GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce RTX 3050 6GB
The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB pulls ahead here — in a different league, about 43% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. But the GeForce GTX 980 is the better value, undercutting it by $70 USD for the performance you get.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
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 dramatically faster, around 43% 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
Pricing has the GeForce GTX 980 at $80 USD, $70 USD under the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB's $150 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 980 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~31% 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
Power draw favors the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB (130W vs 165W), and it's the more efficient card too, so it's the easy pick if thermals or a smaller PSU matter. 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.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB better than the GeForce GTX 980?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 980 or the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB worth the extra $70 USD over the GeForce GTX 980?
Does the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 or GeForce RTX 3050 6GB?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Ampere |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,048 | 2,560✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | — | 20 |
| Tensor / AI Cores | — | 80 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,126 MHz | 1,552 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,216 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 6 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit✓ | 128-bit |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 14 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 224.3 GB/s✓ | 224 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| TDP | 165 W | 130 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 2x 6-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Sep 2014 | Jan 2022 |