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 Quadro M5500 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 Quadro M5500: 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

✅+35.8% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $631 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $800 MSRP).
✅Delivers 542.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 9.9 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $800 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Quadro M5500 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.

Quadro M5500

2016

Why buy it

✅1.2% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (7,915 vs 10,749).
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌2016 hardware with 8 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌
373.4% HIGHER MSRP
$800 MSRPvs$169 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 9.9 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($800 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

Quadro M5500 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 1.2% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward GeForce RTX 3050 6GB instead at 10,749 vs 7,915, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.

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

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 8nm process instead of 28nm, 18 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2024 generation instead of 2016. 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 $631 cheaper on MSRP at $169 vs $800, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 542.9% (63.6 vs 9.9), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. Quadro M5500 still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Quadro M5500 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.

Quadro M5500

The Quadro M5500 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 8 2016. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1140 MHz to 1165 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,915 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the Quadro M5500's 7,915 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 35.8%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the Quadro M5500 uses Maxwell 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 2,048 (Quadro M5500). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 4.772 TFLOPS (Quadro M5500). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 1165 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Quadro M5500
G3D Mark Score	10,749+36%	7,915
Architecture	Ampere	Maxwell 2.0
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2304+13%	2048
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS+42%	4.772 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1470 MHz+26%	1165 MHz
ROPs	32	64+100%
TMUs	72	128+78%
L1 Cache	2.3 MB+207%	0.75 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Quadro M5500 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Quadro M5500
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Quadro M5500 carries 8 GB. Quadro M5500 gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and 256-bit on the Quadro M5500.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Quadro M5500
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Bus Width	96-bit	256-bit+167%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12 (12_1) (Quadro M5500). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Quadro M5500
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 (12_1)
Vulkan	1.3+8%	1.2
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs NVENC (Maxwell) (Quadro M5500). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs NVDEC (Maxwell). Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,MPEG-2,VC-1 (Quadro M5500).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Quadro M5500
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	NVENC (Maxwell)
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	NVDEC (Maxwell)
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	H.264,H.265,VP9,MPEG-2,VC-1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the Quadro M5500's 150W — a 72.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 350W (Quadro M5500). Power connectors: None vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 160mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 85.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Quadro M5500
TDP	70W-53%	150W
Recommended PSU	300W-14%	350W
Power Connector	None	PCIe-powered
Length	160mm	0mm
Height	—	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75°C-12%	85
Perf/Watt	153.6+191%	52.8

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB came in at $169, while the Quadro M5500 launched at $800. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB was 78.9% cheaper ($631 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 9.9 (Quadro M5500) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 542.4% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2016).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Quadro M5500
MSRP	$169-79%	$800
Performance per Dollar	63.6+542%	9.9
Codename	GA107	GM204
Release	February 2 2024	April 8 2016
Ranking	#252	#321

Search GeForce RTX 3050 6GB on Amazon

Search Quadro M5500 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.