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 1660 SUPER

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($229 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Delivers 10.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 55.4 vs 50.3 G3D/$ ($229 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 8GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

2022

Why buy it

✅5.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
8.7% HIGHER MSRP
$249 MSRPvs$229 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 50.3 vs 55.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $229 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER

2019

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $20 less on MSRP ($229 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Delivers 10.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 55.4 vs 50.3 G3D/$ ($229 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Measures 229mm instead of 242mm, a 13mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅5.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 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 8GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌
8.7% HIGHER MSRP
$249 MSRPvs$229 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 50.3 vs 55.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $229 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3050 8GB better than GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB averages 5.0% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 12,692 vs 12,535 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the overall package: you are getting a newer generation, DLSS Super Resolution.

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

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2019, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB, better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, and a 8nm process instead of 12nm. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

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

GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER can still make sense if you find it at the right price, especially around $229 MSRP. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is still the smarter buy for most people, though, because the raw performance is close while the overall package is cleaner. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is about 8.7% more expensive on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $229 MSRP, and you are getting 5.0% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and a lower G3D Mark (12,535 vs 12,692). Moving to $249 MSRP gets you newer hardware, and DLSS Super Resolution.

Is GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is still a strong gaming card in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. Price is really the swing factor here. If you find it at or below $229 MSRP, it remains a very sensible buy. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is still the safer recommendation for most fresh builds because it offers a cleaner overall package with newer hardware and DLSS Super Resolution.

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 1660 SUPER Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
1080p
low	102 FPS	130 FPS
medium	90 FPS	113 FPS
high	79 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	65 FPS	83 FPS
1440p
low	92 FPS	119 FPS
medium	79 FPS	96 FPS
high	68 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	56 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	47 FPS	64 FPS
medium	44 FPS	57 FPS
high	33 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	29 FPS	33 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
1080p
low	265 FPS	245 FPS
medium	228 FPS	211 FPS
high	172 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	130 FPS	128 FPS
1440p
low	183 FPS	163 FPS
medium	157 FPS	135 FPS
high	126 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	92 FPS
4K
low	106 FPS	89 FPS
medium	89 FPS	74 FPS
high	73 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	49 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
1080p
low	533 FPS	564 FPS
medium	444 FPS	451 FPS
high	347 FPS	376 FPS
ultra	286 FPS	282 FPS
1440p
low	428 FPS	423 FPS
medium	343 FPS	338 FPS
high	286 FPS	282 FPS
ultra	214 FPS	212 FPS
4K
low	286 FPS	282 FPS
medium	228 FPS	226 FPS
high	166 FPS	188 FPS
ultra	126 FPS	141 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
1080p
low	405 FPS	469 FPS
medium	327 FPS	415 FPS
high	263 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	221 FPS	282 FPS
1440p
low	329 FPS	373 FPS
medium	266 FPS	326 FPS
high	203 FPS	237 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	198 FPS
4K
low	157 FPS	200 FPS
medium	118 FPS	175 FPS
high	107 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	84 FPS	126 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER and GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER

The GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 29 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1530 MHz to 1785 MHz. It has 1408 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 125W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,692 points. Launch price was $229.

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 4 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1552 MHz to 1777 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 130W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 20 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,535 points. Launch price was $249.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER scores 12,692 and the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB reaches 12,535 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is built on Turing while the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB uses Ampere, both on 12 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,408 (GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Raw compute: 5.027 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER) vs 9.098 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Boost clocks: 1785 MHz vs 1777 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
G3D Mark Score	12,692+1%	12,535
Architecture	Turing	Ampere
Process Node	12 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1408	2560+82%
Compute (TFLOPS)	5.027 TFLOPS	9.098 TFLOPS+81%
Boost Clock	1785 MHz	1777 MHz
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	88+10%	80
L1 Cache	1.4 MB	2.5 MB+79%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
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 1660 SUPER comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER) vs 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) — a 50% advantage for the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s+50%	224 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 3 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	3	4+33%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Turing) (GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Decoder: NVDEC (Turing) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
Encoder	NVENC (Turing)	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (Turing)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER draws 125W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB's 130W — a 3.9% difference. The GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 229mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 66°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
TDP	125W-4%	130W
Recommended PSU	450W	450W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	229mm	242mm
Height	111mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75	66°C-12%
Perf/Watt	101.5+5%	96.4

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER launched at $229 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB launched at $249. The GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER costs 8% less ($20 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 55.4 (GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER) vs 50.3 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) — the GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER offers 10.1% better value. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2019).