[PLUS] Geforce RTX 3050: 9 models in the comparison test

9× Geforce RTX 3050

In PCGH 04/2022 we already subjected four of the available RTX 3050 cards to a hands-on test. In the meantime, five more models have arrived in the test laboratory, which is why we are using the moment – including the meanwhile more pleasant market prices – for a large comparison test. The RTX 3050 is based on the third largest gamer amp chip, the GA106, which also powers the RTX 3060. Compared to its big sister, however, the RTX 3050 has to give up significantly in all areas: 2,560 units remain from the formerly 3,584 FP32-ALUs, which results in a difference of around 28 percent with the official clock rates. The memory subsystem has been slimmed down a little further, with the interface width, the subsequent Level 2 cache and the memory capacity all being reduced by 33 percent. Together with the lower clocked memory, the transfer rate is reduced by almost 38 percent. Worth knowing for use in older PCs: The RTX 3050 is only connected with 8 PCI Express lanes, which does not result in any noticeable differences in the case of 3.0 systems – but very well with particularly old 2.0 boards.

differences manifold

The test field consists of very different maps. Considering that they all rely on the same chip, it’s only logical that manufacturers like Asus, MSI or Gigabyte use unique touches in cooling and lighting to differentiate themselves from the competition. The spectrum ranges from tiny ones that weigh barely 500 grams and fit into any case, to 1.1 kilogram triple-slot monsters that require more planning when it comes to space requirements.

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