GeForce RTX 3060 8GB vs GeForce RTX 5050
The GeForce RTX 5050 is a big jump in performance — leading the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB by roughly 25% in our performance index. It also comes out ahead on value, making it the straightforward pick if the price fits your budget.
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GeForce RTX 5050 vs GeForce RTX 3060 8GB: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 5050 vs GeForce RTX 3060 8GB
The GeForce RTX 5050 is significantly faster, around 25% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to 1080p.
Price & Value
On price, expect to pay $235 EUR for the GeForce RTX 5050 versus $615 EUR for the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 5050 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 227%. The GeForce RTX 3060 8GB still sits about $286 EUR above its $329 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 5050 draws just 130W versus 170W for the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom. Its more modern Blackwell architecture on a TSMC 4N process is part of why it does more with each watt.
Memory & Bandwidth
The GeForce RTX 5050's memory is faster — 320 GB/s versus 240 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 5050 is roughly 4 years newer than the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB (Blackwell vs Ampere), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or GeForce RTX 5050?
The GeForce RTX 5050 is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 5050 better than the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or the GeForce RTX 5050?
Is the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB worth the extra $380 EUR over the GeForce RTX 5050?
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3060 8GB or GeForce RTX 5050?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | GeForce RTX 5050 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Blackwell |
| 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 8GB | GeForce RTX 5050 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,320 MHz | 2,310 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,777 MHz | 2,572 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | GeForce RTX 5050 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 15 Gbps | 20 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 240 GB/s | 320 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | GeForce RTX 5050 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x8 |
| TDP | 170 W | 130 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Feb 2021 | Jun 2025 |