GeForce RTX 3050 6GB vs Radeon RX Vega 56

Speed and memory

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB and the Radeon RX Vega 56 are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

The GeForce RTX 3050 6GB has 6 GB of video memory and the Radeon RX Vega 56 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 Fortnite (152 against 152 fps), and the smallest is in ELDEN RING (60 against 60 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 3050 6GB is rated at 70 W and the Radeon RX Vega 56 at 210 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 450 W for the first and 550 W for the second. A gap of 140 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB cost $169 and the Radeon RX Vega 56 $399. Per dollar, the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB gave more performance (8.3 points per $100 against 3.5). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce RTX 3050 6GB 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 Radeon RX Vega 56 if the price gap matters more than the small 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.