AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop
Detailed gaming performance comparison
Reference CPU: Intel Core i5-13400
We compare the RX 480 8GB and the RTX 3050 Laptop 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 3050 Laptop is ~22% faster than the RX 480 8GB on average at 1080p.
RX 480 8GB
- Index (1080p)
- 21/100
- VRAM
- 8 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $239 · ≈ €220
- Upscaling
- FSR
RTX 3050 Laptop
- Index (1080p)
- 25/100
- VRAM
- 4 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- —
- 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 | RX 480 8GB | RTX 3050 Laptop | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 23 | 28 | +22% |
| 1440p | 15 | 17 | +13% |
| 4K | 5 | 6 | +20% |
Specifications
Side-by-side specs of the RX 480 8GB and RTX 3050 Laptop: VRAM, power draw (TDP), performance index and launch price. The better value in each row is highlighted in blue.
| Spec | RX 480 8GB | RTX 3050 Laptop |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | AMD | NVIDIA |
| VRAM | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| TDP | 150W | 60W |
| Tier | Mid-range | Entry-level |
| Score 1080p | 21 | 25 |
| Score 1440p | 15 | 17 |
| Score 4K | 7 | 8 |
| Price (MSRP) | $239 | — |
Gaming Performance
Per-game FPS detail at 1080p Ultra. The graphics card that wins each title is highlighted in blue.
| Game | RX 480 8GB | RTX 3050 Laptop | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | 24FPS | 29FPS | RTX 3050 Laptop |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 19FPS | 22FPS | RTX 3050 Laptop |
| Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | 24FPS | 28FPS | RTX 3050 Laptop |
| Marathon | 24FPS | 28FPS | RTX 3050 Laptop |
| Gears of War: E-Day | 21FPS | 25FPS | RTX 3050 Laptop |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword | 25FPS | 30FPS | RTX 3050 Laptop |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 24FPS | 28FPS | RTX 3050 Laptop |
| 007 First Light | 24FPS | 28FPS | RTX 3050 Laptop |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | 20FPS | 24FPS | RTX 3050 Laptop |
| Pathologic 3 | 29FPS | 35FPS | RTX 3050 Laptop |
Verdict
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop wins in 10 out of 10 games
We recommend NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Laptop as the best option for gaming.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions when comparing the RX 480 8GB with the RTX 3050 Laptop.
Which is better, the RX 480 8GB or the RTX 3050 Laptop?
On average at 1080p, the RTX 3050 Laptop is 22% faster than the RX 480 8GB. 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 RX 480 8GB averages 5 FPS and the RTX 3050 Laptop 6 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 22% at 1080p. At higher resolutions (1440p and 4K) the relative difference usually stays similar.