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 8GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $150 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Draws 130W instead of 160W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Ti across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 50.3 vs 56.8 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

2023

Why buy it

✅70.7% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 12.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 56.8 vs 50.3 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Measures 240mm instead of 242mm, a 2mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌23.1% higher power demand at 160W vs 130W.

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

2022

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $150 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).
✅Draws 130W instead of 160W, a 30W reduction.

Why buy it

✅70.7% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 12.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 56.8 vs 50.3 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Measures 240mm instead of 242mm, a 2mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Ti across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 50.3 vs 56.8 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $399 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌23.1% higher power demand at 160W vs 130W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 Ti better than GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 70.7% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data, 80.7% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 136 vs 80 Tensor cores. It also comes from 2023 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 4060 Ti is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2022, 80.7% more raw performance headroom, better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of DLSS Super Resolution, and a 5nm process instead of 8nm. That broader feature stack should age better as more games lean on modern upscaling and frame-generation support.

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

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is about 60.2% more expensive on MSRP at $399 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 70.7% more estimated average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data and 80.7% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 12.8%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce RTX 3050 8GB still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $249 MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 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 8GB Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	161 FPS	177 FPS
medium	140 FPS	162 FPS
high	122 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	124 FPS
1440p
low	146 FPS	143 FPS
medium	117 FPS	118 FPS
high	98 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	93 FPS
4K
low	69 FPS	93 FPS
medium	60 FPS	79 FPS
high	41 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	59 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	252 FPS	425 FPS
medium	215 FPS	359 FPS
high	168 FPS	292 FPS
ultra	132 FPS	237 FPS
1440p
low	164 FPS	270 FPS
medium	133 FPS	229 FPS
high	109 FPS	186 FPS
ultra	91 FPS	154 FPS
4K
low	88 FPS	117 FPS
medium	72 FPS	95 FPS
high	60 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	47 FPS	60 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	564 FPS	855 FPS
medium	451 FPS	693 FPS
high	376 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	282 FPS	510 FPS
1440p
low	423 FPS	660 FPS
medium	338 FPS	527 FPS
high	282 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	212 FPS	382 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	447 FPS
medium	226 FPS	355 FPS
high	188 FPS	308 FPS
ultra	141 FPS	255 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	499 FPS	775 FPS
medium	443 FPS	639 FPS
high	356 FPS	558 FPS
ultra	282 FPS	492 FPS
1440p
low	391 FPS	613 FPS
medium	338 FPS	503 FPS
high	247 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	210 FPS	375 FPS
medium	185 FPS	322 FPS
high	159 FPS	298 FPS
ultra	131 FPS	255 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 8GB and GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

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.

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2310 MHz to 2535 MHz. It has 4352 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,651 points. Launch price was $399.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB scores 12,535 versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti's 22,651 — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti leads by 80.7%. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Raw compute: 9.098 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 2535 MHz. Ray tracing: 20 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 34 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) with 80 Tensor cores vs 136.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
G3D Mark Score	12,535	22,651+81%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2560	4352+70%
Compute (TFLOPS)	9.098 TFLOPS	22.06 TFLOPS+142%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	2535 MHz+43%
ROPs	32	48+50%
TMUs	80	136+70%
L1 Cache	2.5 MB	4.3 MB+72%
L2 Cache	2 MB	32 MB+1500%
Ray Tracing Cores	20	34+70%
Tensor Cores	80	136+70%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. 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 8GB lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
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)

Both cards feature 8 GB of GDDR6. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 288 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — a 28.6% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	288 GB/s+29%
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	32 MB+1500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB draws 130W versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti's 160W — a 20.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 242mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 66°C vs 70°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
TDP	130W-19%	160W
Recommended PSU	450W-18%	550W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	242mm	240mm
Height	112mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	66°C-6%	70°C
Perf/Watt	96.4	141.6+47%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti launched at $399. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB costs 37.6% less ($150 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 50.3 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 56.8 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti offers 12.9% better value. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2022).