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Due to its lower clock speed and poor performance as a budget graphics card, the NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB has become a meme in the PC gaming community. Undoubtedly it has a pretty bad reputation, but there are still particular contexts where it can be useful. I was one of the few people who counter ordered this card so now I am going to do a deep dive into the NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB and put it up against other contenders under $200 for a graphics card. I will flesh out the pros and cons and see if this card is worth the hassle.
Key Specifications and Features of the RTX 3050 6GB
Before diving into benchmarks and comparisons, let’s take a look at what you’re actually getting with the NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB.
- Lower VRAM and Reduced Clock Speeds
- VRAM: The NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB has 2GB less VRAM than the standard 8GB version, which significantly impacts its performance in memory-heavy tasks like gaming at high settings.
- Base Clock: The base clock has been downclocked by 500 MHz, while the boost clock has been reduced by about 300 MHz compared to the 8GB version. This makes the card less powerful overall.
- Memory Bus and Bandwidth Reduction
- Along with the reduced VRAM, the memory bus and bandwidth have also been cut down, resulting in a significant decrease in overall data throughput. This will limit the card’s ability to handle demanding tasks efficiently, especially at higher resolutions or when playing memory-intensive games.
- Power Requirements
- No External Power Connector: A major selling point for this card is that it doesn’t require an external power connector (no 6-pin or 8-pin cable needed). This makes it one of the few modern graphics cards that can be powered solely through the PCIe slot on the motherboard. This is ideal for budget builds, especially when using prebuilt desktops with power supplies that don’t have the necessary GPU connectors.
- Price
- The NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB is priced around $170 to $180, placing it in the budget GPU category. However, for this price, it faces some fierce competition from both used and new alternatives.
Who Should Consider the RTX 3050 6GB?
While this card has received a lot of backlash, it’s important to note that it could still serve a niche market. Here are a few scenarios where the NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB could be worth considering:
- Budget-Conscious Gamers Who Want an NVIDIA GPU
- Some gamers prefer to stay within the NVIDIA ecosystem because of the company’s strong brand presence and features like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and Ray Tracing. For those who want a new, budget-friendly NVIDIA card, the RTX 3050 6GB could be appealing, especially since it’s cheaper than the 8GB version.
- OEM Desktop Upgraders
- If you’ve bought an OEM desktop and the PSU doesn’t have a 6-pin or 8-pin connector for a GPU, the NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB could be a great option. It doesn’t require an external power supply connector, which makes it perfect for these kinds of upgrades.
- Entry-Level Gamers or Casual Gamers
- If you only need 1080p gaming at low to medium settings and aren’t too concerned with pushing the latest titles at ultra settings, the NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB might work. It can still provide playable frame rates at lower settings, which is fine for casual gaming.
Testing Rig and Benchmarks
To evaluate the RTX 3050 6GB properly, I’ve tested it against some of the most popular sub-$200 graphics cards available today: GTX 1660 Super, RX 5700 XT, and RX 6600. Here’s a quick rundown of the test system used:
- CPU: Intel i5-12600KF
- RAM: 32GB Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4
- Storage: 2TB Corsair MP600 Pro LPX NVMe SSD
- Case: Antec NX 416 LKS
We will test the NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB in 13 popular titles to determine how it holds up against the competition.
Benchmark Comparisons
NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB vs. GTX 1660 Super
- Price: The GTX 1660 Super is priced around $109 on the used market.
- Performance:
- The GTX 1660 Super performed slightly better than the RTX 3050 6GB in titles like Hogwarts Legacy, Cyberpunk, Rust, and Fortnite by 5-10%.
- The RTX 3050 had a slight edge in CPU-heavy games like Counter-Strike 2 and Valorant.
- Conclusion: On average, the GTX 1660 Super is about 1.5% slower than the 3050 6GB. The 1660 Super is also half the price of the 3050 6GB, making it a better deal overall.
RTX 3050 6GB vs. RX 6600
- Price: The RX 6600 is priced around $200 for a new unit.
- Performance:
- On average, the RX 6600 was 28% faster than the RTX 3050 6GB across all tested titles except for Counter-Strike 2, which is CPU-bound.
- Games like Cyberpunk, Starfield, and Fortnite all saw a noticeable performance increase with the RX 6600.
- Conclusion: If you’re willing to spend an extra $20-30, the RX 6600 is a much better performer with more VRAM (8GB vs 6GB). It provides better value in terms of performance per dollar.
RTX 3050 6GB vs. RX 5700 XT
- Price: The RX 5700 XT can be found on the used market for $140-150.
- Performance:
- The RX 5700 XT outperformed the RTX 3050 6GB by a 32% margin across the 13 titles tested.
- Games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Starfield showed a stark difference, with the RX 5700 XT delivering much smoother frame rates.
- Conclusion: The RX 5700 XT is an absolute steal at $140-150, providing nearly double the performance for just $30 more than the RTX 3050 6GB.
Overall Value and Performance Per Dollar
- The NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB can deliver playable 1080p gaming at lower settings, but its performance per dollar is lackluster compared to alternatives.
- For around the same price or cheaper, you can get the GTX 1660 Super, which offers similar performance but at half the price. Or, for just a little more money, you can go for the RX 6600 or RX 5700 XT, both of which outperform the RTX 3050 6GB by a significant margin.
Should You Buy the NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB?
If your priority is getting a brand-new NVIDIA GPU at the lowest possible price, then the RTX 3050 6GB might be for you. It’s an option for users who are loyal to NVIDIA or are looking to upgrade a prebuilt system with no external power connector.
However, if you care about performance per dollar, this card is not a great investment. Here’s why:
- The GTX 1660 Super provides almost the same performance for half the price.
- The RX 6600 and RX 5700 XT offer significantly better performance for just a little more money. These AMD cards come with more VRAM and offer a much better FPS per dollar ratio.
Conclusion
The NVIDIA RTX 3050 6GB is surely not the most recommended graphics card in the budget GPU category. Even though the card might be useful to people looking for an NVIDIA upgrade or brand new NVIDIA card, those looking for performance from a dollar spent would only get diminished returns when looking at older, used GPUs like the GTX 1660 Super Or even newer versions like the RX 6600 or RX 5700 XT.
If you’re willing to tweak settings for acceptable frame rates, the 3050 6GB can still handle 1080p gaming at medium to low settings in most titles. But if you’re after better value and performance, there are far better options available.
