Geforce GTX 1050 vs GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
Performance-wise the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 267% up on the Geforce GTX 1050. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
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Comparable or lower specs
GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs Geforce GTX 1050: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs Geforce GTX 1050
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is dramatically faster, around 267% ahead of the Geforce GTX 1050. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB packs 2,560 CUDA cores versus 640 on the Geforce GTX 1050.
Price & Value
Right now the Geforce GTX 1050 starts at $65 USD against $140 USD for the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB wins on performance-per-dollar by about 70%. The Geforce GTX 1050 is trading below its $109 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is trading below its $249 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The Geforce GTX 1050 is the lighter draw at 75W against the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB's 130W, making it the easier card to power and cool. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB draws more in absolute terms but squeezes out more performance per watt, so budget for a beefier PSU if you go that route. Its more modern Ampere architecture on a Samsung 8nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB's 8GB (vs 2GB on the Geforce GTX 1050) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB's memory is also faster — 224 GB/s versus 112 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is roughly 6 years newer than the Geforce GTX 1050 (Ampere vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: Geforce GTX 1050 or GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB 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 GTX 1050 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB better than the Geforce GTX 1050?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the Geforce GTX 1050 or the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB worth the extra $75 USD over the Geforce GTX 1050?
Does the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: Geforce GTX 1050 or GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | Geforce GTX 1050 | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Ampere |
| Process Node | Samsung 14nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 640 | 2,560✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 20 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 80 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | Geforce GTX 1050 | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,354 MHz | 1,552 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,455 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | Geforce GTX 1050 | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 8 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 14 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 112 GB/s | 224 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | Geforce GTX 1050 | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 75 W✓ | 130 W |
| Power Connectors | None | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Oct 2016 | Jan 2022 |