Comparing NVIDIA RTX 4050 with NVIDIA RTX 3060: Both with 6GB, 140W – Which is the Better Choice?

Both RTX 4050 and RTX 3060 feature a power delivery of up to 140W and 6GB VRAM of GDDR6. However, there are significant differences between these two GPUs. Let's compare technical specifications and real-world performance to determine the superior choice.

Technical Specifications of RTX 4050 and RTX 3060 (laptop)

In terms of technical specifications and features, RTX 4050 has a considerably lower memory bus, resulting in reduced bandwidth. Although RTX 4050 has fewer cores, it compensates with a much higher clock speed and a significantly smaller 4nm architecture, promising more efficient energy utilization.

However, the 40 series introduces new features supported by AI, such as DLSS3 and the New Frame feature. Up to now, it operates in only a few supported titles, but undoubtedly, it falls short of running the same game at its original high frame rate.

GPU Benchmarks

From synthetic benchmarks, you can see that they are quite comparable, but clearly, RTX 3060 still holds a slight edge.

Real Game Testing

In real-game testing, let's explore the results of several titles at Full HD 1080p settings with various graphics levels.

Metro Exodus

Borderlands 3

Game Test: Tom Clancy’s Ghost Recon Wildlands

At the same low graphics settings, RTX 4050 has a slight advantage. However, at ultra settings, RTX 3060 exhibits a higher FPS by a few percentage points.

Conclusion

Although synthetic benchmarks lean more towards RTX 3060, both graphics processors deliver very similar performance in gaming scenarios. Of course, FPS differences will vary depending on the title, potentially introducing variations between the two GPUs in different games.

Both the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 in the above test run at 140W. Opting for laptops with lower TGP will significantly reduce performance. Between a 95W RTX 4050 and a 140W RTX 3060, the latter will undoubtedly outperform in terms of performance (though at the cost of more energy consumption and heat).

Another crucial factor to consider, especially for work-related tasks, particularly using Adobe applications, is that based on my experience with various RTX 3060-equipped laptops, they hold a considerable advantage due to their superior CUDA cores.

Choosing between NVIDIA RTX 4050 and NVIDIA RTX 3060

From the results, these two GPUs don't differ significantly. When choosing between laptops equipped with these GPUs, consider the following factors:

• Price difference between the two laptop models
• Other factors (CPU, display, RAM, SSD, design, cooling, brand...)
• Consideration for work usage - If using Adobe applications, lean towards RTX 3060
• Lastly, and perhaps most importantly, if you disregard the GPU, choose the laptop you prefer. A few percentage points in performance don't make much difference, but choosing a product you truly love is crucial.

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