In the past few years, all computer components have become much more efficient and powerful. If you are looking for something powerful enough for your daily computer usage, then you do not need to go with the most expensive options. And this is also true for the graphics card that you may install in your gaming computer.
In fact, both Nvidia and AMD offer multiple entry-level GPU options for all those on a budget. Out of all the various options available out there, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT are among the cheapest. And today, we are here with a detailed comparison between the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 vs AMD Radeon RX 6500XT so that you can easily pick the easiest one by the end of this comparison.
Which GPU is the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050?
Taking a look at the Nvidia offering first, we have the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050. And as you can tell by the name, this GPU belongs to the previous 3000 generation of Nvidia GPUs.
Compared with the rest of the 3000 series GPUs offered by Nvidia, the RTX 3050 is the most affordable option. In fact, since Nvidia has only released 3 high-end GPUs under the 4000 series of GPUs, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 is the most affordable option currently offered by Nvidia.
Which GPU is the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT?
Coming to the AMD side of things, the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT can be a great entry-level option. While it is slightly better than the cheapest RX 6400XT, the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT is still quite budget-friendly.
Similar to Nvidia’s offering, the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT is also a GPU that belongs to the previous AMD 6000 series. And this is because AMD has only released high-end graphics cards under its latest 7000 series of GPUs. Thus, if you want one of the most affordable graphics cards by AMD, then the Radeon RX 6500XT can be a great pick.
Specifications of Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 vs AMD Radeon RX 6500XT
Even if you are on a tight budget and getting an entry-level GPU for your gaming computer, it is still quite important to check all of its features and specifications. By checking the same, you can be assured that you are getting the right graphics card, whether you are getting the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 or the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT. If you are familiar with computer graphics cards, you must know that there are a lot of specifications to check while going with a GPU. Hence, we are here with a detailed comparison table for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 vs AMD Radeon RX 6500XT:
| Specification | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 | AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT |
| Architecture Name | Ampere | RDNA 2 |
| Architecture Process Size | 8nm | 7nm |
| GPU Code | GA106 | Navi 24 |
| PCIe Gen 4.0 Support | Yes | Yes |
| CUDA Core Count | 2,560 cores | 1,024 cores |
| RT & Tensor Core Count | 20 RT cores | 16 ray accelerators |
| Base Clock Speed | 1550 MHz | 2650 MHz |
| Boost Clock Speed | 1780 MHz | 2815 MHz |
| Memory Type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory Capacity | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory Bus Width | 128 bit | 64 bit |
| Memory Bandwidth | 244 GBps | 144 GBps |
| Memory Clock Speed | – | 18000 MHz |
| Slot Width | 2 slot GPU | 2 slot GPU |
| HDMI Output Ports | 1 x HDMI 2.1 | 1 x HDMI 2.1 |
| DisplayPort Output Ports | 3 x DisplayPort 1.4a | 1 x DisplayPort 1.4a |
| Thermal Design Power | 130 watts | 107 watts |
| Supplementary Power Connector | 1 x 8 pin | 1 x 6 pin |
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 vs AMD Radeon RX 6500XT: A Detailed Comparison
Whenever you are comparing computer hardware components, then checking their specifications and features can definitely help a lot. Although, when you are picking up something like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 or the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT, then you also need to check the real-world performance numbers. Because even if a GPU might have better specifications, your real-life experience can vary quite a lot. Therefore, make sure to go through this detailed comparison between the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and AMD Radeon RX 6500XT:
1. Performance
In case you are getting an entry-level GPU like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 or the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT, then you are most likely going to use it for gaming instead of 3D design or rendering. As a result, it is a great idea to check the gaming benchmarks of both the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and AMD Radeon RX 6500XT:
- 4K UHD Gaming: If you are getting an entry-level GPU like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 or the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT, then you are definitely not using it along with a 4K monitor. That being said, checking the gaming performance benchmarks of both these graphics cards at a resolution of 4K UHD can give you a great idea of their performance. For the same, you can find 4K UHD benchmarks for Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 vs AMD Radeon RX 6500XT:
| Game at 4K UHD Ultra Preset | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 FPS | AMD Radeon RX 6500XT FPS |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 18-20 FPS | 6 FPS |
| Battlefield 5 | 40-45 FPS | 27-30 FPS |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 9-10 FPS | 3 FPS |
| Far Cry New Dawn | 30-35 FPS | 24 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 45-50 FPS | 30-35 FPS |
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 14-16 FPS | 10 FPS |
