RTX 3050 Vs 2060: Does Cheaper Equate Better?

Both the RTX 3050 and RTX 2060 are affordable graphics cards, but a lot of users are currently confused about which one to go with. To help you out, we are going to conduct an in-depth RTX 3050 vs RTX 2060 comparison to find out which one is better for gaming. 

Key Takeaways

• Firstly, the RTX 3050 and RTX 2060 are built on different architectures, with the former using the newer Ampere architecture, while the latter relies on the older Turing architecture.
• In terms of benchmarking, when the average FPS of every game is summed up, it becomes clear that the RTX 2060 outperforms the RTX 3050 by approximately 11%.
• In addition, the RTX 2060 has a significantly higher TDP compared to the RTX 3050, with a 56% increase in power consumption, leading to more heat generation while gaming.
• Moreover, the RTX 2060 also offers better value than the RTX 3050. Specifically, the RTX 3050 is priced at approximately 20% more than the RTX 2060.

Specifications Comparison

In any case, before we look at the practical results, let’s look at the on-paper specifications of both graphics cards. Moreover, knowing what to expect from a GPU is important before we see it in action.

To that end, if we look at the table, we see that the RTX 2060 probably performs better. To explain, the RTX 2060 has a significantly greater number of tensor cores. Subsequently, the RTX 2060 has a better memory bandwidth too.

However, the RTX 3050 might have a better TDP, requiring 130 watts of power. Additionally, the RTX 3050 has a greater number of transistors as well. While the RTX 3050 has more VRAM, the 12 GB 2060 variant is even stronger. On the other hand, thanks to the different architectures, we will see variant temperatures for both GPUs in our tests.

Also Read: RX 6600 Vs RTX 2060RX 6600 Vs RTX 2060

Lastly, regarding the price, the RTX 2060 has a lower price than the RTX 3050. Although the pricing for the RTX 3050 is absurd, if its performance is lower than the RTX 2060s, then the battle will be one-sided. Overall, the price gap between both graphics cards stands at ~20%, with the RTX 3050 costing more.

Gaming Benchmarks For The RTX 3050 Vs 2060

Of course, after looking at the specifications of both graphics cards, it’s important to view their actual performance. For that reason, we shall test both GPUs at 1080P in several games to figure out which is better. Also, the main purposes of the tests will be to determine the performance per dollar ratio and raw rasterization power. Testing Games has conducted the following benchmarks.

Testing Rig

• Processor: Intel i9-12900K
• Motherboard: MSI MPG Z690 Force
• RAM: ADATA 32 GB DDR5 5200 MHz
• CPU Cooler: Be Quiet! Dark Rock Pro 4
• Storage: 2 x SAMSUNG 970 EVO M.2 2280 1TB
• Graphics Card: GeForce RTX 2060 6GB & GeForce RTX 3050 8GB

God Of War

Talking about the frame times, the RTX 3050 has slower frames than the RTX 2060. Of course, this would be a problem if the game was a shooter-type competitive one. Although God of War isn’t a competitive game, the slower frames won’t affect gameplay much. The RTX 3050 has ~11.59% slower frames than the RTX 2060.

Furthermore, looking at the temperatures, we see that the RTX 3050 is cooler than the RTX 2060. While the improved architecture plays a role, it’s important to note that the RTX 2060 performs better. Moreover, if we analyze the power draw, we see that the RTX 3050 utilizes significantly lower watts. Thus, the RTX 3050 has a better TDP, but the RTX 2060 might have better cooling.

Lastly, glancing at the FPS, we notice that the RTX 2060 is a bit faster than the RTX 3050. To explain, the RTX 2060 is ~10.7% faster than its competitor. If we take a look at the pricing, the RTX 3050 is ~20% more expensive. Therefore, the RTX 2060 has a much better performance per dollar ratio, making it more valuable.

