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 950

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $90 less on MSRP ($159 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 90W instead of 130W, a 40W reduction.
✅Measures 202mm instead of 235mm, a 33mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 33.7 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($159 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

Why buy it

✅156.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 41.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 47.8 vs 33.7 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $159 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 2 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌44.4% higher power demand at 130W vs 90W.
❌16.3% longer card at 235mm vs 202mm.

GeForce GTX 950

2015

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $90 less on MSRP ($159 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 90W instead of 130W, a 40W reduction.
✅Measures 202mm instead of 235mm, a 33mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅156.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 41.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 47.8 vs 33.7 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $159 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 2 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 2 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 33.7 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($159 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌44.4% higher power demand at 130W vs 90W.
❌16.3% longer card at 235mm vs 202mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3050 OEM better than GeForce GTX 950?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM averages 156.0% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 11,892 vs 5,357 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is a 2022 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while GeForce GTX 950 is a 2015 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 2015, 122.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 2 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 by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is about 56.6% more expensive on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $159 MSRP, and you are getting 156.0% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 122.0% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 950 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is GeForce GTX 950 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 950 is 2015 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM, 5,357 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

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 950 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 950	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	79 FPS	130 FPS
medium	64 FPS	113 FPS
high	52 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	83 FPS
1440p
low	66 FPS	119 FPS
medium	54 FPS	96 FPS
high	39 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	25 FPS	69 FPS
4K
low	23 FPS	64 FPS
medium	22 FPS	57 FPS
high	14 FPS	39 FPS
ultra	12 FPS	33 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 950 Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 950	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	107 FPS	239 FPS
medium	79 FPS	206 FPS
high	61 FPS	164 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	128 FPS
1440p
low	54 FPS	163 FPS
medium	39 FPS	135 FPS
high	26 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	17 FPS	92 FPS
4K
low	21 FPS	88 FPS
medium	14 FPS	74 FPS
high	11 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	7 FPS	49 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 950 Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 950	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	241 FPS	535 FPS
medium	193 FPS	428 FPS
high	161 FPS	357 FPS
ultra	121 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	181 FPS	401 FPS
medium	145 FPS	321 FPS
high	121 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	201 FPS
4K
low	121 FPS	268 FPS
medium	96 FPS	214 FPS
high	77 FPS	178 FPS
ultra	48 FPS	134 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 950 Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 950	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
1080p
low	140 FPS	467 FPS
medium	113 FPS	414 FPS
high	97 FPS	335 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	268 FPS
1440p
low	102 FPS	372 FPS
medium	84 FPS	321 FPS
high	73 FPS	236 FPS
ultra	60 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	58 FPS	199 FPS
medium	46 FPS	175 FPS
high	35 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	27 FPS	125 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 950 Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 950 and GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

GeForce GTX 950

The GeForce GTX 950 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 20 2015. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1024 MHz to 1188 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 90W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,357 points. Launch price was $159.

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 950 scores 5,357 versus the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM's 11,892 — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM leads by 122%. The GeForce GTX 950 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 768 (GeForce GTX 950) vs 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Raw compute: 1.825 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 950) vs 8.986 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Boost clocks: 1188 MHz vs 1755 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 950	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
G3D Mark Score	5,357	11,892+122%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ampere
Process Node	28 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	768	2560+233%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.825 TFLOPS	8.986 TFLOPS+392%
Boost Clock	1188 MHz	1755 MHz+48%
ROPs	32	32
TMUs	48	80+67%
L1 Cache	0.28 MB	2.5 MB+793%
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 950 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 950	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 950 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 106 GB/s (GeForce GTX 950) vs 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — a 111.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (GeForce GTX 950) 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 950	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
VRAM Capacity	2 GB	8 GB+300%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	106 GB/s	224 GB/s+111%
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	1 MB	2 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12_1 (GeForce GTX 950) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 950	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
DirectX	12_1	12.2+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 2nd Gen (GeForce GTX 950) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Decoder: NVDEC 2nd Gen vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265 (GeForce GTX 950) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM).

Feature	GeForce GTX 950	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
Encoder	NVENC 2nd Gen	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC 2nd Gen	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 950 draws 90W versus the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM's 130W — a 36.4% difference. The GeForce GTX 950 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 950) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 202mm vs 235mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 950	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM
TDP	90W-31%	130W
Recommended PSU	350W-22%	450W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	8-pin
Length	202mm	235mm
Height	—	124mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	75°C
Perf/Watt	59.5	91.5+54%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 950 launched at $159 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM launched at $249. The GeForce GTX 950 costs 36.1% less ($90 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 33.7 (GeForce GTX 950) vs 47.8 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM offers 41.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2015).