GeForce RTX 3050 8GB against GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB leads on the overall index. Typical prices, not live ones.
The verdict
- The RTX 3060 12GB is 39% faster at 1440p.
- At 4K the gap is 82% in the RTX 3060 12GB's favour.
- RTX 3060 12GB carries 12 GB of video memory against 8 GB.
- The RTX 3050 8GB typically costs $80 less.
Head to head
| Measure | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | Gap |
|---|---|---|---|
| Spec score | 18 | 26 | 8 ptsright |
| Games at 1080p | 22 | 30 | 8 ptsright |
| Games at 1440p | 18 | 25 | 7 ptsright |
| Games at 4K | 11 | 20 | 9 ptsright |
| Rendering and video | 22 | 30 | 8 ptsright |
| Value, points per $100 | 9.5 | 9.7 | 2%right |
| Typical price | $189 | $269 | $80left |
| Video memory | 8 GB | 12 GB | 50%right |
| Board power | 130 W | 170 W | 31%left |
| Length | 200 mm | 240 mm | 20%left |
Which one for what
| Use | Pick | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Office & everyday | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 22 vs 30 for snappy single-core speed, quiet running, and a card that drives two or three screens without fuss. |
| Coding & development | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 20 vs 28 for cores for builds and containers, plenty of memory, fast storage, and a card for several screens or a local model. |
| Light gaming | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 22 vs 30 for 1080p frame rates per dollar. |
| Gaming | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 18 vs 25 for 1440p frame rates, with a CPU that will not hold the card back. |
| Heavy gaming | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 11 vs 20 for the strongest graphics card the budget allows. |
| Content creation | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 20 vs 28 for export times: many cores, a card with good encoders, lots of memory. |
| 3D & rendering | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 21 vs 29 for all-core throughput and render speed. |
| Gaming & streaming | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 19 vs 27 for frame rates with headroom for the encoder and the chat. |
| AI & local models | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | 22 vs 31 for video memory first, then card speed, then system memory. |
Specifications
| Spec | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB |
|---|---|---|
| Video memory | 8 GB | 12 GB |
| Board power | 130 W | 170 W |
| Length | 200 mm | 240 mm |
| Power connector | PCIe 8-pin | PCIe 8-pin |
| Brand | Nvidia | Nvidia |
| Released | 2022 | 2021 |
| Typical price | $189 | $269 |