NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
Detailed gaming performance comparison
Reference CPU: Intel Core i5-13400
We compare the RTX 5050 and the RTX 3050 with real FPS across the most popular games at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, plus specs, launch price and AI upscaling support (DLSS/FSR/XeSS). See at a glance which is better for your resolution and budget.
The RTX 5050 is ~43% faster than the RTX 3050 on average at 1080p.
RTX 5050
- Index (1080p)
- 48/100
- VRAM
- 8 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $249 · ≈ €229
- Upscaling
- DLSS + Frame Gen
RTX 3050
- Index (1080p)
- 33/100
- VRAM
- 8 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $249 · ≈ €229
- Upscaling
- DLSS
Average FPS by resolution
Estimated average FPS for each graphics card across the most popular games. The gap usually shows at 1080p and 1440p; at 4K both lose smoothness and upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps.
| Resolution | RTX 5050 | RTX 3050 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 53 | 37 | +43% |
| 1440p | 37 | 25 | +48% |
| 4K | 17 | 11 | +55% |
Specifications
Side-by-side specs of the RTX 5050 and RTX 3050: VRAM, power draw (TDP), performance index and launch price. The better value in each row is highlighted in blue.
| Spec | RTX 5050 | RTX 3050 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| VRAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| TDP | 130W | 130W |
| Tier | Entry-level | Entry-level |
| Score 1080p | 48 | 33 |
| Score 1440p | 38 | 25 |
| Score 4K | 22 | 14 |
| Price (MSRP) | $249 | $249 |
Gaming Performance
Per-game FPS detail at 1080p Ultra. The graphics card that wins each title is highlighted in blue.
| Game | RTX 5050 | RTX 3050 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | 56FPS | 38FPS | RTX 5050 |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 43FPS | 30FPS | RTX 5050 |
| Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | 54FPS | 37FPS | RTX 5050 |
| Marathon | 54FPS | 37FPS | RTX 5050 |
| Gears of War: E-Day | 48FPS | 33FPS | RTX 5050 |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword | 58FPS | 40FPS | RTX 5050 |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 54FPS | 37FPS | RTX 5050 |
| 007 First Light | 54FPS | 37FPS | RTX 5050 |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | 47FPS | 32FPS | RTX 5050 |
| Pathologic 3 | 65FPS | 46FPS | RTX 5050 |
Verdict
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 wins in 10 out of 10 games
We recommend NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5050 as the best option for gaming.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions when comparing the RTX 5050 with the RTX 3050.
Which is better, the RTX 5050 or the RTX 3050?
On average at 1080p, the RTX 5050 is 43% faster than the RTX 3050. The best one for you depends on your resolution, budget and whether you prioritise ray tracing or price.
Which is better at 4K?
At 4K Ultra, the RTX 5050 averages 17 FPS and the RTX 3050 11 FPS across the most popular games. For smooth 4K, enabling upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps on both.
Is it worth paying more for the faster one?
At 1080p or 1440p the FPS gap may not justify the extra cost; at 4K or with ray tracing the faster card matters more. Check the by-resolution table to decide.
Which has better ray tracing and upscaling?
AI upscaling (DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, XeSS on Intel) raises FPS on both; for ray tracing, GeForce RTX cards usually lead. See each card’s support above.
How big is the FPS difference between them?
On average across top games, the gap is around 43% at 1080p. At higher resolutions (1440p and 4K) the relative difference usually stays similar.