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 $2,001 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $2,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 285.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 47.8 vs 12.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $2,250 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Draws 130W instead of 210W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 235mm instead of 267mm, a 32mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than RTX 4500 Ada Generation across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 24 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (80 vs 240), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: RTX 4500 Ada Generation is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

RTX 4500 Ada Generation

2023

Why buy it

✅122.3% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅200% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (240 vs 80).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
803.6% HIGHER MSRP
$2,250 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 12.4 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($2,250 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 210W vs 130W.
❌13.6% longer card at 267mm vs 235mm.

GeForce RTX 3050 OEM

2022

RTX 4500 Ada Generation

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,001 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $2,250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 285.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 47.8 vs 12.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $2,250 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅Draws 130W instead of 210W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 235mm instead of 267mm, a 32mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅122.3% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅200% more Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation, which can increase overall FPS in supported games (240 vs 80).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 GB vs 8 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than RTX 4500 Ada Generation across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 24 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Fewer Tensor Cores for AI-powered features like DLSS and frame generation (80 vs 240), which can reduce FPS gains in supported games.
❌Weaker long-term outlook: RTX 4500 Ada Generation is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌
803.6% HIGHER MSRP
$2,250 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 12.4 vs 47.8 G3D/$ ($2,250 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌61.5% higher power demand at 210W vs 130W.
❌13.6% longer card at 267mm vs 235mm.

Quick Answers

So, is RTX 4500 Ada Generation better than GeForce RTX 3050 OEM?

Yes. RTX 4500 Ada Generation is clearly the better overall GPU here. RTX 4500 Ada Generation averages 122.3% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 27,850 vs 11,892 in G3D Mark. On top of that, RTX 4500 Ada Generation is a 2023 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, 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?

RTX 4500 Ada Generation is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2022, 134.2% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 24 GB instead of 8 GB, and the stronger feature stack with no meaningful modern upscaling stack instead of DLSS Super Resolution. 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?

RTX 4500 Ada Generation is about 803.6% more expensive on MSRP at $2,250 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 122.3% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 134.2% 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, RTX 4500 Ada Generation 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, RTX 4500 Ada Generation 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

RTX 4500 Ada Generation Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	RTX 4500 Ada Generation
1080p
low	130 FPS	225 FPS
medium	113 FPS	209 FPS
high	99 FPS	183 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	167 FPS
1440p
low	119 FPS	203 FPS
medium	96 FPS	171 FPS
high	81 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	69 FPS	133 FPS
4K
low	64 FPS	137 FPS
medium	57 FPS	115 FPS
high	39 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	33 FPS	87 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open RTX 4500 Ada Generation

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	RTX 4500 Ada Generation
1080p
low	239 FPS	671 FPS
medium	206 FPS	545 FPS
high	164 FPS	398 FPS
ultra	128 FPS	343 FPS
1440p
low	163 FPS	499 FPS
medium	135 FPS	404 FPS
high	112 FPS	321 FPS
ultra	92 FPS	263 FPS
4K
low	88 FPS	269 FPS
medium	74 FPS	224 FPS
high	62 FPS	199 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	167 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open RTX 4500 Ada Generation

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	RTX 4500 Ada Generation
1080p
low	535 FPS	931 FPS
medium	428 FPS	751 FPS
high	357 FPS	661 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	572 FPS
1440p
low	401 FPS	721 FPS
medium	321 FPS	580 FPS
high	268 FPS	499 FPS
ultra	201 FPS	427 FPS
4K
low	268 FPS	499 FPS
medium	214 FPS	402 FPS
high	178 FPS	352 FPS
ultra	134 FPS	296 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open RTX 4500 Ada Generation

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	RTX 4500 Ada Generation
1080p
low	467 FPS	914 FPS
medium	414 FPS	763 FPS
high	335 FPS	693 FPS
ultra	268 FPS	617 FPS
1440p
low	372 FPS	719 FPS
medium	321 FPS	598 FPS
high	236 FPS	526 FPS
ultra	197 FPS	464 FPS
4K
low	199 FPS	486 FPS
medium	175 FPS	417 FPS
high	150 FPS	374 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	313 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 OEM Open RTX 4500 Ada Generation

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 OEM and RTX 4500 Ada Generation

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.

RTX 4500 Ada Generation

The RTX 4500 Ada Generation is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 9 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2070 MHz to 2580 MHz. It has 7680 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 210W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 60 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 27,850 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM scores 11,892 versus the RTX 4500 Ada Generation's 27,850 — the RTX 4500 Ada Generation leads by 134.2%. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is built on Ampere while the RTX 4500 Ada Generation uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 7,680 (RTX 4500 Ada Generation). Raw compute: 8.986 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 39.63 TFLOPS (RTX 4500 Ada Generation). Boost clocks: 1755 MHz vs 2580 MHz. Ray tracing: 20 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 60 (RTX 4500 Ada Generation) with 80 Tensor cores vs 240.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	RTX 4500 Ada Generation
G3D Mark Score	11,892	27,850+134%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2560	7680+200%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.986 TFLOPS	39.63 TFLOPS+341%
Boost Clock	1755 MHz	2580 MHz+47%
ROPs	32	80+150%
TMUs	80	240+200%
L1 Cache	2.5 MB	7.5 MB+200%
L2 Cache	2 MB	48 MB+2300%
Ray Tracing Cores	20	60+200%
Tensor Cores	80	240+200%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The RTX 4500 Ada Generation supports the newer Upscaling support, whereas the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	RTX 4500 Ada Generation
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	Upscaling support
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 RTX 4500 Ada Generation has 24 GB. The RTX 4500 Ada Generation offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 448 GB/s (RTX 4500 Ada Generation) — a 100% advantage for the RTX 4500 Ada Generation. Bus width: 128-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 48 MB (RTX 4500 Ada Generation) — the RTX 4500 Ada Generation has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	RTX 4500 Ada Generation
VRAM Capacity	8 GB	24 GB+200%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	448 GB/s+100%
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	2 MB	48 MB+2300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 12.2 (RTX 4500 Ada Generation). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	RTX 4500 Ada Generation
DirectX	12.2	12.2
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs NVENC 8th Gen (RTX 4500 Ada Generation). Decoder: 5th Gen NVDEC vs NVDEC 5th Gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs AV1,HEVC,H.264,VP9 (RTX 4500 Ada Generation).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	RTX 4500 Ada Generation
Encoder	8th Gen NVENC	NVENC 8th Gen
Decoder	5th Gen NVDEC	NVDEC 5th Gen
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode)	AV1,HEVC,H.264,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM draws 130W versus the RTX 4500 Ada Generation's 210W — a 47.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 650W (RTX 4500 Ada Generation). Power connectors: 8-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 235mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 OEM	RTX 4500 Ada Generation
TDP	130W-38%	210W
Recommended PSU	450W-31%	650W
Power Connector	8-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	235mm	267mm
Height	124mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	91.5	132.6+45%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM launched at $249 MSRP, while the RTX 4500 Ada Generation launched at $2250. The GeForce RTX 3050 OEM costs 88.9% less ($2001 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 47.8 (GeForce RTX 3050 OEM) vs 12.4 (RTX 4500 Ada Generation) — the GeForce RTX 3050 OEM offers 285.5% better value. The RTX 4500 Ada Generation is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2022).