GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
Only verified data for GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is available. Benchmarks for other models are currently being processed.
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is dramatically faster than the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop, leading by roughly 80% in our performance index. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the cheaper option by $409 USD.
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Comparable or lower specs
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce RTX 3060 12GB vs GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is dramatically faster, around 80% ahead of the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 2,048 on the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB also has more RT cores (28 vs 16) and more AI cores (112 vs 64), strengthening its ray-tracing and AI-upscaling performance.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB starts at $300 USD against $709 USD for the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is trading below its $329 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop draws just 80W versus 170W for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 12GB against 4GB, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop's 4GB can fall short. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's memory is also faster — 360 GB/s versus 192 GB/s (192-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop or GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the faster card by about 80%. 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 3060 12GB better than the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop or the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Is the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop worth the extra $409 USD over the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB?
Does the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which is better for ray tracing, the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB or the GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ampere |
| Process Node | Samsung 8nm | Samsung 8nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,048 | 3,584✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 16 | 28✓ |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 64 | 112✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,237 MHz | 1,320 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,500 MHz | 1,777 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 192-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 12 Gbps | 15 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 192 GB/s | 360 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | PCIe 4.0 x16 |
| TDP | 80 W✓ | 170 W |
| Power Connectors | None | 1x 8-pin |
| Released | May 2021 | Feb 2021 |
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