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 $50 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Measures 235mm instead of 241mm, a 6mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5060 across 17 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 5060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 47.8 vs 69.7 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 5060

2025

Why buy it

✅61.9% more average FPS across 17 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 45.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 69.7 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅More future proof: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

GeForce RTX 5060

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Measures 235mm instead of 241mm, a 6mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅61.9% more average FPS across 17 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 45.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 69.7 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅More future proof: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5060 across 17 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 5060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 47.8 vs 69.7 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 5060 better than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM?

Yes. GeForce RTX 5060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 5060 averages 61.9% more FPS across 17 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 20,836 vs 11,892 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 5060 is a 2025 card with DLSS 4 + Multi Frame Gen, 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 5060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2025 generation instead of 2022, 75.2% more raw performance headroom, better upscaling support with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025) instead of DLSS Super Resolution, and a 5nm process instead of 8nm. That broader feature stack should age better as more games lean on modern upscaling and frame-generation support.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce RTX 5060 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 5060 is about 20.1% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 61.9% more estimated average FPS across 17 tracked games in our benchmark data and 75.2% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 45.9%. 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 GeForce RTX 5060 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

GeForce RTX 5060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 5060
1080p
low	130 FPS	176 FPS
medium	113 FPS	161 FPS
high	99 FPS	141 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	123 FPS
1440p
low	119 FPS	141 FPS
medium	96 FPS	117 FPS
high	81 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	93 FPS
4K
low	64 FPS	92 FPS
medium	57 FPS	78 FPS
high	39 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	33 FPS	59 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open GeForce RTX 5060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 5060
1080p
low	239 FPS	378 FPS
medium	206 FPS	322 FPS
high	164 FPS	256 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	205 FPS
1440p
low	163 FPS	237 FPS
medium	135 FPS	206 FPS
high	112 FPS	166 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	134 FPS
4K
low	88 FPS	117 FPS
medium	74 FPS	97 FPS
high	62 FPS	80 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open GeForce RTX 5060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 5060
1080p
low	535 FPS	835 FPS
medium	428 FPS	676 FPS
high	357 FPS	594 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	469 FPS
1440p
low	401 FPS	639 FPS
medium	321 FPS	516 FPS
high	268 FPS	443 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	352 FPS
4K
low	268 FPS	422 FPS
medium	214 FPS	339 FPS
high	178 FPS	289 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	234 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open GeForce RTX 5060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 5060
1080p
low	467 FPS	743 FPS
medium	414 FPS	608 FPS
high	335 FPS	532 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	469 FPS
1440p
low	372 FPS	600 FPS
medium	321 FPS	490 FPS
high	236 FPS	424 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	352 FPS
4K
low	199 FPS	362 FPS
medium	175 FPS	310 FPS
high	150 FPS	287 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	234 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open GeForce RTX 5060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 OEM and GeForce RTX 5060

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 5060

The GeForce RTX 5060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 19 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2280 MHz to 2497 MHz. It has 3840 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 145W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 30 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 20,836 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 11,892 versus the GeForce RTX 5060's 20,836 — the GeForce RTX 5060 leads by 75.2%. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 5060 uses Blackwell 2.0, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 3,840 (GeForce RTX 5060). Raw compute: 8.986 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 19.18 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5060). Boost clocks: 1755 MHz vs 2497 MHz. Ray tracing: 20 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 30 (GeForce RTX 5060) with 80 Tensor cores vs 120.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 5060
G3D Mark Score	11,892	20,836+75%
Architecture	Ampere	Blackwell 2.0
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2560	3840+50%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.986 TFLOPS	19.18 TFLOPS+113%
Boost Clock	1755 MHz	2497 MHz+42%
ROPs	32	48+50%
TMUs	80	120+50%
L1 Cache	2.5 MB	3.8 MB+52%
L2 Cache	2 MB	32 MB+1500%
Ray Tracing Cores	20	30+50%
Tensor Cores	80	120+50%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 5060 is support for DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. 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 5060 supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 5060
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 4)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

Both cards feature 8 GB of video memory. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5060) — a 100% advantage for the GeForce RTX 5060. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 5060) — the GeForce RTX 5060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 5060
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	8 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR7
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	448 GB/s+100%
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	32 MB+1500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 5060). 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 5060
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 9th gen (GeForce RTX 5060). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs NVDEC 6th gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 5060).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 5060
Encoder	8th Gen NVENC	NVENC 9th gen
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	NVDEC 6th 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 5060's 145W — a 10.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 450W (GeForce RTX 5060). Power connectors: 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 235mm vs 241mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 65°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	GeForce RTX 5060
TDP	130W-10%	145W
Recommended PSU	450W	450W
Power Connector	8-pin	8-pin
Length	235mm	241mm
Height	124mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	65°C-13%
Perf/Watt	91.5	143.7+57%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 5060 launched at $299. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM costs 16.7% less ($50 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 47.8 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 69.7 (GeForce RTX 5060) — the GeForce RTX 5060 offers 45.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 5060 is the newer GPU (2025 vs 2022).