NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050

FPS benchmarks across 148 games (reference CPU: r9-9950x3D2), live prices, popularity and community builds.

Nvidia

RTX 3060

Ampere · 12 GB GDDR6

#17 / 69
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
Overall score Relative gaming performance score, based on the average FPS measured across our benchmarked games. 100 = the fastest card in our catalog.29/100

Lowest price

$400

FPS / $

0.928

Nvidia

RTX 5050

Blackwell · 8 GB GDDR6

#14 / 69
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050
Overall score Relative gaming performance score, based on the average FPS measured across our benchmarked games. 100 = the fastest card in our catalog.20/100

Lowest price

$300

FPS / $

1.327

Our verdict

  • The RTX 5050 is on average 12% faster than the RTX 3060 at 1440p across our reference games.
  • The RTX 5050 is currently $100 cheaper ($300 vs $400).
  • With 1.327 FPS/$, the RTX 5050 offers the best price-to-performance ratio.
  • The RTX 3060 packs more video memory (12 GB vs 8 GB), an advantage for 4K and heavy textures.

Gaming performance

Benchmarks measured with a r9-9950x3D2 to avoid bottlenecking the graphics cards.

RTX 3060
RTX 5050
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

+3%
351 FPS
1% low 201
361 FPS
1% low 207
Apex Legends

Apex Legends

+13%
203 FPS
1% low 141
229 FPS
1% low 149
Grand Theft Auto V

Grand Theft Auto V

+16%
68 FPS
1% low 54
79 FPS
1% low 57
Red Dead Redemption 2

Red Dead Redemption 2

+7%
106 FPS
1% low 77
113 FPS
1% low 83
Cyberpunk 2077

Cyberpunk 2077

+4%
80 FPS
1% low 59
83 FPS
1% low 63
Rocket League

Rocket League

+11%
635 FPS
1% low 271
703 FPS
1% low 293
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

Call of Duty: Black Ops 6

+18%
115 FPS
1% low 92
136 FPS
1% low 99
Crimson Desert

Crimson Desert

+7%
89 FPS
1% low 65
95 FPS
1% low 70

FPS / $

The higher the number, the better the performance you get for your money.

RTX 3060
0.928
RTX 5050
1.327

Want to see FPS in other games? Explore all our benchmarks

Specifications

RTX 3060 RTX 5050
ArchitectureAmpere Blackwell
Release date2021-02 2025-07
Video memory12 GB 8 GB
Memory typeGDDR6 GDDR6
Memory bus192 bit 128 bit
Bandwidth360 GB/s 320 GB/s
Shading units3584 2560
Boost clock1777 MHz 2570 MHz
Power draw (TDP)170 W 130 W
Recommended PSU550 W 550 W
InterfacePCIe 4.0 x16 PCIe 5.0 x8
Launch price$329 $249

Popularity on DropReference

RTX 3060

#17 / 69
Popularity score4.7/100
Share of builds Percentage of builds created by the DropReference community that use this GPU.0.3%

Number of builds created with this GPU

133

Average build price

$988

RTX 5050

#14 / 69
Popularity score11.3/100
Share of builds Percentage of builds created by the DropReference community that use this GPU.1.3%

Number of builds created with this GPU

313

Average build price

$864

All models

Real-time prices and stock in your region

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Frequently asked questions

Which is the better graphics card, the RTX 3060 or the RTX 5050?

The RTX 5050 is on average 12% faster than the RTX 3060 at 1440p across our reference games. The RTX 5050 is currently $100 cheaper ($300 vs $400). With 1.327 FPS/$, the RTX 5050 offers the best price-to-performance ratio. The RTX 3060 packs more video memory (12 GB vs 8 GB), an advantage for 4K and heavy textures.

Which card should you pick for 1440p gaming: RTX 3060 or RTX 5050?

At 1440p, the RTX 3060 averages 332 FPS versus 372 FPS for the RTX 5050 across our reference games.

What power supply do you need for the RTX 3060?

A power supply of around 550 W is recommended for the RTX 3060. On DropReference, the most used PSU with this card is the MSI MAG A650BN 650W 80 Plus Bronze Black.

What power supply do you need for the RTX 5050?

A power supply of around 550 W is recommended for the RTX 5050. On DropReference, the most used PSU with this card is the Corsair RM750e 750W 80 Plus Gold Fully Modular Black.

Which CPU should you pair with the RTX 3060?

In community builds, the CPU most often paired with the RTX 3060 is the r5-5500 (16 builds).

Which CPU should you pair with the RTX 5050?

In community builds, the CPU most often paired with the RTX 5050 is the r5-5500 (156 builds).

How much does the RTX 3060 cost right now?

The RTX 3060 is available from $400. We track 25 models in real time.

How much does the RTX 5050 cost right now?

The RTX 5050 is available from $300. We track 9 models in real time.

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 delivers smooth gameplay at 1080p and 1440p thanks to the Ampere architecture. Featuring 12 GB of GDDR6 memory, it's ideal for gamers seeking great performance at a reasonable price. Supports ray tracing and DLSS for more realistic graphics and better frame rates.

Other comparisons

See all GPU comparisons