NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile vs NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile Comparison

# Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data contains two direct comparisons between the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile, and in both cases the GeForce part comes out ahead. The first test, Geekbench OpenCL, shows the RTX 3050 Mobile scoring 50,038 points against 41,263 points for the RTX A500 Mobile, a delta of 17.5 percent in favor of the GeForce. The second test, Geekbench Vulkan, shows an even wider margin, with the RTX 3050 Mobile at 49,051 points versus the RTX A500 Mobile at 37,873 points, a delta of 22.8 percent.

These are substantial margins, particularly in the Vulkan workload, where the RTX 3050 Mobile outperforms the RTX A500 Mobile by nearly a quarter. The OpenCL gap is slightly smaller but still clearly favors the GeForce part. Taken together, the head-to-head results yield two wins for the RTX 3050 Mobile and zero for the RTX A500 Mobile. The pattern is consistent across both API workloads, suggesting that the performance advantage is not tied to a specific graphics API but reflects a broader compute and rendering capability gap between the two mobile GPUs.

When placed in the context of the broader database, the RTX A500 Mobile holds an 82nd percentile ranking among all GPUs, while the RTX 3050 Mobile sits at the 78th percentile. This is an interesting inversion: the RTX A500 Mobile ranks higher in the overall distribution despite losing both head-to-head tests to the RTX 3050 Mobile. The explanation lies in the average benchmark scores. The RTX A500 Mobile posts an average benchmark score of 39,568, while the RTX 3050 Mobile averages 33,170. The RTX A500 Mobile's average is pulled up by its two strong results in Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan, whereas the RTX 3050 Mobile's average includes a third benchmark, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, where it scores only 421 points. That low score drags the average down considerably, even though the GeForce part wins the two Geekbench tests outright.

The nearest rivals in the database reinforce this picture. The RTX A500 Mobile's closest competitors include the AMD Radeon Pro 575 with an average score of 39,555 and a delta of 0 percent, the AMD Radeon Pro 575X at 39,116 with a delta of 1.2 percent, the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 at 40,063 with a delta of negative 1.2 percent, and the AMD Radeon Pro 580 at 40,318 with a delta of negative 1.9 percent. These deltas are tiny, meaning the RTX A500 Mobile trades blows with these professional-grade GPUs within a narrow band. For the RTX 3050 Mobile, the nearest rivals are the NVIDIA T550 Mobile at 33,161 with a delta of 0 percent, the AMD Radeon Pro 570 at 33,207 with a delta of negative 0.1 percent, the NVIDIA P104-100 at 32,982 with a delta of 0.6 percent, and the NVIDIA T600 Mobile at 32,849 with a delta of 1 percent. Again, the margins are small, but the comparison pool is different, reflecting the GeForce part's lower average score.

# Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on the same Ampere architecture, manufactured by Samsung on an 8 nm process, and both use the GA107 chip family. The RTX A500 Mobile uses the GA107S variant, while the RTX 3050 Mobile uses the standard GA107. The transistor count is identical at 8,700 million, and the die size is the same at 200 mm², yielding a transistor density of 43.5 million per square millimeter for both. The foundry is Samsung for both parts, and both are classified as end-of-life products.

The core configurations are also identical on paper. Both GPUs feature 2,048 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, 32 raster operation units, 16 ray tracing cores, and 64 tensor cores. The API support is the same as well: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The memory type is GDDR6 for both, and both run at an effective memory speed of 12 Gbps. The bus interface is PCIe 4.0 x8 for both, and both use an IGP slot width with no power connectors and portable device dependent display outputs.

The differences begin with clock speeds. The RTX A500 Mobile has a base clock of 832 MHz and a boost clock of 1,537 MHz. The RTX 3050 Mobile has a higher base clock of 1,065 MHz but a lower boost clock of 1,343 MHz. This is a notable inversion: the professional part boosts higher, while the GeForce part runs faster at idle or low load. The practical effect is that the RTX A500 Mobile can reach higher peak frequencies under load, while the RTX 3050 Mobile maintains a higher floor.

Memory configuration is another clear divergence. The RTX A500 Mobile uses a 64 bit memory bus, while the RTX 3050 Mobile uses a 128 bit bus. Both have 4 GB of GDDR6, but the wider bus on the GeForce part yields a memory bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s, exactly double the 96.00 GB/s of the RTX A500 Mobile. This is a significant difference for bandwidth-sensitive workloads, and it likely contributes to the GeForce part's higher scores in the Geekbench tests.

