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 with Max-Q Design

2017

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 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2017-era hardware with 6 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

✅39.9% 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).
✅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

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

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

2017

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

Why buy it

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

Why buy it

✅39.9% 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).
✅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 OEM 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.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2017-era hardware with 6 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).

Trade-offs

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

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3050 OEM better than GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM averages 39.9% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 11,892 vs 7,853 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is a 2022 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design is a 2017 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 2017, 51.4% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 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 39.9% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 51.4% 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 with Max-Q Design still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design 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.

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	82 FPS	130 FPS
medium	70 FPS	113 FPS
high	59 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	83 FPS
1440p
low	72 FPS	119 FPS
medium	62 FPS	96 FPS
high	46 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	30 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	26 FPS	64 FPS
medium	25 FPS	57 FPS
high	17 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	33 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	167 FPS	239 FPS
medium	142 FPS	206 FPS
high	118 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	128 FPS
1440p
low	115 FPS	163 FPS
medium	92 FPS	135 FPS
high	73 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	52 FPS	92 FPS
4K
low	50 FPS	88 FPS
medium	41 FPS	74 FPS
high	39 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	30 FPS	49 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	353 FPS	535 FPS
medium	283 FPS	428 FPS
high	236 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	265 FPS	401 FPS
medium	212 FPS	321 FPS
high	177 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	133 FPS	201 FPS
4K
low	177 FPS	268 FPS
medium	141 FPS	214 FPS
high	118 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	134 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	214 FPS	467 FPS
medium	182 FPS	414 FPS
high	147 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	164 FPS	372 FPS
medium	142 FPS	321 FPS
high	110 FPS	236 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	90 FPS	199 FPS
medium	72 FPS	175 FPS
high	56 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	42 FPS	125 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design and GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

The GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 27 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1063 MHz to 1480 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 80W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,853 points.

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 with Max-Q Design scores 7,853 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM's 11,892 — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM leads by 51.4%. The GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design 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 with Max-Q Design) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Raw compute: 3.789 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 8.986 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Boost clocks: 1480 MHz vs 1755 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
G3D Mark Score	7,853	11,892+51%
Architecture	Pascal	Ampere
Process Node	16 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1280	2560+100%
Compute (TFLOPS)	3.789 TFLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS+137%
Boost Clock	1480 MHz	1755 MHz+19%
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 with Max-Q Design is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	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 with Max-Q Design comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 128 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — a 75% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	128 GB/s	224 GB/s+75%
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
DirectX	12.1	12.2
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 6.0 (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) 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 with Max-Q Design) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	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 with Max-Q Design draws 80W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM's 130W — a 47.6% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 8-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 235mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
TDP	80W-38%	130W
Recommended PSU	350W-22%	450W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	8-pin
Length	0mm	235mm
Height	0mm	124mm
Slots	0-100%	2
Temp (Load)	—	75°C
Perf/Watt	98.2+7%	91.5