RTX 3050 8GB vs RTX 2060
The RTX 2060 is about 19% faster than the RTX 3050 8GB at 4K and 18% faster at 1440p.
Quick verdict: the RTX 2060 is the faster card, but the RTX 3050 8GB is the safer long-term pick if you play at high resolutions with high textures and plan to keep the card for years.
RTX 3050 8GB vs RTX 2060: Specs and Performance
| Spec | GeForce RTX 3050 8GB | GeForce RTX 2060 |
|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy (graphics) | 5,365 | 6,893 |
| Estimated FPS · 1080p | 55 | 65 |
| Estimated FPS · 1440p | 39 | 46 |
| Estimated FPS · 4K | 21 | 25 |
| Video memory | 8 GB | 6 GB |
| Board power | 130 W | 160 W |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $249 | $349 |
| PCI Express | 4.0 ×16 | 3.0 ×16 |
| Release year | 2022 | 2019 |
| Series | NVIDIA RTX 30 Series | NVIDIA RTX 20 Series |
Estimated FPS at 1080p, 1440p and 4K
1080p: the RTX 2060 leads by 18%. 1440p: the RTX 2060 leads by 18%. 4K: the RTX 2060 leads by 19%. These figures come from our performance model, calibrated against published benchmark averages. They are estimates for comparing the two cards, not results measured on your PC.
Estimated FPS in Popular Games at 1440p
| Game (settings) | RTX 3050 8GB | RTX 2060 |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing) | ~30 | ~35 |
| Fortnite (High, DirectX 12) | ~50 | ~60 |
| Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High) | ~45 | ~55 |
| Counter-Strike 2 (High) | ~95 | ~110 |
Per-game figures scale each card's modelled 1440p average by how demanding the game is relative to our test blend, rounded to the nearest 5 FPS. Counter-Strike 2 is usually limited by the processor well before these numbers.
Verdict: RTX 3050 8GB or RTX 2060?
The RTX 2060 is clearly faster than the RTX 3050 8GB: about 18% at 1080p, 18% at 1440p and 19% at 4K in our model.
The RTX 3050 8GB carries 8GB of video memory against 6GB on the RTX 2060. 6GB is already tight at 1440p with high textures in the newest games, so the extra memory is worth more than it looks on a spec sheet. That makes this a genuine trade-off: the faster card has the smaller buffer.
At launch the RTX 3050 8GB was $249 and the RTX 2060 $349, which works out to $6.4 and $7.6 per frame at 1440p. On those prices the RTX 3050 8GB is the better value, but street prices move every week, so check before you buy. The RTX 2060 is rated for 30W more board power, which means more heat, more fan noise and possibly a bigger power supply.
Bottom line: the RTX 2060 is the faster card, but the RTX 3050 8GB is the safer long-term pick if you play at high resolutions with high textures and plan to keep the card for years.
Pairing Either Card With a Processor
A faster graphics card only helps if the processor can keep up. Each card's own page lists the slowest CPU that will not hold it back at every resolution:
- GeForce RTX 3050 8GB: best CPU pairing and bottleneck
- GeForce RTX 2060: best CPU pairing and bottleneck
- Check your own processor in the bottleneck calculator
Power supply: a common rule of thumb is the card's board power plus about 150W for the rest of a gaming PC, with 30% headroom. That points to roughly 400W for the RTX 3050 8GB and 450W for the RTX 2060. Check the card maker's own recommendation too.
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- RTX 3060 vs RX 6600 RTX 3060 faster at 1440p
- Compare any two graphics cardsThe full GPU vs GPU tool
RTX 3050 8GB vs RTX 2060: Common Questions
Is the RTX 3050 8GB better than the RTX 2060?
The RTX 2060 is the faster card, but the RTX 3050 8GB is the safer long-term pick if you play at high resolutions with high textures and plan to keep the card for years. The RTX 2060 is about 19% faster than the RTX 3050 8GB at 4K and 18% faster at 1440p.
Which is better for 1440p, the RTX 3050 8GB or the RTX 2060?
The GeForce RTX 2060, by about 18% (46 vs 39 FPS on high settings in our model).
Which is better for 4K, the RTX 3050 8GB or the RTX 2060?
The GeForce RTX 2060, by about 19% (25 vs 21 FPS on high settings in our model).
Does the RTX 3050 8GB have more VRAM than the RTX 2060?
Yes. The RTX 3050 8GB has 8GB against 6GB on the RTX 2060.
Data last reviewed October 15, 2026. Launch prices are US MSRPs; board power is the reference design's rating. See the methodology for how every figure is produced.