GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
Only verified data for GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is available. Benchmarks for other models are currently being processed.
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB comes out significantly faster — about 20% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the cheaper option by $800 CAD.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is significantly faster, around 20% ahead of the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 2,560 on the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop.
Price & Value
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB currently lists from $300 CAD, $800 CAD less than the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop at $1,100 CAD. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is trading below its $329 CAD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 115W against 170W, the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern Ada Lovelace architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB carries 12GB versus 6GB on the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop. The extra 6GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's memory is also faster — 360 GB/s versus 192 GB/s (192-bit vs 96-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB (Ada Lovelace vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop?
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the faster card by about 20%. With live pricing limited for this pair, base your decision on the spec differences above — particularly VRAM and power draw — and check current stock before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB better than the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop?
Is the GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop worth the extra $800 CAD over the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | TSMC 4N |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 3,584✓ | 2,560 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 28✓ | 20 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 112✓ | 80 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,320 MHz | 1,455 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz | 2,370 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 12 GB✓ | 6 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit✓ | 96-bit |
| Memory Speed | 15 Gbps | 16 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 360 GB/s✓ | 192 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 4050 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 170 W | 115 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | None |
| Released | Feb 2021 | Feb 2023 |
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