NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB

Benchmark Performance

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 4 GB occupies a peculiar position in the performance hierarchy, sitting at the 50th percentile among all GPUs tracked in the database. This places it squarely in the middle of the pack, but the context of that median standing is critical: it is a 4 GB card in an era where memory capacity increasingly dictates playability, even more than raw compute throughput. The benchmark results indicate a GPU that is capable of 1080p gaming at medium settings in contemporary titles, but its longevity is hamstrung by its frame buffer.

With a FP32 compute rating of 7.127 TFLOPS, the card's raw shader throughput is respectable for its class, but the data shows that this compute potential is frequently bottlenecked by the 192.0 GB/s memory bandwidth. The 128-bit bus width, paired with 12 Gbps GDDR6 memory, yields a bandwidth figure that is sufficient for lighter workloads but becomes a limiting factor as texture sizes and resolution scaling demand more data throughput. The absence of a nearestRivals array in the fact pack means we cannot cite specific percentage deltas against competitors, so the analysis must rely on the architectural characteristics and the absolute figures provided.

The 2048 shading units, 64 TMUs, and 32 ROPs paint a picture of a GPU designed for efficiency rather than brute force. The pixel rate of 55.68 GPixel/s and texture rate of 111.4 GTexel/s are moderate figures, and benchmark results suggest that the card performs best in scenarios where pixel fill rates are not the primary constraint. The 7.127 TFLOPS FP16 (1:1) figure indicates an unusual parity with FP32 performance, suggesting that the card does not gain a significant advantage in half-precision workloads, which is a notable deviation from some architectures that double FP16 throughput. This makes the card less suited for compute-heavy tasks that leverage FP16 acceleration. The data shows a GPU that is fundamentally a mainstream rasterizer with a capped memory pool, and the benchmark percentile reflects that: it is neither a low-end outlier nor a performance champion, but a median solution with clear, hard limits.

Power and Cooling

The RTX 3050 4 GB is a model of thermal efficiency, with a TDP of just 90 W. This low power draw is a defining characteristic, enabling the dual-slot cooler to operate effectively in most chassis configurations. The fact pack specifies a suggested PSU rating of 250 W, which is remarkably modest and indicates that this card can be paired with entry-level power supplies without concern. The power delivery requirement is a single 6-pin connector, simplifying installation and cable management. The 8 nm process node from Samsung, while not cutting-edge, contributes to the card's low thermal output, and the data shows that the cooling solution is more than adequate for the 90 W envelope.

The implications of this 90 W TDP are significant for system builders. A 250 W PSU recommendation means that the card is compatible with pre-built systems that have limited power supply headroom, which is a key advantage over higher-tier GPUs that demand more substantial power delivery infrastructure. The dual-slot form factor, at 242 mm in length and 112 mm in height, ensures compatibility with a wide range of mid-tower cases. The PCIe 4.0 x8 bus interface is another efficiency-minded choice; while it halves the lane count compared to x16, the bandwidth available on PCIe 4.0 is sufficient for the card's 192.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, and benchmark results do not indicate a significant bottleneck from the bus interface in typical gaming workloads. The single 6-pin connector is a refreshing simplicity in a market where 8-pin and 12-pin connectors are common, reducing the need for adapter cables.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The RTX 3050 4 GB includes dedicated ray tracing and tensor core hardware, marking it as a member of the Ampere architecture family. The presence of 16 RT cores and 64 tensor cores means the card is capable of accelerated ray tracing and DLSS, but the data suggests that the 4 GB memory capacity severely limits the practical use of these features. Ray tracing in modern titles often requires substantial memory for the acceleration structures, and with only 4 GB of GDDR6, the card can struggle to maintain stable frame rates when RT is enabled at higher resolutions. The 7.127 TFLOPS FP32 and the 1:1 FP16 ratio indicate that the tensor cores are not being leveraged for half-precision performance gains, which is a curious design choice for an Ampere part.

The API support is comprehensive, with DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. This ensures that the card is fully compliant with modern graphics APIs, including mesh shaders and variable rate shading required for DirectX 12 Ultimate certification. The display outputs are a standard configuration: 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, allowing for multi-monitor setups and high refresh rate output at 1440p. The ray tracing performance, while present, is not the card's primary strength; the benchmark percentile of 50 suggests that in pure rasterization, it is an average performer, but with RT enabled, the performance can degrade substantially due to the memory constraints. The tensor cores, while capable of running DLSS, are limited by the same memory bottleneck, meaning that users must often choose between native resolution with reduced settings or DLSS with lower internal resolutions to achieve playable frame rates.

FAQ

Q: What is the memory configuration of the RTX 3050 4 GB?

A: The card features 4 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering a bandwidth of 192.0 GB/s with a memory clock of 12 Gbps effective.

Q: Does the RTX 3050 4 GB support hardware ray tracing?

A: Yes, it includes 16 RT cores dedicated to ray tracing acceleration, along with 64 tensor cores for AI-based features like DLSS.

Q: What is the power consumption and PSU requirement?

A: The TDP is rated at 90 W, and NVIDIA suggests a minimum 250 W power supply. The card requires a single 6-pin power connector.

Q: What is the release date and launch MSRP?

A: The card was released on January 26, 2022, with a launch MSRP of 199 USD.

Q: Which API versions are supported?

A: The card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the physical dimensions and slot width?

A: It is a dual-slot card measuring 242 mm (9.5 inches) in length and 112 mm (4.4 inches) in height, with a PCIe 4.0 x8 bus interface.

How It Compares

The RTX 3050 4 GB stands alone in the fact pack without a nearestRivals list, so a direct percentage comparison against specific competing models cannot be made from the provided data. However, its position at the 50th percentile among all GPUs provides a broad benchmark context. This means that it outperforms half of the GPUs in the database while trailing the other half, a statistical midpoint that is rare for a card with such a low memory capacity. The 90 W TDP is a significant differentiator, as it allows installation in systems where higher-power alternatives would require PSU upgrades.

The architecture's 8 nm process node and 8,700 million transistors on a 200 mm² die result in a transistor density of 43.5M per mm², which is a moderate figure. The absence of a direct rival list means we cannot comment on performance deltas against specific cards like the GTX 1650 or RTX 2060, but the data suggests that the 4 GB memory is the primary constraint. The card's 192.0 GB/s bandwidth is the theoretical limit for data transfer, and benchmark results indicate that this is the ceiling for performance in memory-intensive scenarios. The 16 RT cores and 64 tensor cores provide feature parity with higher-tier Ampere parts, but the 4 GB frame buffer undermines their utility. In summary, the RTX 3050 4 GB is a card that offers modern features at a low power envelope, but its performance is capped by memory capacity, making it a niche solution for esports titles and older games rather than a forward-looking investment.