Forza Horizon 5

We see that the RTX 3050 has significantly slower frames than its competitor. While both graphics cards show slow frame times, the RTX 3050 is exceptionally slow. To explain, the RTX 3050 has ~25% slower frames. Of course, if the game were competitive, we suggest going with the RTX 2060. But, Forza Horizon 5 isn’t a shooter-type game, so that it won’t affect your gameplay.

Furthermore, looking at the temperatures, we realize that the RTX 3050 is slightly cooler than the RTX 2060. Also, the RTX 3050 consumes significantly lower power than the RTX 2060, making it more efficient. Although we see that the RTX 2060 has more performance, it has better cooling than its adversary. On the other hand, the RTX 3050 has a better TDP due to lower power usage.

Lastly, glancing at the FPS, we notice that the RTX 2060 is slightly faster than the RTX 3050. But, for the RTX 3050, the slight performance decreases couples to a severe disadvantage due to its price. In summary, the RTX 2060 is ~11% faster than the RTX 3050. Therefore, the RTX 2060 has a better performance per dollar ratio, making it more valuable.

Cyberpunk 2077

Looking at the frame times, we see that both graphics cards have extremely slow frames. However, the RTX 3050 has slower frames than the RTX 2060. To explain, the RTX 3050 has ~25% slower frames than its challenger, which stays in the lead for frame times. Be that as it may, the frame times won’t affect the gaming performance much because Cyberpunk 2077 isn’t competitive.

Also Read: RTX 2060 Vs RX Vega 56

Secondly, talking about the temperatures, we realize that the RTX 3050 is slightly cooler than the RTX 2060. Although the RTX 2060 has better performance, its cooling abilities are greater. But, in retrospect, the RTX 3050 consumes lower power than the RTX 2060, making it more efficient.

Lastly, glancing at the FPS, we notice that both graphics cards barely hang around 30 FPS. But this is because of testing the RTX 3050 Vs 2060 ray tracing performance. Moreover, the RTX 2060 is ~21% faster than the RTX 3050 in Cyberpunk 2077 with enabling RTX. Therefore, not only is the RTX 2060 faster, it has a better performance per dollar ratio too.

Assassin’s Creed Valhalla

In this RTX 3050 vs RTX 2060 test, we see that the RTX 3050 has significantly slower frames. While we see similar frame times in the other games, the difference is massive for Assassin’s Creed Valhalla. In other words, the RTX 3050 has ~30% slower frames than the RTX 2060. Of course, not being a shooter-type competitive game, there isn’t going to be much of a difference in gameplay. But the difference in frame times is present, making the RTX 2060 better.

Furthermore, glancing at the temperatures, we notice that the RTX 3050 is significantly cooler than its adversary. Moreover, the former has lower power usage, making it more efficient. Thus, the RTX 3050 has better cooling and TDP, at least in Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.

Lastly, looking at the FPS, we understand that the RTX 2060 is slightly faster than the RTX 3050. Because the RTX 3050 costs more, it should have better performance, not its competitor. Although, what we see in the benchmarks is the complete opposite. To explain, the RTX 2060 is ~10.3% faster than the RTX 3050. Therefore, the RTX 2060 is faster and has a better performance per dollar ratio.

Microsoft Flight Simulator

While both graphics cards show terrible frame times, the RTX 3050 is above and beyond the RTX 2060. To that end, the RTX 3050 has ~13% slower frame times than its competitor. But the slower frame times won’t affect gameplay much because it doesn’t require quick reflexes.

Furthermore, talking about temperatures, we notice that the RTX 3050 is slightly cooler than the RTX 2060. Also, the RTX 3050 uses significantly lower power, improving its overall TDP. On the other hand, because the RTX 2060 has better performance, its cooling capabilities are better.

To conclude, we glance at the FPS and realize that the RTX 2060 is slightly faster than the RTX 3050. Because the RTX 3050 has a higher price tag, it loses in pricing and performance. So, the RTX 2060 has a better performance per dollar ratio and greater overall performance. Therefore, if you’re looking for an affordable 1080P gaming graphics card, the RTX 2060 might fit the bill.