The compute rates reflect the clock and bandwidth differences. The RTX A500 Mobile achieves a pixel rate of 49.18 GPixel/s, a texture rate of 98.37 GTexel/s, and a FP32 throughput of 6.296 TFLOPS, with FP16 running at the same rate of 6.296 TFLOPS (1:1). The RTX 3050 Mobile posts a pixel rate of 42.98 GPixel/s, a texture rate of 85.95 GTexel/s, and a FP32 throughput of 5.501 TFLOPS, with FP16 at 5.501 TFLOPS (1:1). The RTX A500 Mobile is ahead in every compute metric, which aligns with its higher boost clock.

The thermal design power differs as well. The RTX A500 Mobile is rated at 30 W, while the RTX 3050 Mobile is rated at 45 W. This means the professional part draws less power while delivering higher peak compute rates, though the GeForce part delivers better real-world benchmark scores. The release dates also differ: the RTX 3050 Mobile launched on May 10, 2021, while the RTX A500 Mobile launched on March 21, 2022. The RTX A500 Mobile lists the Quadro Turing-M as its predecessor and Ada-MW as its successor, while the RTX 3050 Mobile lists the GeForce 20 Mobile as its predecessor and has no successor listed.

# The Verdict

The data points to a clear split between compute capability and benchmark performance. The RTX A500 Mobile has higher raw compute numbers: 6.296 TFLOPS FP32 versus 5.501 TFLOPS for the RTX 3050 Mobile, a 14.5 percent advantage. It also boosts higher at 1,537 MHz versus 1,343 MHz, and it does so within a lower 30 W power envelope versus 45 W. For workloads that scale with peak FP32 throughput, the RTX A500 Mobile is the stronger part on paper.

However, the recorded benchmarks tell a different story. The RTX 3050 Mobile wins both Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan by margins of 17.5 percent and 22.8 percent respectively. The likely explanation is the memory bus. The RTX 3050 Mobile has a 128 bit bus with 192.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the RTX A500 Mobile is limited to a 64 bit bus and 96.00 GB/s. Many real-world workloads, including those exercised by Geekbench, are sensitive to memory bandwidth, and the GeForce part has twice as much.

The average benchmark scores complicate the picture further. The RTX A500 Mobile averages 39,568 and ranks at the 82nd percentile, while the RTX 3050 Mobile averages 33,170 and ranks at the 78th percentile. The RTX 3050 Mobile's average is dragged down by its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 421, a test that the RTX A500 Mobile does not have a recorded score for. If that test were excluded, the RTX 3050 Mobile's average would be much higher, but the database records it as is.

For a buyer choosing between these two, the RTX 3050 Mobile is the better choice for general compute and graphics workloads as measured by the benchmark suite. The RTX A500 Mobile is the better choice for users who prioritize peak FP32 throughput, lower power draw, and a higher standing in the overall GPU percentile distribution. The RTX A500 Mobile also has the advantage of a later release date and a defined successor in Ada-MW, whereas the RTX 3050 Mobile has no successor listed.

# FAQ

Q: Which GPU wins in Geekbench OpenCL?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile wins with a score of 50,038 against the RTX A500 Mobile's 41,263, a delta of 17.5 percent.

Q: Which GPU wins in Geekbench Vulkan?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile wins with a score of 49,051 against the RTX A500 Mobile's 37,873, a delta of 22.8 percent.

Q: How does the memory bandwidth compare between the two GPUs?

A: The RTX 3050 Mobile has a 128 bit memory bus and 192.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the RTX A500 Mobile has a 64 bit bus and 96.00 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has a higher FP32 compute throughput?

A: The RTX A500 Mobile has a higher FP32 throughput at 6.296 TFLOPS, compared to 5.501 TFLOPS for the RTX 3050 Mobile.

Q: What are the power ratings for each GPU?

A: The RTX A500 Mobile is rated at 30 W, while the RTX 3050 Mobile is rated at 45 W.

Q: How do the average benchmark scores compare?

A: The RTX A500 Mobile has an average benchmark score of 39,568, while the RTX 3050 Mobile averages 33,170. The RTX A500 Mobile also ranks at the 82nd percentile, while the RTX 3050 Mobile ranks at the 78th percentile.

