Is the 3050 really that bad?
Posted by Prestigious-Test3080@reddit | buildapc | View on Reddit | 50 comments
so i was saving up for an rx6600 and one my friends told me i should get rtx 3050 instead but i heard that gpu is bad? does it really preform like how it is hated.?
Urdnot_Flexx@reddit
The RX 6600 is about 40% more powerful than the RTX 3050 as per techpowerup. The only good thing about the 3050, iirc, is that it pulls power directly from the PCie slot and doesn’t need a power cable connected to the PSU. Get the 6600, it’s almost like an entire generation’s worth of an upgrade. You could also save for an RTX 5050 if that’s an affordable option in your region as well.
AdstaOCE@reddit
That's only the 6GB variant, the 6600 is 93% above the 6GB 3050 via techpowerup. 8GB version has a 130W TDP.
Urdnot_Flexx@reddit
Thanks for the clarification. Didn’t quite remember. But yeah, the 6gb variant can be used in niche low power builds
Naerven@reddit
The good RTX3050 8gb is slower than a RX6600. The bad RTX3050 6gb is slower than a GTX1660s. It's not bad if you get one cheap enough.
pythonic_dude@reddit
The 8gb is the bad one because of the price compared to its fuck all performance. The 6gb is the good one because it's a tiny card fitting in the smallest builds and not an requiring external power connector, all while offering nvidia's tech stack. It's a tiny niche, but a niche nonetheless. 8gib version is just garbage on the other hand.
WEIRDGAMER991@reddit
I have 3050 6GB as my first graphics card that i bought with my own money, id say the performance is pretty good. I mainly do illustrations, gaming (Shadow of the Tomb Raider and Cyberpunk on high settings goes on smooth 60 fps) and just surfing on my PC so not much hard on my PC.
ExoCaptainHammer82@reddit
Price to performance doesn't count when the performance doesn't amount to a good experience at anything. I bought a new gt 1030 back when they were new. I regretted the purchase almost immediately.
AdstaOCE@reddit
The 6GB version? That's worse than a 5500XT.
The 8GB version? It's worse than the 5600XT, but much better than the 6GB version and quite far above the 5500XT.
WherePoetryGoesToDie@reddit
Cards are only good or bad relative to how much they cost compared to alternatives.
That said, assuming both are the same price, yes, the 3050 is worse than the 6600.
Nosferatu_V@reddit
The 3050 had two very different spec SKUs. The 3050 8GB was launched earlier and had the default chip, 50% of the 3060's performance. The 3050 6GB was launched later and had a much slower chip, more akin to a 3030.
WherePoetryGoesToDie@reddit
Both still significantly worse than the 6600, to be clear. Just one more so than the other.
ICastCats@reddit
It's funny because people recommend the 6600 over the 3050. I think your friend misremembered. Also the 3050 6gb is more like a 3030, don't get it confused with the 3050 8gb.
2raysdiver@reddit
RTX 3050 isn't bad. But it's real forte is low profile systems. It performs a bit worse than a RX 6600.
No-Musician2265@reddit
bro a 1080ti is pooping on that lol… don’t get that card plz.
TheRogueJedi66@reddit
why are you saving up for cards this old? unless they are super cheap or its a regional limitation get something newer like a 9060
Prestigious-Test3080@reddit (OP)
I'm broke teen who works part time at a local restaurant
TheRogueJedi66@reddit
Been there bro but there are better cards to spend your money on, even older used ones. A 3070 gives killer performance for the buck and deals are there for em!
whiteKittiey@reddit
5050 is great on my laptop
the 50 versions are cheap for laptops and do their job.
moragdong@reddit
When i was searching for laptops i saw, somehow, that 5050laptop surpasses pc version, i have no idea how though.
But even if its not true, the benchmarks show satisfying results for that price imo.
Since the card is low in power compared to other 50xx cards, laptop version doesnt seem to lose too much performance
-UserRemoved-@reddit
Desktop and laptop GPUs are not the same, even if they share the same name.
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5050.c4220
https://www.techpowerup.com/gpu-specs/geforce-rtx-5050-mobile.c4239
whiteKittiey@reddit
20% difference is not much ye?
Gammarevived@reddit
I would get the RTX 3050 since it has DLSS. Avoid AMD GPUs entirely.
ADo_9000@reddit
I'm sorry but you seem to be sharing your opinion without actually having any knowledge or experience.
The only thing the 3050 has going for it is DLSS which cannot and will never make it 60% which would be required for it to be equal to the performance of the 6600xt.
Gammarevived@reddit
The RX6600 is only about 25% faster than the RTX3050. You can easily get this performance hit back with DLSS without taking a hit in image quality.
You also have the added benefit of more stable, and longer driver support.
ADo_9000@reddit
Correction I was looking at the 6gb model for the 8gb the 6600xt is 44% faster so i still.
f1rstx@reddit
OP is looking for 6600, not 6600xt
DeeDee182@reddit
3050 is bad via its price comparison to other cards. I recently got a 3050 as I got an old Dell tower and that fit in my slot with no additional power connectors needed etc. Wanted something to do some comptia work in as well as back up gaming.
Dude at the store looked like I was on drugs haha
realWulfLives@reddit
It's 2026 dude. Time to switch from internet explorer.
SpeckleSpeckle@reddit
the RTX 3050 is terrible, the only reason you would consider it over the 6600 is if you're relying on non-gaming applications that prefer CUDA or need a low profile low power GPU, but even then, there are other better cards for that.