Horizon Zero Dawn

For Horizon Zero Dawn, we see that the RTX 3050 has significantly slower frames than its competitor. Although both graphics cards have gruesome frame times, the RTX 3050s are worse. To explain, the RTX 3050 has ~23% slower frames than the RTX 2060. But as the game isn’t competitive, the frame times won’t affect the gameplay much.

Secondly, talking about the temperatures, we realize that the RTX 3050 is remarkably cooler than the RTX 2060. Furthermore, the RTX 3050 uses significantly lower power than its rival. So, the RTX 3050 has a better TDP and cooling than the RTX 2060. But it’s important to note that the RTX 2060 performs better than the 3050, which affects higher usage and temperatures.

Lastly, glancing at the FPS, we notice that the RTX 2060 is quite faster than the RTX 3050. To that end, the RTX 2060 has a lower price tag too. In summary, the RTX 2060 costs ~20% less while having a performance boost of ~18.33% in Horizon Zero Dawn. Thus, the RTX 2060 is the GPU to go with if you want great 1080P performance at a low cost.

Red Dead Redemption 2

Glancing at the frame times, we understand that the RTX 3050 has slightly slower frames. That is to say, the RTX 3050 has ~12% slower frames than the RTX 2060. However, as Red Dead Redemption 2 isn’t a competitive game, the frame delay won’t affect gameplay.

Furthermore, talking about the temperatures, we see that the RTX 2060 has a lower temperature for once. Although the difference isn’t large, this is the first out of all the games tested until now. On the other hand, the RTX 3050 is more efficient with significantly lower power usage. So, the RTX 2060 has better cooling, while the RTX 3050 is significantly more efficient in terms of power.

Lastly, looking at the FPS, the RTX 2060 is slightly faster than the RTX 3050. In contrast, out of all the other games, RDR2 is alone in having a performance gap of lower than 10%. In other words, the RTX 2060 is ~9.2% faster than the RTX 3050 in Red Dead Redemption 2. But that doesn’t mean that the RTX 3050 performs better per dollar; the crown is still with the RTX 2060.

Hitman 3

For once, we see that there is barely any difference between both graphics cards. To explain, the RTX 3050 has slightly slower frames by ~4% than the RTX 2060. Until now, we have seen greater gaps between the frame times in the other games. Of course, the frame times won’t matter much in gameplay, as Hitman 3 isn’t a competitive shooter-type game.

Secondly, looking at the temperatures, the RTX 3050 is slightly cooler than the RTX 2060. Moreover, the RTX 3050 uses remarkably lower power making it more efficient than its adversary. But, it’s important to note that the RTX 2060 performs better than the RTX 3050, causing a rise in temperatures. Overall, the RTX 3050 is more power efficient, while the RTX 2060 has better cooling.

Also Check: RTX 2060 Vs 3060

Lastly, glancing at the FPS, we see that the RTX 2060 is slightly faster than the RTX 3050. In summary, the RTX 2060 is ~5.68% faster than the RTX 3050. Therefore, if you’re looking for a budget graphics card for raw rasterization, the RTX 2060 is the better choice. Because you not only get more FPS, the performance per dollar ratio is better as well.

Player’s Unknown Battlegrounds (PUBG)

There is a major difference between the frame times of both GPUs. The RTX 3050 has significantly slower frames than the RTX 2060. To explain, the RTX 3050 has ~55% slower frames than its competitor. Above all, as the game is competitive and supports shooter-type gameplay, the loss in frame times is massive. For that reason, we don’t recommend the RTX 3050 if you’re going to play competitive games.

