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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Why buy it

✅+44.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 0 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs Unknown 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

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
❌40% higher power demand at 70W vs 50W.

Radeon RX 6500M

2022

Why buy it

✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅Draws 50W instead of 70W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (7,443 vs 10,749).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 63.6 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Radeon RX 6500M

2022

Why buy it

✅+44.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 0 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).

Why buy it

✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅Draws 50W instead of 70W, a 20W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
❌40% higher power demand at 70W vs 50W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (7,443 vs 10,749).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR 3 (2023) instead.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 63.6 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB better than Radeon RX 6500M?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 44.4% higher PassMark G3D performance, DLSS 2 Super Resolution, and 6 GB vs 4 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2024 instead of 2022, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2024 generation instead of 2022, 44.4% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 6 GB instead of 4 GB, and the stronger feature stack with DLSS Super Resolution instead of FSR 3 + AFMF. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $169 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 44.4% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is Radeon RX 6500M still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. Radeon RX 6500M is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around an unclear MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Benchmark Check

Radeon RX 6500M Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 6500M
1080p
low	109 FPS	129 FPS
medium	92 FPS	115 FPS
high	77 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	73 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	118 FPS
medium	81 FPS	99 FPS
high	59 FPS	83 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	62 FPS
4K
low	30 FPS	52 FPS
medium	28 FPS	48 FPS
high	19 FPS	35 FPS
ultra	16 FPS	31 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 6500M

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 6500M
1080p
low	174 FPS	179 FPS
medium	149 FPS	139 FPS
high	118 FPS	103 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	66 FPS
1440p
low	129 FPS	116 FPS
medium	106 FPS	89 FPS
high	83 FPS	67 FPS
ultra	62 FPS	47 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	57 FPS
medium	62 FPS	44 FPS
high	48 FPS	35 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	24 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 6500M

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 6500M
1080p
low	484 FPS	335 FPS
medium	387 FPS	268 FPS
high	322 FPS	223 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	167 FPS
1440p
low	363 FPS	251 FPS
medium	290 FPS	201 FPS
high	242 FPS	167 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	126 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	167 FPS
medium	193 FPS	134 FPS
high	161 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	121 FPS	74 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 6500M

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 6500M
1080p
low	243 FPS	303 FPS
medium	210 FPS	233 FPS
high	171 FPS	205 FPS
ultra	144 FPS	167 FPS
1440p
low	185 FPS	222 FPS
medium	166 FPS	165 FPS
high	131 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	109 FPS
4K
low	104 FPS	109 FPS
medium	87 FPS	82 FPS
high	69 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	55 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open Radeon RX 6500M

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and Radeon RX 6500M

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 RX 6500M

The Radeon RX 6500M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 4 2022. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2000 MHz to 2400 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 6 nm process technology. It features 16 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,443 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the Radeon RX 6500M's 7,443 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 44.4%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 6500M uses RDNA 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 6 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 1,024 (Radeon RX 6500M). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 4.915 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 6500M). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 2400 MHz. Ray tracing: 18 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 16 (Radeon RX 6500M) with 72 Tensor cores.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 6500M
G3D Mark Score	10,749+44%	7,443
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 2.0
Process Node	8 nm	6 nm
Shading Units	2304+125%	1024
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS+38%	4.915 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1470 MHz	2400 MHz+63%
ROPs	32	32
TMUs	72+13%	64
L1 Cache	2.3 MB+820%	0.25 MB
L2 Cache	2 MB+100%	1 MB
Ray Tracing Cores	18+13%	16

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 6500M is support for FSR Frame Generation + AFMF. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 6500M relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 6500M
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR 3
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation + AFMF
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 6500M has 4 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 144 GB/s (Radeon RX 6500M) — a 16.7% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB. Bus width: 96-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 1 MB (Radeon RX 6500M) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 6500M
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+50%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s+17%	144 GB/s
Bus Width	96-bit+50%	64-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB+100%	1 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12 (12_2) (Radeon RX 6500M). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 3.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 6500M
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 (12_2)
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4+33%	3

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs VCN 3.0 (Radeon RX 6500M). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs VCN 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Decode Only) (Radeon RX 6500M).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	Radeon RX 6500M
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	VCN 3.0
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	VCN 3.0
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Decode Only)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the Radeon RX 6500M's 50W — a 33.3% difference. The Radeon RX 6500M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 350W (Radeon RX 6500M). Power connectors: None vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 85°C.