GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

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 8970M Crossfire 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 8970M Crossfire: 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

✅91.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $131 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Delivers 246.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 18.3 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $300 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire

2012

Why buy it

✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.
❌2012 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
77.5% HIGHER MSRP
$300 MSRPvs$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 91.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 95.4% in PassMark G3D (10,749 vs 5,500), 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 4 GB of VRAM, a 8nm process instead of 28nm, 18 vs 0 ray-tracing units, and a newer 2024 generation instead of 2012. 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 $131 cheaper on MSRP at $169 vs $300, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 246.9% (63.6 vs 18.3), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire 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 8970M Crossfire

The Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 1 2012. It features the GCN architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,500 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire's 5,500 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 95.4%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire uses GCN, both on 8 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 2,560 (Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 900 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
G3D Mark Score	10,749+95%	5,500
Architecture	Ampere	GCN
Process Node	8 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2304	2560+11%
Boost Clock	1470 MHz+63%	900 MHz

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire 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 8970M Crossfire
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

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire carries 4 GB. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives you 50% 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 153.6 GB/s x2 (Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire) — a 9.4% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB. Memory bus width is 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and 256-bit x2 on the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+50%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s+9%	153.6 GB/s x2
Bus Width	96-bit	256-bit x2+167%

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire's 200W — a 96.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 350W (Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire). Power connectors: None vs 1x 6-pin.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
TDP	70W-65%	200W
Recommended PSU	300W-14%	350W
Power Connector	None	1x 6-pin
Length	160mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	75°C	—
Perf/Watt	153.6+459%	27.5

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Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB came in at $169, while the Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire launched at $300. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB was 43.7% cheaper ($131 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 18.3 (Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 247.5% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (2024 vs 2012).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire
MSRP	$169-44%	$300
Performance per Dollar	63.6+248%	18.3
Codename	GA107	Neptune CF
Release	February 2 2024	May 1 2012
Ranking	#252	#350

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