GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Radeon HD 4290

CPU

GPU

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024Core: 1042 MHzBoost: 1470 MHz

RTX family

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Radeon HD 4290

2009Core: 850 MHz

Similar parts

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GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Radeon HD 4290 Performance Spectrum

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

6 GB 70

10,749

+7523.4%

GeForce GTX 770

GeForce GTX 1650 (móvel)

GeForce GTX Titan

GeForce RTX 3050 4GB Mobile

GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile

GeForce RTX 2070 Super Mobile

141

0.0%

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.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Radeon HD 4290 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 Radeon HD 4290: 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

✅2985.3% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 2606.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 2.4 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $60 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅1100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 512 MB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌15900% longer card at 160mm vs 1mm.

Radeon HD 4290

2009

Why buy it

✅Costs $109 less on MSRP ($60 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).
✅Measures 1mm instead of 160mm, a 159mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌2009 hardware with 512 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.4 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($60 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 2985.3% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 7523.4% in PassMark G3D (10,749 vs 141), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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: 6 GB vs 512 MB of VRAM, a 8nm process instead of 55nm, 18 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2024 generation instead of 2009. 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 $109 more expensive on MSRP at $169 vs $60, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 2606.5% (63.6 vs 2.4), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Radeon HD 4290 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.

Radeon HD 4290

The Radeon HD 4290 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in April 2 2009. It features the TeraScale architecture. The core clock speed is 850 MHz. It has 800 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 190W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 141 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the Radeon HD 4290's 141 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 7523.4%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the Radeon HD 4290 uses TeraScale, both on 8 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 800 (Radeon HD 4290). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 1.36 TFLOPS (Radeon HD 4290).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 4290
G3D Mark Score	10,749+7523%	141
Architecture	Ampere	TeraScale
Process Node	8 nm	55 nm
Shading Units	2304+188%	800
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS+398%	1.36 TFLOPS
ROPs	32+100%	16
TMUs	72+80%	40
L1 Cache	2.3 MB+1337%	0.16 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB+700%	0.25 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon HD 4290 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 4290
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 6GB has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 4290 carries 512 MB. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives you 1100% 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 64-bit on the Radeon HD 4290. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 0.25 MB (Radeon HD 4290) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 4290
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+1100%	0.5 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	Unknown
Bus Width	96-bit+50%	64-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB+700%	0.25 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 10.1 (Radeon HD 4290). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 4290
DirectX	12 Ultimate+19%	10.1
Max Displays	4+100%	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs UVD 2 (Radeon HD 4290). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs UVD 2.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 4290
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	UVD 2
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	UVD 2
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	—

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the Radeon HD 4290's 190W — a 92.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 350W (Radeon HD 4290). Power connectors: None vs 1x 6-pin. Card length: 160mm vs 1mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 4290
TDP	70W-63%	190W
Recommended PSU	300W-14%	350W
Power Connector	None	1x 6-pin
Length	160mm	1mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75°C	—
Perf/Watt	153.6+21843%	0.7

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB came in at $169, while the Radeon HD 4290 launched at $60. On MSRP, Radeon HD 4290 was 64.5% cheaper ($109 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 2.4 (Radeon HD 4290) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 2550% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2009).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 4290
MSRP	$169	$60-64%
Performance per Dollar	63.6+2550%	2.4
Codename	GA107	RV790
Release	February 2 2024	April 2 2009
Ranking	#252	#762

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