Secondly, glancing at the temperatures, both graphics cards show almost identical temperatures. However, the RTX 3050 is 1C cooler than the RTX 2060. In terms of power usage, the RTX 3050 uses less power than its competitor. Therefore, the RTX 2060 has better cooling while the RTX 3050 is more power efficient. But we must remember that the RTX 2060 performs better, affecting power consumption.

Lastly, taking note of the FPS, we realize that the RTX 2060 is slightly faster than the RTX 3050. In summary, the RTX 2060 is ~9.6% faster than the RTX 3050. So, the RTX 2060 has a lower price yet better performance, increasing its value. Additionally, as PUBG is a shooter-type game, more FPS can give players a slight advantage, granting them a win.

Witcher 3

The RTX 3050 has slightly slower frames in The Witcher 3. To explain, the RTX 3050 has ~12.65% slower frames than the RTX 2060. However, as Witcher 3 isn’t a shooter-type competitive game, the gameplay will not be affected as much.

Furthermore, looking at the temperatures, we realize that the RTX 3050 is moderately cooler than the RTX 2060. Moreover, the RTX 3050 uses remarkably less power than the RTX 2060, making it more power efficient. Although, it’s important to note that the RTX 2060 has better performance, which leads to higher temperatures and power usage. Overall, the RTX 3050 is more power efficient, while the RTX 2060 has better cooling.

Also Read: RX 6600 XT Vs RTX 3050

Lastly, looking at the FPS, we notice that the RTX 2060 performs better than its competitor, the RTX 3050. In summary, the RTX 2060 is ~12.5% faster than the RTX 3050. So, we see that the RTX 2060 has a lower cost, and its performance is greater than its rivals. Therefore, the RTX 2060 is the graphics card to purchase if you want an upgrade. While it’s an old-gen card, it can still perform adequately.

Gaming Benchmarks Verdict

After looking at a few games at 1080P resolution, it’s time to find out which graphics card is better. At least for 1080P gaming, both graphics cards can get you 60 FPS in almost all games. Although, if you enable ray tracing, then the RTX 2060 begins to take the lead, and the RTX 3050 can barely manage 30 FPS.

In any case, adding the average FPS of every game, we see that the RTX 2060 is ~11% faster. Additionally, along with its low price, the RTX 2060 has a greater value than the RTX 3050. To explain, the RTX 3050 costs ~20% more than the RTX 2060 and offers ~11% lower performance.

Furthermore, looking into the RTX 3050 Vs RTX 2060 ray tracing performance, we see that the RTX 2060 is better. Even though the RTX 3050 is a new-generation card, it has a lower number of RT Cores. For that reason, the RTX 2060 manages to fare better with RTX in games that support it.

In contrast, if we look at temperatures and power usage, the RTX 3050 easily wins the match. While the RTX 2060 performs better, the RTX 3050 has an amazing TDP. So, if you care more about the temperatures and power consumption, we recommend you choose the RTX 3050. Similarly, if you’re a competitive gamer wanting fast frame times and more FPS, you should buy the RTX 2060.

Also Check: RTX 3050 Vs RX 6600

In conclusion, the GPU you should buy depends on your use-case scenario. However, looking at raw rasterization performance and performance per dollar ratios, the RTX 2060 wins. Of course, these tests are at 1080P resolution, and we do not recommend buying either graphics card for 1440P.

Laptops For The RTX 3050 And RTX 2060

Consumers in the tech niche tend to look for ways to cut their amount of work. For that reason, laptops were invented for people who traveled and couldn’t take their desktop PCs. Moreover, with the advent of time, laptops started getting upgrades. What’s more, today, we see laptops with high-end graphics cards and processors through which you can play games. So, we must look at the laptops that house the RTX 3050 and RTX 2060 graphics cards.

Laptops For The RTX 3050

Firstly, starting with the RTX 3050, we have the Acer Nitro 5 laptop. In summary, the laptop houses an Intel i5-10300H. Also, the Nitro 5 comes with 8 GB of DDR4 RAM. While less RAM, having an RTX GPU and a 10th gen processor is massive for a budget laptop.