- 1440p Gaming: Unlike the higher end 4K UHD resolution 1440p is a much more manageable resolution which still offers excellent detail. And unlike older entry-level GPUs out there, modern ones can even run games at 1440p or QHD resolution. Thus, here are all the major gaming benchmarks at 1440p for Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and AMD Radeon RX 6500XT:
| Game at 1440p Ultra Preset | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 FPS | AMD Radeon RX 6500XT FPS |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 41 FPS | 23 FPS |
| Hitman 3 | 66 FPS | 57 FPS |
| Shadow of Tomb Raider | 59 FPS | 34 FPS |
| Elden Ring | 42 FPS | 37 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 95 FPS | 49 FPS |
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 36 FPS | 22 FPS |
- 1080p Gaming: In case you are in the market for a new entry-level GPU, then it is highly likely that you are going to pair it along with a 1080p monitor. Despite being offered in monitors for a very long time, 1080p still offers decent detail. More importantly, 1080p monitors are highly affordable and generally come in high refresh rate options without spending a premium. Therefore, whether you are buying the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 or the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT, you should check out their corresponding gaming benchmarks as mentioned here:
| Game at 1080p Ultra Preset | Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 FPS | AMD Radeon RX 6500XT FPS |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 55 FPS | 39 FPS |
| Hitman 3 | 95 FPS | 92 FPS |
| Shadow of Tomb Raider | 86 FPS | 57 FPS |
| Elden Ring | 56 FPS | 50 FPS |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 119 FPS | 60 FPS |
| Watch Dogs: Legion | 50 FPS | 30 FPS |
2. DLSS & Ray Tracing
As graphics cards have improved over time, even entry-level GPU models come with all the features supported by higher end models. And in the case of the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and AMD Radeon RX 6500XT, this includes support for ray tracing and DLSS. However, despite supporting the same, the performance offered by either of these is not going to be the best. While not all games out there currently support ray tracing, Battlefield will offer better FPS in games such as 74 fps with the RTX 3050 and 44 fps with the RX 6500XT when ray tracing is enabled. These performance numbers can be improved by enabling DLSS for the RTX 3050 and AMD FSR with the RX 6500XT.
3. Cooling
While graphics cards can produce a lot of heat when used, that is not a big issue with entry-level GPUs like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT. As a result, with both of these GPUs, you can find both single-fan and dual-fan cooler options. Even though a single fan cooler should be more than enough for most users, a dual fan cooler design is ideal for overclocking, as you will see down below.
4. Power Consumption
The primary reason for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT running fairly cool is that they have fairly low power consumption ratings. Although, even if their power consumption is low, you should still check the same to ensure you have a powerful enough power supply. Starting with the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, it is rated for a power consumption of 130 watts. On the other hand, the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT is rated for a slightly lower 107 watts. Thankfully, both graphics cards can be easily powered using a 550-watt PSU without any issues.
5. Overclocking
When you are buying entry-level GPUs like the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 or the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT, the performance offered by them is definitely going to be on the lower side. As a result, you would want to get the most out of these GPUs for the best performance possible. For the same, you can simply overclock your GPU using a program like MSI Afterburner. With this, you can simply change the clock speed of your GPU to get even better performance out of it. And the best part is that both the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT support overclocking so that you can get even better performance out of them.
6. Price
Last but not least, you also need to check the pricing of both the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT to ensure that you are picking the right one. Even if you are going with a powerful GPU, if it does not fall into your budget, then there is no point in getting the same. Fortunately, both graphics cards are highly affordable since the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 has an MSRP of $250, and the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT is even cheaper at $200 MSRP.
Which to Pick Between Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 vs AMD Radeon RX 6500XT?
Now that you know the performance numbers, specifications, features, and most importantly the pricing of both the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT, you might want to pick the ideal GPU for your computer right away. Taking a look at the comparatively cheaper AMD Radeon RX 6500XT, it can be ideal for those who are on an extremely strict budget. But if you are willing to spend a little extra for the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, then you can get much better performance especially when it comes to ray tracing and DLSS performance thanks to the better game support offered by Nvidia.
Conclusion
Even if you are on a tight budget, you can still get a fairly powerful graphics card for your gaming computer thanks to the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 and the AMD Radeon RX 6500XT. Despite being entry-level options, they offer pretty great performance numbers and features. And to help you pick the ideal GPU, we have already given a detailed comparison between Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 vs AMD Radeon RX 6500xT up above. If this comparison guide has helped you pick the better GPU between RTX 3050 vs RX 6500XT, then leave your thoughts and suggestions in the comments section below.
