GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce RTX 3050

Speed and memory

In our performance index the GeForce RTX 2060 scores 18 and the GeForce RTX 3050 scores 17, which makes the GeForce RTX 2060 about 6% faster. That is a small gap, below what most people notice without a frame counter.

The GeForce RTX 2060 has 6 GB of video memory and the GeForce RTX 3050 has 8 GB. That is a small difference and unlikely to decide anything.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Grand Theft Auto V Legacy (262 against 249 fps), and the smallest is in Cyberpunk 2077 (50 against 48 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce RTX 2060 is rated at 160 W and the GeForce RTX 3050 at 130 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 550 W for the first and 450 W for the second. The power draw is close enough that cooling and noise will be similar.

At launch the GeForce RTX 2060 cost $349 and the GeForce RTX 3050 $249. Per dollar, the GeForce RTX 3050 gave more performance (6.8 points per $100 against 5.2). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce RTX 2060 if you want the faster card, and you can accept 6 GB of memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the GeForce RTX 3050 if the price gap matters more than the 6% speed difference, and you value the extra video memory. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.