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 vs GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile 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 vs GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile: 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

2021

Why buy it

✅21.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅40% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (112 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 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile is the safer long-term pick here because the hardware is newer and the feature stack is stronger.
❌240% higher power demand at 170W vs 50W.

GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $29 less on MSRP ($300 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Draws 50W instead of 170W, a 120W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 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 112), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 3060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 21.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 18.6% in PassMark G3D (16,995 vs 14,332), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce RTX 3060 is limited to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 8nm, and a newer 2023 generation instead of 2021. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce RTX 3060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $29 more expensive on MSRP at $329 vs $300, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 8.1% (51.7 vs 47.8), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and lighter 1440p, GeForce RTX 3060 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and lighter 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce RTX 3060 vs GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile Technical Specifications

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

GeForce RTX 3060

The GeForce RTX 3060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 12 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1320 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 170W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 28 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,995 points. Launch price was $329.

GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile

The GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 3 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1455 MHz to 1755 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 20 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 14,332 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3060 scores 16,995 versus the GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile's 14,332 — the GeForce RTX 3060 leads by 18.6%. The GeForce RTX 3060 is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile). Raw compute: 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 8.986 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1755 MHz. Ray tracing: 28 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 20 (GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile) with 112 Tensor cores vs 80.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile
G3D Mark Score	16,995+19%	14,332
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	3584+40%	2560
Compute (TFLOPS)	12.74 TFLOPS+42%	8.986 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1777 MHz+1%	1755 MHz
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	112+40%	80
L1 Cache	3.5 MB+40%	2.5 MB
L2 Cache	3 MB	12 MB+300%
Ray Tracing Cores	28+40%	20
Tensor Cores	112+40%	80

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce RTX 3060 does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3060 is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3060 has 12 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 3060 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) vs 192 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile) — a 87.5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 3060 and 96-bit on the GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12 MB (GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile) — the GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile
VRAM Capacity	12 GB+50%	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	360 GB/s+88%	192 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+100%	96-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	12 MB+300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th Gen (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile). Decoder: NVDEC 5th Gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile
Encoder	NVENC 7th Gen	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC 5th Gen	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	AV1,H.265,H.264,VP9	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3060 draws 170W versus the GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile's 50W — a 109.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Card length: 242mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile
TDP	170W	50W-71%
Recommended PSU	550W	500W-9%
Power Connector	8-pin	Mobile
Length	242mm	0mm
Height	112mm	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	75-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	100.0	286.6+187%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce RTX 3060 came in at $329, while the GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile launched at $300. On MSRP, GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile was 8.8% cheaper ($29 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 51.7 (GeForce RTX 3060) vs 47.8 (GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile) — the GeForce RTX 3060 offers 8.2% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile (2023 vs 2021).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3060	GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile
MSRP	$329	$300-9%
Performance per Dollar	51.7+8%	47.8
Codename	GA106	AD107
Release	January 12 2021	January 3 2023
Ranking	#114	#166

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