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 6GB

2024

Why buy it

✅Costs $130 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Draws 70W instead of 115W, a 45W reduction.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 240mm, a 80mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅72.2% more average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌64.3% higher power demand at 115W vs 70W.
❌50% longer card at 240mm vs 160mm.

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

2024

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $130 less on MSRP ($169 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).
✅Draws 70W instead of 115W, a 45W reduction.
✅Measures 160mm instead of 240mm, a 80mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅72.2% more average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Weaker long-term outlook: GeForce RTX 4060 is the safer future-proof pick thanks to newer hardware and better gaming feature support.

Trade-offs

❌64.3% higher power demand at 115W vs 70W.
❌50% longer card at 240mm vs 160mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 better than GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 72.2% more average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data, 81.9% higher PassMark G3D performance, 96 vs 72 Tensor cores, and 8 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2023 instead of 2024, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 4060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 81.9% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB, better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of DLSS Super Resolution, and a 5nm process instead of 8nm. 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 4060 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 4060 is about 76.9% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $169 MSRP, and you are getting 72.2% more estimated average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data and 81.9% higher G3D Mark. It only holds a slight 2.8% edge in G3D-per-dollar, so the value lead is real but narrow. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the newer 2024 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture and lower power draw (70W vs 115W) than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce RTX 3050 6GB make more sense than GeForce RTX 4060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (70W vs 115W), and staying closer to $169 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce RTX 4060. The trade-off is that GeForce RTX 4060 currently gives you 81.9% higher G3D Mark and 72.2% more estimated average FPS across 29 tracked games in our benchmark data. It only holds a slight 2.8% edge in G3D-per-dollar, so the value lead is real but narrow.

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 6GB Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	109 FPS	167 FPS
medium	92 FPS	152 FPS
high	77 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	45 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	95 FPS	137 FPS
medium	81 FPS	114 FPS
high	59 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	90 FPS
4K
low	30 FPS	86 FPS
medium	28 FPS	74 FPS
high	19 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	16 FPS	55 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	174 FPS	392 FPS
medium	149 FPS	334 FPS
high	118 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	87 FPS	211 FPS
1440p
low	129 FPS	240 FPS
medium	106 FPS	209 FPS
high	83 FPS	169 FPS
ultra	62 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	74 FPS	119 FPS
medium	62 FPS	98 FPS
high	48 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	34 FPS	63 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	484 FPS	812 FPS
medium	387 FPS	642 FPS
high	322 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	242 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	363 FPS	535 FPS
medium	290 FPS	443 FPS
high	242 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	181 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	365 FPS
medium	193 FPS	297 FPS
high	161 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	121 FPS	186 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	243 FPS	746 FPS
medium	210 FPS	613 FPS
high	171 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	144 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	185 FPS	594 FPS
medium	166 FPS	486 FPS
high	131 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	109 FPS	330 FPS
4K
low	104 FPS	358 FPS
medium	87 FPS	308 FPS
high	69 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	220 FPS

Open GeForce RTX 3050 6GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and GeForce RTX 4060

GeForce RTX 3050 6GB

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 2 2024. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1042 MHz to 1470 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 70W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 18 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 10,749 points. Launch price was $179.

GeForce RTX 4060

The GeForce RTX 4060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1830 MHz to 2460 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 24 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,548 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB scores 10,749 versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 19,548 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 81.9%. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is built on Ampere while the GeForce RTX 4060 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 8 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,304 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060). Raw compute: 6.774 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 15.11 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060). Boost clocks: 1470 MHz vs 2460 MHz. Ray tracing: 18 RT cores (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 24 (GeForce RTX 4060) with 72 Tensor cores vs 96.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4060
G3D Mark Score	10,749	19,548+82%
Architecture	Ampere	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	8 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2304	3072+33%
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.774 TFLOPS	15.11 TFLOPS+123%
Boost Clock	1470 MHz	2460 MHz+67%
ROPs	32	48+50%
TMUs	72	96+33%
L1 Cache	2.3 MB	3 MB+30%
L2 Cache	2 MB	24 MB+1100%
Ray Tracing Cores	18	24+33%
Tensor Cores	72	96+33%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 is support for DLSS 3.5 + 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 6GB lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is capped at DLSS 2 Super Resolution.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4060
Upscaling Tech	DLSS 2 Super Resolution	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 168 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) — a 61.9% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Bus width: 96-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 24 MB (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4060
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	168 GB/s	272 GB/s+62%
Bus Width	96-bit	128-bit+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB	24 MB+1100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4060
DirectX	12 Ultimate	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060). Decoder: NVDEC (7th Gen) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only) (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060).

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4060
Encoder	NVENC (5th Gen)	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (7th Gen)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Decode Only)	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB draws 70W versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 115W — a 48.6% difference. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060). Power connectors: None vs 8-pin. Card length: 160mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 73°C.

Feature	GeForce RTX 3050 6GB	GeForce RTX 4060
TDP	70W-39%	115W
Recommended PSU	300W-45%	550W
Power Connector	None	8-pin
Length	160mm	240mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	73°C-3%
Perf/Watt	153.6	170.0+11%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB launched at $169 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4060 launched at $299. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB costs 43.5% less ($130 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 63.6 (GeForce RTX 3050 6GB) vs 65.4 (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 offers 2.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is the newer GPU (2024 vs 2023).