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 5060 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 5060: 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 $130 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Draws 70W instead of 145W, a 75W reduction.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 241mm, a 81mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5060 across 50 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 DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌GeForce RTX 5060 is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.

GeForce RTX 5060

2025

Why buy it

✅94.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌107.1% higher power demand at 145W vs 70W.
❌50.6% longer card at 241mm vs 160mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 5060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 94.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 93.8% in PassMark G3D (20,836 vs 10,749), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 5060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025), 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 30 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 5060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $130 more expensive on MSRP at $299 vs $169, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 9.6% (69.7 vs 63.6), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs GeForce RTX 5060 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 5060

The GeForce RTX 5060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 19 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2280 MHz to 2497 MHz. It has 3840 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 145W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 30 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,836 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the GeForce RTX 5060's 20,836 — the GeForce RTX 5060 leads by 93.8%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 5060 uses Blackwell 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 3,840 (GeForce RTX 5060). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 19.18 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5060). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 2497 MHz. Ray tracing: 18 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 30 (GeForce RTX 5060) with 72 Tensor cores vs 120.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 5060
G3D Mark Score	10,749	20,836+94%
Architecture	Ampere	Blackwell 2.0
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2304	3840+67%
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS	19.18 TFLOPS+183%
Boost Clock	1470 MHz	2497 MHz+70%
ROPs	32	48+50%
TMUs	72	120+67%
L1 Cache	2.3 MB	3.8 MB+65%
L2 Cache	2 MB	32 MB+1500%
Ray Tracing Cores	18	30+67%
Tensor Cores	72	120+67%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 5060 is support for DLSS 4 Multi 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 5060 supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 5060
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 4)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 5060 carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 5060 gives you 33.3% 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 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5060) — a 166.7% advantage for the GeForce RTX 5060. Memory bus width is 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 5060. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 5060) — the GeForce RTX 5060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 5060
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR7
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	448 GB/s+167%
Bus Width	96-bit	128-bit+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB	32 MB+1500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 5060). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 5060
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
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 NVENC 9th gen (GeForce RTX 5060). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs NVDEC 6th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 5060).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 5060
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	NVENC 9th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	NVDEC 6th gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the GeForce RTX 5060's 145W — a 69.8% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 5060). Power connectors: None vs 8-pin. Card length: 160mm vs 241mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 65°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 5060
TDP	70W-52%	145W
Recommended PSU	300W-33%	450W
Power Connector	None	8-pin
Length	160mm	241mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	65°C-13%
Perf/Watt	153.6+7%	143.7

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB came in at $169, while the GeForce RTX 5060 launched at $299. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB was 43.5% cheaper ($130 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 69.7 (GeForce RTX 5060) — the GeForce RTX 5060 offers 9.6% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 5060 (2025 vs 2024).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 5060
MSRP	$169-43%	$299
Performance per Dollar	63.6	69.7+10%
Codename	GA107	GB206
Release	February 2 2024	May 19 2025
Ranking	#252	#69

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