NVIDIA RTX 4060 Vs RTX 3050
The graphics card you choose may make or break gaming and video creation. The NVIDIA RTX 3050 and 4060 are two generations of entry-to-mid-level GPUs for budget-conscious users. The early 2022 RTX 3050 represents Ampere architecture. The 2023 Ada Lovelace family member RTX 4060 has DLSS 3, architectural improvements, and enhanced power efficiency.
Architecture
The Ampere architecture of the RTX 3050
- Based on the 8nm technology used by Samsung
- Features Next-generation Tensor Cores with Ray Tracing Cores
- Either the GA106 or GA107 GPU, according on the specific model.
- Less effective than nodes that are more recent
RTX 4060 (Ada Lovelace Designs)
- Based on the more effective 5nm-class design of TSMC’s 4N manufacturing node
- Is equipped with fourth-generation Tensor Cores and third-generation Ray Tracing Cores.
- Uses the recently introduced Shader Execution Reordering (SER) to enhance ray tracing performance.
- Supports NVIDIA’s frame generating technology and DLSS 3.
The RTX 4060 excels in architecture, power efficiency, and AI.
Gaming Performance
Gaming in 1080p
- RTX 3050: Provides workable frame rates at medium to high settings in the majority of contemporary AAA games. Ray tracing is possible, however DLSS is needed for smooth functioning.
- Most 1080p intense games run smoothly on the RTX 4060. Due to DLSS 3 frame generation, it can run demanding games with ray tracing even when native performance dips.
Gaming in 1440p
- Newer games at 1440p are difficult for the RTX 3050 to run without drastically reducing settings. NUnsuitable for 1440p games.
- RTX 4060 is better for 1440p gaming. It can provide good frame rates with DLSS and optimised settings despite being less powerful than the RTX 4060 Ti.
Ray Tracing/DLSS
- Ray tracing must be deactivated to maintain frame rates, although the RTX 3050 supports DLSS 2, which enhances performance.
- DLSS 3 and AI frame generation on the RTX 4060 increase performance in compatible games even with ray tracing.
The RTX 4060 outperforms the 3050 in all gaming scenarios, especially when DLSS 3 boosts frame rates.
Features
NVIDIA RTX 4060 Vs RTX 3050 are entry-level to mid-range 1080p graphics cards with various architectures and features.
2nd- and 3rd-gen Ray Tracing and Tensor Cores are supported by RTX 3050 on Ampere architecture. AI-powered DLSS 2 boosts difficult game performance by upscales lower-resolution images. It allows casual gaming, streaming, and light content creation with NVIDIA Reflex, Broadcast, and Resizable BAR. AV1 encoding and DLSS 3 are missing from the RTX 3050.
Based on the latest Ada Lovelace architecture, the RTX 4060 is much better. DLSS 3 uses AI-based frame creation to boost FPS in compatible games. It has 3rd-gen Ray Tracing Cores, 4th-gen Tensor Cores, and a huge 24MB L2 cache for performance and memory efficiency. It also supports AV1 hardware encoding, which benefits current codec streams and video providers.
Power efficiency is another RTX 4060 strength. Due to TSMC’s 4N technology, it has a lower TDP of 115W than the RTX 3050’s 130W despite superior performance.
You can also read Nvidia GeForce RTX 4050 Vs RTX 3060 Laptops GPU Overview
Pricing
RTX 3050 MSRP: about $249 (prices may differ based on availability).
RTX 4060 MSRP: around $299
Specs Comparison
| Feature | RTX 3050 | RTX 4060 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ampere | Ada Lovelace |
| CUDA Cores | 2560 | 3072 |
| Base / Boost Clock | ~1.55 / 1.78 GHz | ~1.83 / 2.46 GHz |
| VRAM | 8GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 272 GB/s (with L2 cache help) |
| L2 Cache | 2MB | 24MB |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 20 | 24 |
| Tensor Cores | 80 | 96 |
| TDP | 130W | 115W |
| PCIe Interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
In conclusion
NVIDIA RTX 4060 is a generational jump ahead of the RTX 3050 with improved power efficiency, performance, content creation, and DLSS 3. For novice users on a budget, the RTX 3050 is fine, but the 4060 is a better long-term investment for producers and gamers. Since it offers additional value for a small price rise, it will be the choice in 2024 and beyond.