GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop vs GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop comes out ahead: meaningfully ahead, about 11% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop vs GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop vs GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop
The GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop is noticeably faster, around 11% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop packs 2,048 CUDA cores versus 1,280 on the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop at 6GB versus 4GB on the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop — that extra 2GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop or GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop?
The GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop is the faster card by about 11%. 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 3050 Laptop better than the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop or the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop?
Does the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Can the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop or GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop handle ray tracing?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop or GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop | GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,280 | 2,048✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 0 | 16✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 0 | 64✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop | GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,404 MHz✓ | 1,237 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,670 MHz✓ | 1,500 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop | GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB✓ | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps | 12 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 192 GB/s | 192 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop | GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 80 W | 80 W |
| Power Connectors | None | None |
| Released | Aug 2016 | May 2021 |