Furthermore, the Acer Nitro 5 has a 144 Hz 1080P display showing crystal clear images. Because of the high refresh rate, you won’t have to worry about wasting any FPS. In contrast, you only get a 256 GB SSD. In case you don’t know, 256 GB storage devices aren’t sufficient for anything other than storing the operating system.

Lastly, looking at the price, the Acer Nitro 5 laptop comes with a price tag of $777. Although a bit expensive considering the hardware, it’s not a completely bad deal. Especially as you’re getting a 144 Hz display panel and an RTX GPU. In any case, let’s take a look at a laptop for the RTX 2060 now.

Laptops For The RTX 2060

Be that as it may, looking into laptops for the RTX 2060, we have the Acer Helios 300. While there is a model with the RTX 3060, we are looking at the one with the RTX 2060. Firstly, the Acer Helios 300 showcases an Intel i7-10750H processor. Also, we get 16 GB of DDR4 RAM.

Furthermore, the Acer Helios 300, like its other model, retains its 144 Hz 1080P display panel. So, you don’t have to worry about a slow refresh rate monitor or wasting your FPS. However, the laptop only has a 512 GB NVMe M.2 SSD. Although it’s greater than the Nitro 5, a 512 GB storage device isn’t enough to store data today.

Lastly, looking at the price tag, the Acer Helios 300 costs ~$1,100. Even though it’s ~$300 more expensive than the Acer Nitro 5, we recommend the Helios 300. The recommendation comes because of the greater amount of RAM, storage, faster processor, and graphics card. Therefore, if your budget allows, you should buy the Acer Helios 300.

RTX 3050 Vs 2060 Super

Now that we have discussed the RTX 3050 and the RTX 2060, let’s look at the latter’s beefier version. While it’s obvious that the RTX 2060 Super is faster, is it worth spending more and going with it? Therefore, to find out, let’s look at their on-paper specifications.

In light of the chart above, there are a few interesting things that we need to address. Firstly, the RTX 3050 has a higher CUDA Core count. On the other hand, the RTX 2060 Super has a significantly faster memory bandwidth.

Also Read: GTX 1650 vs RTX 3050

Furthermore, the RTX 2060 Super has more RT Cores and almost three times more tensor cores. However, if we look at the TDP, the RTX 3050 has a better TDP of 130 watts. So, if you’re looking for a graphics card with lower power usage, buy the RTX 3050.

Lastly, looking at the price, the RTX 2060 Super costs ~13.7% more than the RTX 3050. But, as the RTX 2060 is ~11% faster than the RTX 3050, the RTX 2060 Super is even better. Therefore, the RTX 2060 Super is worth its cost, and if you have the budget, we recommend buying the GPU.

Conclusion 

By and large, the RTX 3050 vs RTX 2060 comparison is for customers who might want to upgrade their systems. For that reason, we discussed the on-paper specifications of both graphics cards through a table. Moreover, we tested both graphics cards in several games after looking at the specifications. Coupled with the specifications and the results, we concluded which graphics card is better.

Abde Manaf

[Comparisons Expert]

Abdemanaf is a skilled creative writer who has been honing his craft since 2011. While initially working in different fields, he found a passion for technology and has been exploring the tech world since early 2015. Over the years, he has developed an in-depth knowledge of the latest tech trends and product offerings by various companies.

Abdemanaf’s writing reflects his analytical mindset and ability to think critically. He has a knack for breaking down complex technical information into easily digestible pieces, making his articles engaging and accessible to readers from all backgrounds. In February 2022, he joined Tech4Gamers as a blog and product comparison writer, where he has been able to hone his skills further.

As a writer, Abdemanaf is dedicated to staying up-to-date with the latest technological advancements and trends, enabling him to provide readers with the most relevant and accurate information. He is always eager to learn more and is constantly seeking new challenges to improve his skills.

Get In Touch: [email protected]