Historical-Law3782@reddit
it's not "bad" in a vacuum, but it’s terrible value tbh. for the same price, you can usually grab an rx 6600 which absolutely smokes it in basically every benchmark. ngl unless you find one for like $100 used, it’s just not worth your money dude.
Fragrant_Seesaw_3402@reddit
Well, both are old. Save much more money if you want to make a good deal and begin with 5050 from nvidia or 9060 xt from Amd. Under these is waste of money if you want a new gpu. On refurbished market, yes, can find good prices, but doesn't worth spend money under 3070, 3080, or 6800, 7600.
Dense_Ad7115@reddit
Is it a bad card? I don't think so, had one for a couple of years and it served me pretty well. Is the rx6600 better? Yes, and by quite a margin.
Born_Bad_1294@reddit
If you will be buying the RTX 3050, get the 5050 or the ARC B580 instead.
But 3050 isn't that bad if you are getting it for a good price. But if buying new, consider the others
snipsuper415@reddit
the RX6600 price aside is better than the RTX 3050 when you're looking at raw FPS. Gaming wise this card is sits between a RTX 3060 and a RTX 3050
Also... its 2026 don't buy a RX6600 or even a RX 7600. Assuming you can find it at MSRP you can get a RTX 5050 for $249... and if you want to dip your toes in intel ARC you can get a intel Arc b580 for again MSRP for $249... Heck assuming the news are true i would try to grab a RTX3060 new assuming they are actually produced and sold at retail
Hungry_Reception_724@reddit
Really depends on price and what you have right now. If you are coming from something like a 960 a 3050 is going to look like a god tier card.
Tiny-Maximum36@reddit
Your friend said that you should get 3050 instead? Then he's not your friend.
Financial_Recipe@reddit
Thats an enemy now.
unabletocomput3@reddit
Well, for starters, the rx 6600 beats the best 3050 in every category except for upscaling technology. Another thing to remember, there are 2 models of the 3050, the 6gb and the 8gb. The 6gb doesn’t require external power and is used a lot for upgrading old business systems into gaming ready machines, so in that regard there might be demand. The 8gb requires external power- and about the same power demands as an rx 6600, which makes it less desired.
ADo_9000@reddit
The 3050 8gb is significantly worse than a 6600xt (roughly 60%)
The 3050 6gb is even worse (only a little faster than 1650)
You should definitely get the 6600xt or a 3060 12gb, they are about the same performance
The reason your friend is probably telling you to get the 3050 is because it is better at raytracing than the 6600xt
A little history lesson; since the introduction of raytracing capable GPUs with the Nvidia 20 series AMD has been way behind in raytracing performance. Until now, the AMD 9000 series are more or less on par with Nvidia when it comes to raytracing now.
But it is utterly irrelevant because anything worse than a 2080, b580 or 7700xt is only raytracing capable on paper in, in reality it would be more or less completely unusable.
Merrick222@reddit
Using the RX6600 8Gb as your baseline. The 3050 8GB is 70% as fast. The 3060 12GB is 13% faster.
Find a 3060 12GB model. You’ll get 4GB more of VRAM, which is huge, and you’ll get more power, and you can use DLSS4.0 which can be a big deal.
biskitpagla@reddit
Yes.
misteryk@reddit
which 3050? there are multiple cards called RTX 3050 they're all called 3050 despite being different cards (fuck you NVIDIA i think you should be sued for misleading consumers that they only differ in VRAM amount)
https://youtu.be/alFi60sCAvE?si=2EyRTj6Qz9K-VTO1
Personally i'd try to get used 3060 12gb
RareWestern8229@reddit
The physical card isn't terrible. As it's the still one of the best sff cards for quick gaming pc flips, but with other options surrounding it. It makes no sense to buy one, a used 3050 and 6600 are similar in price and the 6600 is better in almost every aspect for gaming
Vaxtez@reddit
Go 6600 over it anyday. 3050 performs like a GTX 1660 Super (GTX 1660 for 3050 6GB), whilst the RX 6600 is more like an RTX 2070 in terms of performance. If you are saving for a brand new 6600 though, i'd suggest nabbing a used 3070 over it, since that's a decent bit faster than the 6600.
Pumciusz@reddit
Which 3050? And what's the pricing?
MrTytanis@reddit
According to techpowerup rtx 3050 relative performance is around 70% of what Rx 6600 would provide. Ofc rtx 3050 have dlss but are you rly want to use upscaling in 1080p Res? Ray tracing is out of question for both cards, so it's only up to dlss vs more horse power. It comes to pricing, I would rather pick Rx 6600 if price is similar. Have you consider used market?
Serious-Map-1230@reddit
Your friend is quite simply wrong, if those cards are similar price. 6600 is a much better card, not even really close.
Are you buying new? At this pricepoint probably much better off with a second hand card.
Equal_Magician_546@reddit
Really depends on the pricing. If both at the same price the rx6600 definitely wins out but if your looking to save on money the 3050 is definitely a worthwhile option if your paying like 30-50 less
-UserRemoved-@reddit
You can use benchmarks to compare performance. Every 3050 benchmark is likely to include numbers for the 6600, for example:
https://www.techspot.com/review/2403-nvidia-geforce-rtx-3050/
https://www.tomshardware.com/reviews/nvidia-geforce-rtx-3050-review-evga-xc-black
"Bad" here would likely include context to pricing
gamblodar@reddit
It was the cheapest GPU NVidia made when it was new, and that was 4 years ago.