GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB comes out significantly faster — about 18% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1660. But the GeForce GTX 1660 is the better value, undercutting it by $70 USD for the performance you get.
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GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs GeForce GTX 1660: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3050 8GB vs GeForce GTX 1660
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is significantly faster, around 18% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1660. 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 1,408 on the GeForce GTX 1660.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 1660 currently lists from $155 USD, $70 USD less than the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB at $225 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 1660 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~23% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 1660 is trading below its $219 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
On power, the GeForce GTX 1660 is the gentler choice at 120W versus 130W. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 130W draw means more heat and a bigger PSU. 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 carries 8GB versus 6GB on the GeForce GTX 1660. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB's memory is also faster — 224 GB/s versus 192 GB/s (128-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is roughly 3 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1660 (Ampere vs Turing), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1660 or GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 1660 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.