# Where Each One Wins

The RTX 3050 Mobile wins in the two recorded head-to-head benchmarks, Geekbench OpenCL and Geekbench Vulkan. These are general-purpose compute and graphics tests that exercise a wide range of GPU functionality, and the GeForce part's higher memory bandwidth appears to be the decisive factor. The 128 bit memory bus and 192.0 GB/s of bandwidth give it a clear advantage in data-heavy workloads, and the benchmark results confirm this with a 17.5 percent OpenCL win and a 22.8 percent Vulkan win.

The RTX A500 Mobile wins in several specification categories that do not directly translate to benchmark victories. Its FP32 throughput of 6.296 TFLOPS is higher than the RTX 3050 Mobile's 5.501 TFLOPS, and its pixel rate of 49.18 GPixel/s and texture rate of 98.37 GTexel/s both exceed the GeForce part's 42.98 GPixel/s and 85.95 GTexel/s. Its boost clock of 1,537 MHz is also higher than the 1,343 MHz of the RTX 3050 Mobile, and it achieves these numbers at a lower 30 W TDP.

The RTX A500 Mobile also holds a higher percentile ranking at 82 versus 78, and its average benchmark score of 39,568 is notably higher than the RTX 3050 Mobile's 33,170. This is largely because the RTX A500 Mobile has only two recorded benchmarks, both of which are strong, while the RTX 3050 Mobile includes a third benchmark, 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, with a score of 421 that significantly lowers its average.

For use cases that rely on raw FP32 compute, such as certain scientific or professional workloads, the RTX A500 Mobile is the stronger choice based on the specification data. For workloads that are bandwidth-limited, such as rendering, image processing, or general compute, the RTX 3050 Mobile is the better performer according to the benchmark results. The RTX A500 Mobile also offers lower power consumption, which may be relevant for thermally constrained laptop designs.

# Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two GPUs:

• Chip: The RTX A500 Mobile uses the GA107S chip, while the RTX 3050 Mobile uses the GA107 chip.
• Base clock: The RTX A500 Mobile runs at 832 MHz, while the RTX 3050 Mobile runs at 1,065 MHz.
• Boost clock: The RTX A500 Mobile boosts to 1,537 MHz, while the RTX 3050 Mobile boosts to 1,343 MHz.
• Memory bus width: The RTX A500 Mobile has a 64 bit bus, while the RTX 3050 Mobile has a 128 bit bus.
• Memory bandwidth: The RTX A500 Mobile has 96.00 GB/s, while the RTX 3050 Mobile has 192.0 GB/s.
• Pixel rate: The RTX A500 Mobile has 49.18 GPixel/s, while the RTX 3050 Mobile has 42.98 GPixel/s.
• Texture rate: The RTX A500 Mobile has 98.37 GTexel/s, while the RTX 3050 Mobile has 85.95 GTexel/s.
• FP32 throughput: The RTX A500 Mobile has 6.296 TFLOPS, while the RTX 3050 Mobile has 5.501 TFLOPS.
• FP16 throughput: The RTX A500 Mobile has 6.296 TFLOPS (1:1), while the RTX 3050 Mobile has 5.501 TFLOPS (1:1).
• TDP: The RTX A500 Mobile is rated at 30 W, while the RTX 3050 Mobile is rated at 45 W.
• Release date: The RTX 3050 Mobile launched on May 10, 2021, while the RTX A500 Mobile launched on March 21, 2022.
• Predecessor: The RTX A500 Mobile lists Quadro Turing-M, while the RTX 3050 Mobile lists GeForce 20 Mobile.
• Successor: The RTX A500 Mobile lists Ada-MW, while the RTX 3050 Mobile has no successor listed.
• Benchmarks: The RTX A500 Mobile has Geekbench OpenCL at 41,263 and Geekbench Vulkan at 37,873. The RTX 3050 Mobile has 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 at 421, Geekbench OpenCL at 50,038, and Geekbench Vulkan at 49,051.
• Percentile: The RTX A500 Mobile ranks at the 82nd percentile, while the RTX 3050 Mobile ranks at the 78th percentile.
• Average benchmark score: The RTX A500 Mobile averages 39,568, while the RTX 3050 Mobile averages 33,170.