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

✅Costs $1,001 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 124.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 47.8 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Draws 130W instead of 350W, a 220W reduction.
✅Measures 235mm instead of 285mm, a 50mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 12GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (80 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅77.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅250% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 80).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
402% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌169.2% higher power demand at 350W vs 130W.
❌21.3% longer card at 285mm vs 235mm.

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,001 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 124.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 47.8 vs 21.3 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,250 MSRP).
✅Draws 130W instead of 350W, a 220W reduction.
✅Measures 235mm instead of 285mm, a 50mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅77.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅250% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (280 vs 80).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 12GB across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (80 vs 280), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌
402% HIGHER MSRP
$1,250 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 21.3 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($1,250 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌169.2% higher power demand at 350W vs 130W.
❌21.3% longer card at 285mm vs 235mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3080 12GB better than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3080 12GB averages 77.5% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 26,569 vs 11,892 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is a 2022 card with DLSS Super Resolution, 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?

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 123.4% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 8 GB, and 250.0% more ray-tracing hardware. 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 3080 12GB is about 402.0% more expensive on MSRP at $1,250 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 77.5% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 123.4% higher G3D Mark. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM 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 3080 12GB is the one to buy. If staying closer to budget matters more, GeForce RTX 3050 OEM still makes more sense on price alone and remains capable enough for modern gaming.

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is still a strong gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. This mostly comes down to price. If you want to stay closer to $249 MSRP, it remains a strong choice; if you are comfortable paying more, GeForce RTX 3080 12GB earns that extra money with a clearly stronger gaming result and a more complete overall package.

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

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
1080p
low	130 FPS	165 FPS
medium	113 FPS	150 FPS
high	99 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	113 FPS
1440p
low	119 FPS	139 FPS
medium	96 FPS	115 FPS
high	81 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	64 FPS	80 FPS
medium	57 FPS	67 FPS
high	39 FPS	51 FPS
ultra	33 FPS	45 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
1080p
low	239 FPS	553 FPS
medium	206 FPS	473 FPS
high	164 FPS	383 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	345 FPS
1440p
low	163 FPS	415 FPS
medium	135 FPS	344 FPS
high	112 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	233 FPS
4K
low	88 FPS	198 FPS
medium	74 FPS	168 FPS
high	62 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	120 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
1080p
low	535 FPS	892 FPS
medium	428 FPS	724 FPS
high	357 FPS	631 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	551 FPS
1440p
low	401 FPS	705 FPS
medium	321 FPS	567 FPS
high	268 FPS	484 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	416 FPS
4K
low	268 FPS	485 FPS
medium	214 FPS	394 FPS
high	178 FPS	331 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	275 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
1080p
low	467 FPS	456 FPS
medium	414 FPS	413 FPS
high	335 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	295 FPS
1440p
low	372 FPS	366 FPS
medium	321 FPS	334 FPS
high	236 FPS	273 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	233 FPS
4K
low	199 FPS	245 FPS
medium	175 FPS	226 FPS
high	150 FPS	191 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	166 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 OEM and GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

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.

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1260 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 70 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,569 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 11,892 versus the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB's 26,569 — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB leads by 123.4%. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB uses Ampere, both on a 8 nm process. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Raw compute: 8.986 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Boost clocks: 1755 MHz vs 1710 MHz. Ray tracing: 20 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 70 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) with 80 Tensor cores vs 280.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
G3D Mark Score	11,892	26,569+123%
Architecture	Ampere	Ampere
Process Node	8 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2560	8960+250%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.986 TFLOPS	30.64 TFLOPS+241%
Boost Clock	1755 MHz+3%	1710 MHz
ROPs	32	96+200%
TMUs	80	280+250%
L1 Cache	2.5 MB	8.8 MB+252%
L2 Cache	2 MB	6 MB+200%
Ray Tracing Cores	20	70+250%
Tensor Cores	80	280+250%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
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 OEM comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 3080 12GB offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — a 307.1% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB. Bus width: 128-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	12 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	912 GB/s+307%
Bus Width	128-bit	384-bit+200%
L2 Cache	2 MB	6 MB+200%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
DirectX	12.2+2%	12 Ultimate
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 NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
Encoder	8th Gen NVENC	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode)	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM draws 130W versus the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB's 350W — a 91.7% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 235mm vs 285mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 3080 12GB
TDP	130W-63%	350W
Recommended PSU	450W-40%	750W
Power Connector	8-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	235mm	285mm
Height	124mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	91.5+21%	75.9

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3080 12GB launched at $1250. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM costs 80.1% less ($1001 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 47.8 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 21.3 (GeForce RTX 3080 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM offers 124.4% better value.