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 GTX 1650

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($149 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB across 28 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 Upscaling support instead.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 4 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 52.8 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($149 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Why buy it

✅27.9% more average FPS across 28 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 20.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 52.8 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

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

GeForce GTX 1650

2019

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($149 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅27.9% more average FPS across 28 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 20.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 63.6 vs 52.8 G3D/$ ($169 MSRP vs $149 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB across 28 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 Upscaling support instead.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 4 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 52.8 vs 63.6 G3D/$ ($149 MSRP vs $169 MSRP).

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3050 6GB better than GeForce GTX 1650?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB averages 27.9% more FPS across 28 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 10,749 vs 7,869 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is a 2024 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while GeForce GTX 1650 is a 2019 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

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 2019, 36.6% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 6 GB instead of 4 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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 about 13.4% more expensive on MSRP at $169 MSRP versus $149 MSRP, and you are getting 27.9% more estimated average FPS across 28 tracked games in our benchmark data and 36.6% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 20.4%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce GTX 1650 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1650 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 $149 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 GTX 1650 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
1080p
low	94 FPS	109 FPS
medium	83 FPS	92 FPS
high	70 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	45 FPS
1440p
low	87 FPS	95 FPS
medium	74 FPS	81 FPS
high	60 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	50 FPS	34 FPS
4K
low	41 FPS	30 FPS
medium	39 FPS	28 FPS
high	27 FPS	19 FPS
ultra	24 FPS	16 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1650 Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
1080p
low	136 FPS	174 FPS
medium	113 FPS	149 FPS
high	94 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	87 FPS
1440p
low	79 FPS	129 FPS
medium	62 FPS	106 FPS
high	44 FPS	83 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	62 FPS
4K
low	36 FPS	74 FPS
medium	27 FPS	62 FPS
high	21 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	15 FPS	34 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1650 Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
1080p
low	323 FPS	484 FPS
medium	283 FPS	387 FPS
high	205 FPS	322 FPS
ultra	169 FPS	242 FPS
1440p
low	225 FPS	363 FPS
medium	202 FPS	290 FPS
high	151 FPS	242 FPS
ultra	117 FPS	181 FPS
4K
low	130 FPS	242 FPS
medium	117 FPS	193 FPS
high	79 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	50 FPS	121 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1650 Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
1080p
low	261 FPS	284 FPS
medium	211 FPS	244 FPS
high	191 FPS	204 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	160 FPS
1440p
low	201 FPS	208 FPS
medium	158 FPS	188 FPS
high	135 FPS	153 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	118 FPS
4K
low	99 FPS	118 FPS
medium	74 FPS	99 FPS
high	65 FPS	83 FPS
ultra	51 FPS	63 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1650 Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1650 and GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

GeForce GTX 1650

The GeForce GTX 1650 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 23 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1485 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 896 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,869 points. Launch price was $149.

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.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1650 scores 7,869 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's 10,749 — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB leads by 36.6%. The GeForce GTX 1650 is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 896 (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Raw compute: 2.984 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Boost clocks: 1665 MHz vs 1470 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
G3D Mark Score	7,869	10,749+37%
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	896	2304+157%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.984 TFLOPS	6.774 TFLOPS+127%
Boost Clock	1665 MHz+13%	1470 MHz
ROPs	32	32
TMUs	56	72+29%
L1 Cache	0.88 MB	2.3 MB+161%
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1650 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1650 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has 6 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 128 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — a 31.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB. Bus width: 128-bit vs 96-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	6 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	128 GB/s	168 GB/s+31%
Bus Width	128-bit+33%	96-bit
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
DirectX	12	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	3	4+33%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 5th gen (Volta) (GeForce GTX 1650) vs NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Decoder: NVDEC 4th gen vs NVDEC (7th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9 (GeForce GTX 1650) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
Encoder	NVENC 5th gen (Volta)	NVENC (5th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC 4th gen	NVDEC (7th Gen)
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1650 draws 75W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's 70W — a 6.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB). Power connectors: None vs None. Card length: 229mm vs 160mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 70°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1650	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
TDP	75W	70W-7%
Recommended PSU	300W	300W
Power Connector	None	None
Length	229mm	160mm
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	70°C-7%	75°C
Perf/Watt	104.9	153.6+46%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1650 launched at $149 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169. The GeForce GTX 1650 costs 11.8% less ($20 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 52.8 (GeForce GTX 1650) vs 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB offers 20.5% better value. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2019).