 (GeForce RTX 4080). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 48.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4080). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 2505 MHz. Ray tracing: 18 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 76 (GeForce RTX 4080) with 72 Tensor cores vs 304.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4080
G3D Mark Score	10,749	34,445+220%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2304	9728+322%
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS	48.74 TFLOPS+620%
Boost Clock	1470 MHz	2505 MHz+70%
ROPs	32	112+250%
TMUs	72	304+322%
L1 Cache	2.3 MB	9.5 MB+313%
L2 Cache	2 MB	64 MB+3100%
Ray Tracing Cores	18	76+322%
Tensor Cores	72	304+322%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4080 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 GeForce RTX 4080 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4080
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 GeForce RTX 4080 carries 16 GB. GeForce RTX 4080 gives you 166.7% 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 736 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4080) — a 338.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4080. Memory bus width is 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and 256-bit on the GeForce RTX 4080. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 64 MB (GeForce RTX 4080) — the GeForce RTX 4080 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4080
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	16 GB+167%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	736 GB/s+338%
Bus Width	96-bit	256-bit+167%
L2 Cache	2 MB	64 MB+3100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4080). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4080
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
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 NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4080). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4080).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4080
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the GeForce RTX 4080's 320W — a 128.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 4080). Power connectors: None vs 16-pin. Card length: 160mm vs 310mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 70°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4080
TDP	70W-78%	320W
Recommended PSU	300W-60%	750W
Power Connector	None	16-pin
Length	160mm	310mm
Height	—	140mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	75°C	70°C-7%
Perf/Watt	153.6+43%	107.6

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB came in at $169, while the GeForce RTX 4080 launched at $1199. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB was 85.9% cheaper ($1030 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 28.7 (GeForce RTX 4080) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 121.6% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2022).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4080
MSRP	$169-86%	$1199
Performance per Dollar	63.6+122%	28.7
Codename	GA107	AD103
Release	February 2 2024	September 20 2022
Ranking	#252	#7

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