GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) vs GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)

2016Core: 1506 MHzBoost: 1708 MHz

Popular choices:

VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022Core: 1515 MHzBoost: 1755 MHz

Popular choices:

Performance Spectrum - GPU

About G3D Mark

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 1060 (móvel)

2016

Why buy it

  • Draws 80W instead of 130W, a 50W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
  • Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 47.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

Why buy it

  • 42.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 47.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
  • 100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).
  • More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • 62.5% higher power demand at 130W vs 80W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3050 OEM better than GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)?
Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM averages 42.1% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 11,892 vs 8,160 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is a 2022 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) is a 2016 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 OEM is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2016, 45.7% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 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 OEM is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $249 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 42.1% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 45.7% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.
Is GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) still worth buying for gaming in 2026?
Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) 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 an unclear MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 3050 OEM 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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low96 FPS130 FPS
medium85 FPS113 FPS
high72 FPS99 FPS
ultra60 FPS83 FPS
1440p
low89 FPS119 FPS
medium75 FPS96 FPS
high63 FPS81 FPS
ultra52 FPS69 FPS
4K
low43 FPS64 FPS
medium40 FPS57 FPS
high29 FPS39 FPS
ultra25 FPS33 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low188 FPS239 FPS
medium158 FPS206 FPS
high130 FPS164 FPS
ultra93 FPS128 FPS
1440p
low125 FPS163 FPS
medium99 FPS135 FPS
high79 FPS112 FPS
ultra60 FPS92 FPS
4K
low54 FPS88 FPS
medium44 FPS74 FPS
high42 FPS62 FPS
ultra34 FPS49 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low364 FPS535 FPS
medium294 FPS428 FPS
high235 FPS357 FPS
ultra184 FPS268 FPS
1440p
low269 FPS401 FPS
medium220 FPS321 FPS
high184 FPS268 FPS
ultra138 FPS201 FPS
4K
low172 FPS268 FPS
medium147 FPS214 FPS
high103 FPS178 FPS
ultra69 FPS134 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low252 FPS467 FPS
medium201 FPS414 FPS
high182 FPS335 FPS
ultra159 FPS268 FPS
1440p
low195 FPS372 FPS
medium152 FPS321 FPS
high134 FPS236 FPS
ultra114 FPS197 FPS
4K
low97 FPS199 FPS
medium73 FPS175 FPS
high65 FPS150 FPS
ultra52 FPS125 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) and GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)

The GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 15 2016. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1506 MHz to 1708 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 80W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,160 points. Launch price was $237.11.

NVIDIA

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.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) scores 8,160 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM's 11,892 — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM leads by 45.7%. The GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM uses Ampere, both on 16 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Raw compute: 4.275 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)) vs 8.986 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Boost clocks: 1708 MHz vs 1755 MHz.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
G3D Mark Score
8,160
11,892+46%
Architecture
Pascal
Ampere
Process Node
16 nm
8 nm
Shading Units
1280
2560+100%
Compute (TFLOPS)
4.275 TFLOPS
8.986 TFLOPS+110%
Boost Clock
1708 MHz
1755 MHz+3%
ROPs
48+50%
32
TMUs
80
80
L1 Cache
0.47 MB
2.5 MB+432%
L2 Cache
1.5 MB
2 MB+33%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) is capped at Upscaling support.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
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 1060 (móvel) comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)) vs 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — a 16.7% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
VRAM Capacity
4 GB
8 GB+100%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
192 GB/s
224 GB/s+17%
Bus Width
192-bit+50%
128-bit
L2 Cache
1.5 MB
2 MB+33%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
DirectX
12.1
12.2
Vulkan
1.1
1.3+18%
OpenGL
4.6
4.6
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 6.0 (GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP8 vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
Encoder
NVENC 6.0
8th Gen NVENC
Decoder
PureVideo HD VP8
5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode)
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) draws 80W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM's 130W — a 47.6% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 8-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 235mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 75°C.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
TDP
80W-38%
130W
Recommended PSU
500W
450W-10%
Power Connector
PCIe-powered
8-pin
Length
0mm
235mm
Height
0mm
124mm
Slots
0-100%
2
Temp (Load)
85°C
75°C-12%
Perf/Watt
102.0+11%
91.5
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2016).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 (móvel)GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
MSRP
$249
Codename
GP106
GA106
Release
August 15 2016
January 4 2022
Ranking
#343
#224