GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
On raw speed the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB comes out noticeably faster — about 8% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. But the GeForce GTX 980 is the better value, undercutting it by $130 USD for the performance you get.
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GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs GeForce GTX 980: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs GeForce GTX 980
The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is noticeably faster, around 8% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB packs 2,560 CUDA cores versus 2,048 on the GeForce GTX 980.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 980 currently lists from $80 USD, $130 USD less than the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB at $210 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 980 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~142% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 980 is trading below its $549 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 130W against 165W, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. 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 6GB carries 6GB versus 4GB on the GeForce GTX 980. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB is roughly 8 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 (Ampere vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 or GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?
Choose the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 980 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.