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 OEM

2022

Why buy it

✅28.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Measures 235mm instead of 240mm, a 5mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (11,892 vs 20,024).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 47.8 vs 57.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

2025

Why buy it

✅+68.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 20.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 57.4 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($349 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: RDNA 4 (2025) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

2025

Why buy it

✅28.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Measures 235mm instead of 240mm, a 5mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅+68.4% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 20.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 57.4 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($349 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: RDNA 4 (2025) on 4nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (11,892 vs 20,024).
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 16 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 47.8 vs 57.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $349 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead.

Quick Answers

So, is Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB better than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM?

Yes. Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM averages 28.5% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 20,024 vs 11,892 in G3D Mark. On top of that, Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is a 2025 card with FSR Upscaling + Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1, while GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is a 2022 model from an older generation with DLSS Super Resolution. 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?

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2025 generation instead of 2022, 68.4% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 16 GB instead of 8 GB, and better upscaling support with FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1 (2025) instead of DLSS Super Resolution. 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?

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is about 40.2% more expensive on MSRP at $349 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting lower estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 68.4% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 20.1%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM 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 $249 MSRP, even if Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB 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 OEM Benchmark Check

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
1080p
low	130 FPS	160 FPS
medium	113 FPS	140 FPS
high	99 FPS	116 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	82 FPS
1440p
low	119 FPS	143 FPS
medium	96 FPS	120 FPS
high	81 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	61 FPS
4K
low	64 FPS	65 FPS
medium	57 FPS	57 FPS
high	39 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	33 FPS	35 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
1080p
low	239 FPS	133 FPS
medium	206 FPS	100 FPS
high	164 FPS	70 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	48 FPS
1440p
low	163 FPS	91 FPS
medium	135 FPS	59 FPS
high	112 FPS	44 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	33 FPS
4K
low	88 FPS	47 FPS
medium	74 FPS	33 FPS
high	62 FPS	26 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	19 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
1080p
low	535 FPS	630 FPS
medium	428 FPS	497 FPS
high	357 FPS	415 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	364 FPS
1440p
low	401 FPS	404 FPS
medium	321 FPS	338 FPS
high	268 FPS	282 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	229 FPS
4K
low	268 FPS	269 FPS
medium	214 FPS	221 FPS
high	178 FPS	170 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	117 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
1080p
low	467 FPS	235 FPS
medium	414 FPS	197 FPS
high	335 FPS	159 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	130 FPS
1440p
low	372 FPS	180 FPS
medium	321 FPS	153 FPS
high	236 FPS	119 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	96 FPS
4K
low	199 FPS	97 FPS
medium	175 FPS	77 FPS
high	150 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	49 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 OEM and Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 4 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1515 MHz to 1755 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: 11,892 points.

Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB

The Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 2 2025. It features the RDNA 4 architecture. The boost clock speed is 2530 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 4 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,024 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 11,892 versus the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB's 20,024 — the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB leads by 68.4%. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is built on Ampere while the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB uses RDNA 4, both on 8 nm vs 4 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 2,048 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB). Boost clocks: 1755 MHz vs 2530 MHz.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
G3D Mark Score	11,892	20,024+68%
Architecture	Ampere	RDNA 4
Process Node	8 nm	4 nm
Shading Units	2560+25%	2048
Boost Clock	1755 MHz	2530 MHz+44%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is support for FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1. 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 OEM lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation + AFMF 2.1
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB has 16 GB. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 320 GB/s (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB) — a 42.9% advantage for the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	16 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	320 GB/s+43%
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 12.2 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
DirectX	12.2	12.2
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs VCN 5.0 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs VCN 5.0. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
Encoder	8th Gen NVENC	VCN 5.0
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	VCN 5.0
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode)	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM draws 130W versus the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB's 75W — a 53.7% difference. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 550W (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 235mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB
TDP	130W	75W-42%
Recommended PSU	450W-18%	550W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	235mm	240mm
Height	124mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	75°C
Perf/Watt	91.5	267.0+192%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM launched at $249 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB launched at $349. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM costs 28.7% less ($100 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 47.8 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 57.4 (Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB) — the Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB offers 20.1% better value. The Radeon RX 9060 XT 16GB is the newer GPU (2025 vs 2022).