What CPU do I need for the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?

In our model the Ryzen 5 1600 is the slowest processor that keeps the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB fully fed at both 1080p and 1440p. Anything faster leaves the card as the limit, which is what you want in a gaming PC.

Is the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB good for 1440p?

Only with reduced settings. It averages around 39 FPS at 1440p on high settings in our model, so it is better suited to 1080p, where it reaches about 55 FPS.

Is 8GB of VRAM enough on the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB?

For 1080p, mostly. 8GB is enough at 1080p, but some recent games at 1440p with high textures exceed it, which shows up as stutter rather than a lower average.

Is the GeForce RTX 3050 8GB faster than the Intel Arc A580?

No. The Intel Arc A580 is about 15% faster at 1440p in our model (45 vs 39 FPS).

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB CPU pairing and bottleneck

Model frame rate limits of 55, 39 and 21 FPS at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, assuming the processor never gets in the way.

The GeForce RTX 3050 8GB is one of the slowest graphics card in our database and best kept to 1080p at medium settings, or to lighter esports titles.

Its 8GB of memory is the limit to watch: the newest games at 1440p with high textures can exceed it.

Its closest Intel rival is the Intel Arc A580, which is 15% faster at 1440p.

Estimated FPS in Popular Games

Game (settings)	1080p	1440p	4K
Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing)	~45	~30	~15
Fortnite (High, DirectX 12)	~70	~50	~25
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High)	~65	~45	~25
Counter-Strike 2 (High)	~130	~95	~50

Modelled estimates with a processor fast enough not to hold the card back, rounded to the nearest 5 FPS. Counter-Strike 2 is usually limited by the processor well before these figures. See the methodology for how they are produced.

The slowest CPU that will not hold it back

Resolution	Minimum processor	Estimated FPS
1080p	Ryzen 5 1600	55
1440p	Ryzen 5 1600	39
4K	Ryzen 5 1600	21

Notice how the requirement drops as resolution rises. At 4K this card is working so much harder per frame that a far slower processor keeps up without trouble. The search starts at four cores and eight threads: below that a game stutters whatever the average frame rate says.

The processors it lands closest to

The 24 processors whose frame rate limit sits nearest this card's, fastest first. The tag after each number says which part hits its limit first. For any other combination, use the calculator.

Processor	1080p	1440p	4K
Core i5-11400	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 5 5500	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Core i5-10600K	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 7 3800X	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Core i7-8700K	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 7 3700X	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 5 3600X	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Core i5-9600K	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 5 3600	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 3 3300X	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Core i5-10400	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Core i5-10400F	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Core i7-7700K	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 5 3500X	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 7 2700X	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Core i3-10100F	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Core i5-9400F	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 5 4600G	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Core i5-8400	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 5 4500	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 3 3100	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 5 2600	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Core i3-9100F	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu
Ryzen 5 1600	55 gpu	39 gpu	21 gpu

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB Compared

RTX 3050 8GB vs GTX 1660 Super — The RTX 3050 8GB and GTX 1660 Super are effectively tied: within 4% of each other at every resolution.
RX 6600 vs RTX 3050 8GB — The RX 6600 is about 29% faster than the RTX 3050 8GB at 4K and 28% faster at 1440p.
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.

Specifications

Manufacturer	NVIDIA
Series	NVIDIA RTX 30 Series
Video memory	8 GB
3DMark Time Spy (graphics)	5,365
PCI Express	4.0 ×16
Released	2022

GeForce RTX 3050 8GB