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 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 5050 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 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 5050: 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 3060 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅33.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅250% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 80).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌GeForce RTX 5050 is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌
32.1% HIGHER MSRP
$329 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 51.0 vs 68.6 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌169.2% higher power demand at 350W vs 130W.

GeForce RTX 5050

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Delivers 34.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 68.6 vs 51.0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅Better long-term bet: Blackwell on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Draws 130W instead of 350W, a 220W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 12GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (80 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 33.6% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward GeForce RTX 5050 instead at 17,087 vs 16,777, 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 5050 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: the newer feature stack, with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025), while GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, and a newer 2025 generation instead of 2022. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 5050 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $80 cheaper on MSRP at $249 vs $329, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 34.6% (68.6 vs 51.0), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 5050 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1260 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 70 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,777 points. Launch price was $799.

GeForce RTX 5050

The GeForce RTX 5050 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 24 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2317 MHz to 2572 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 130W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 20 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 17,087 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB scores 16,777 and the GeForce RTX 5050 reaches 17,087 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.8% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 5050 uses Blackwell 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 5050). Raw compute: 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 13.17 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5050). Boost clocks: 1710 MHz vs 2572 MHz. Ray tracing: 70 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 20 (GeForce RTX 5050) with 280 Tensor cores vs 80.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 5050
G3D Mark Score	16,777	17,087+2%
Architecture	Ampere	Blackwell 2.0
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	8960+250%	2560
Compute (TFLOPS)	30.64 TFLOPS+133%	13.17 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1710 MHz	2572 MHz+50%
ROPs	96+200%	32
TMUs	280+250%	80
L1 Cache	8.8 MB+252%	2.5 MB
L2 Cache	6 MB	24 MB+300%
Ray Tracing Cores	70+250%	20
Tensor Cores	280+250%	80

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 5050 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 3060 12GB does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 5050 supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 5050
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 3060 12GB has 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 5050 carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB gives you 50% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 320 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5050) — a 12.5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 5050. L2 Cache: 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 24 MB (GeForce RTX 5050) — the GeForce RTX 5050 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 5050
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s+13%	320 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	6 MB	24 MB+300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 5050). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 5050
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 9th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 5050). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs 6th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 5050).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 5050
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	9th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	6th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB draws 350W versus the GeForce RTX 5050's 130W — a 91.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 5050 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 5050). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 241mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 5050
TDP	350W	130W-63%
Recommended PSU	550W	450W-18%
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	241mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	75°C
Perf/Watt	47.9	131.4+174%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 5050 launched at $249. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 5050 was 24.3% cheaper ($80 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.0 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) vs 68.6 (GeForce RTX 5050) — the GeForce RTX 5050 offers 34.5% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 5050 (2025 vs 2022).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	GeForce RTX 5050
MSRP	$329	$249-24%
Performance per Dollar	51.0	68.6+35%
Codename	GA102	GB207
Release	January 11 2022	June 24 2025
Ranking	#38	#112

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