What GPU is equivalent to RTX 3050? (2024)

We take a look at all the alternatives to the RTX 3050

Updated: Feb 7, 2023 2:00 pm

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It’s time to take a look at the very best equivalent to the RTX 3050. The entry-level of the 30-series from Nvidia is a popular choice for anyone looking to game on a budget. It delivers fantastic performance without breaking the bank. Of course, there are better options out there if raw power is what you want. We’re going to show off the closest equivalent from their biggest rivals: AMD.

GPU equivalent to RTX 3050

Even though some graphics cards‘ prices have decreased, the overall GPU supply situation is still recovering. With the intent of restoring some sanity, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 graphics card and AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT both launched shortly after one another. To some extent, they have succeeded: while they are not immune to insane inflation, they are still reasonably priced and have unusually abundant stock available.

But which is the wiser purchase? Let’s get out of the bar chart software and start comparing these two 1080p-focused GPUs that are both on sale for £300 or less, sit at the bottom of their GPU hierarchies, and support ray tracing.

When compared to AMD’s RX 6500 XT, Nvidia’s RTX 3050 is clearly the superior all-around entry-level GPU. The RTX 3050 GPU supports both encoding and decoding for AV1 and H265/HEVC, and standard and ray tracing performance are much greater.

When comparing the cost and total value of the two cards, things become murky; the more expensive the RTX 3050 is in comparison to the RX 6500 XT, the more value it loses. Purchasing a higher-tier card might be a better value depending on how much a faster card, such as the RTX 3060 or RX 6600, costs, especially if you want the greatest ray tracing performance you can get on a tight budget.

However, if you don’t care about ray tracing, a lower-end card like the GTX 1660 Super or RTX 2060 would be a better deal for you as they deliver performance that is comparable to the RTX 3050 – if you can get either at a cheaper cost.

The RTX 3050 still triumphs in this category even though it costs, on average, $150 more than the RX 6500 XT. The RX 6500 XT is a good option for entry-level gaming, but you won’t be able to utilize it for video encoding.

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