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

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.3 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Draws 130W instead of 170W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (80 vs 112), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022

Why buy it

✅18.5% 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).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 50.3 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌30.8% higher power demand at 170W vs 130W.

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

2022

GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

2022

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 50.3 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Draws 130W instead of 170W, a 40W reduction.

Why buy it

✅18.5% 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).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (80 vs 112), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 50.3 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌30.8% higher power demand at 170W vs 130W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU better than GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 18.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data, 5.1% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 112 vs 80 Tensor cores.

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 more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB. 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 RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is priced in an unclear MSRP range at an unclear MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 18.5% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 5.1% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium. If you are comfortable paying the premium for the stronger gaming result, GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3050 8GB still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

When does GeForce RTX 3050 8GB make more sense than GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It makes more sense if your priority is lower power draw (130W vs 170W), future-proofing, and staying closer to $249 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU currently gives you 5.1% higher G3D Mark and 18.5% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. GeForce RTX 3050 8GB still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

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 3060 Laptop GPU Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
1080p
low	130 FPS	109 FPS
medium	113 FPS	98 FPS
high	99 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	70 FPS
1440p
low	119 FPS	95 FPS
medium	96 FPS	83 FPS
high	81 FPS	70 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	59 FPS
4K
low	64 FPS	48 FPS
medium	57 FPS	43 FPS
high	39 FPS	30 FPS
ultra	33 FPS	26 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
1080p
low	245 FPS	351 FPS
medium	211 FPS	307 FPS
high	165 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	194 FPS
1440p
low	163 FPS	222 FPS
medium	135 FPS	195 FPS
high	112 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	127 FPS
4K
low	89 FPS	110 FPS
medium	74 FPS	93 FPS
high	62 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	59 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
1080p
low	564 FPS	593 FPS
medium	451 FPS	474 FPS
high	376 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	282 FPS	296 FPS
1440p
low	423 FPS	444 FPS
medium	338 FPS	356 FPS
high	282 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	212 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	282 FPS	296 FPS
medium	226 FPS	237 FPS
high	188 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	141 FPS	148 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
1080p
low	469 FPS	519 FPS
medium	415 FPS	439 FPS
high	336 FPS	376 FPS
ultra	282 FPS	296 FPS
1440p
low	373 FPS	425 FPS
medium	326 FPS	356 FPS
high	237 FPS	296 FPS
ultra	198 FPS	222 FPS
4K
low	200 FPS	277 FPS
medium	175 FPS	237 FPS
high	152 FPS	198 FPS
ultra	126 FPS	148 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Open GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 8GB and GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU

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 3060 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 12 2022. 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: 13,170 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB scores 12,535 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU's 13,170 — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU leads by 5.1%. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 3,584 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 9.098 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 12.74 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1777 MHz vs 1777 MHz. Ray tracing: 20 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 28 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) with 80 Tensor cores vs 112.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	12,535	13,170+5%
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2560	3584+40%
Compute (TFLOPS)	9.098 TFLOPS	12.74 TFLOPS+40%
Boost Clock	1777 MHz	1777 MHz
ROPs	32	48+50%
TMUs	80	112+40%
L1 Cache	2.5 MB	3.5 MB+40%
L2 Cache	2 MB	3 MB+50%
Ray Tracing Cores	20	28+40%
Tensor Cores	80	112+40%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	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 RTX 3050 8GB comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has 6 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 336 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) — a 50% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. Bus width: 128-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 3 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU) — the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	8 GB+33%	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	336 GB/s+50%
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	2 MB	3 MB+50%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.4	1.4
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs NVENC (7th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC 5th gen vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9 (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
Encoder	NVENC 7th gen	NVENC (7th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC 5th gen	NVDEC (5th Gen)
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode),VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB draws 130W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU's 170W — a 26.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 8GB) vs 500W (GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 8-pin vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 66°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 8GB	GeForce RTX 3060 Laptop GPU
TDP	130W-24%	170W
Recommended PSU	450W-10%	500W
Power Connector	8-pin	Mobile
Length	242mm	—
Height	112mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	66°C-12%	75°C
Perf/Watt	96.4+24%	77.5