NVIDIA’s reputation in the graphics card arena is one of undisputed dominance. Two of their most popular GPUs, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050, have been the talk of the town in recent years. But how do these titans stack up in a head-to-head comparison? Let’s delve into this comprehensive analysis of the gtx 1650 vs rtx 3050 to find out.
A Quick Overview of GTX 1650 and RTX 3050
Before we dive deep into the gaming benchmarks and detailed specifications, let’s briefly introduce the two contenders, the gtx 1650 and rtx 3050.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650
The GTX 1650 is one of the gems from NVIDIA’s GTX 16 series. Launched in 2019, it is based on the Turing architecture and utilizes the TSMC 12nm process. The card boasts 4GB GDDR5 memory, a core clock speed of 1485 MHz (boosted up to 1665 MHz), and a total of 896 CUDA cores. Its TDP is relatively low at 75W, making it a perfect choice for budget-friendly gaming rigs that prioritize power efficiency.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050
The RTX 3050, on the other hand, is a part of NVIDIA’s RTX 30 series and was released in 2022. As a product of the Ampere architecture, it utilizes the Samsung 8nm process. This powerhouse comes equipped with 8GB GDDR6 memory, a core clock speed of 1552 MHz (boosted up to 1777 MHz), and a whopping 2560 CUDA cores. Its TDP is 130W, making it a more power-hungry card but with a promise of superior performance.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650: A Closer Look
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 carved out a niche for itself due to its low power consumption and impressive performance. It can handle most AAA titles at 60 FPS with 1080p resolution. This is in large part due to its support for DirectX 12 (12_1) version, OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.3, and CUDA 7.5.
The GTX 1650 sports 896 shading units, 56 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. It also features 64KB L1 Cache and 1MB L2 Cache. Despite being a dual-slot card, it does not need additional power supply and draws all the power it requires from the PCIe x16 slot on the motherboard.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050: Digging Deeper
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 packs a punch with its impressive specs and gaming performance. It supports DirectX 12 (12_2) version, OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.3, and CUDA 8.6. The card has 2560 shading units, 80 texture mapping units, and 32 render output units. It also comes with a 128KB L1 Cache and a 2MB L2 Cache.
Being a dual-slot card, the RTX 3050 requires a robust PSU to meet its 130W rated TDP. It draws power from a 1 x 8-pin power connector attached to the PCIe x16 slot. Arguably, its most attractive feature is its support for ray tracing and DLSS, which allows for smoother gaming with near-native visual quality and increased performance.
GTX 1650 vs RTX 3050: Detailed Comparison
Having taken a closer look at each graphics card, let’s jump into a more detailed comparison. We’ll be examining the gtx 1650 vs rtx 3050 across various gaming benchmarks to see how they stack up against each other.
Gaming Benchmarks Setup
The testing rig for this comparison included the following components:
- CPU: Core i9-12900K
- Motherboard: MSI MPG Z690 Force
- RAM: 32Gb RAM DDR5 5200Mhz
- CPU Cooler: NZXT Kraken Z Series Z73
- GPU: GeForce GTX NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 GDDR6 4GB / GeForce RTX NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 8GB
- SSD: 2 x SAMSUNG 970 EVO M.2 2280 1TB
- Power Supply: CORSAIR RM850i 850W
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1650 | GeForce RTX 3050 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Ampere |
| Performance | Can handle most games at 1080p resolution but may struggle with newer or more demanding games. | Better performance with features such as ray tracing, support for higher resolutions, and higher frame rates. |
| Power Consumption | 50W | 60W |
| CUDA Cores | 1024 | 2048 |
| VRAM | 4GB | 4GB |
| Clock Speed | Lower clock speed | Higher clock speed |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| Price | Budget option, cheaper than the RTX 3050. | More expensive, but offers better performance and more advanced features. |
| Target Audience | Suitable for occasional gamers or those on a budget. | Designed for gamers seeking a more immersive experience with the latest technology. |
| Additional Features | None | Supports advanced features like Ray Tracing and DLSS. |
Gaming Benchmarks Results
We conducted a series of benchmarks on popular games such as Days Gone, Cyberpunk 2077, God of War, Dying Light 2, PUBG, Forza Horizon 5, Hitman 3, Horizon Zero Dawn, Red Dead Redemption 2, and Microsoft Flight Simulator. All games were tested at 1080p resolution and the highest settings possible.
Days Gone
In Days Gone, the GTX 1650 managed an average of 58 FPS, while the RTX 3050 pushed the limit to 106 FPS. This shows that the RTX 3050 was 45% faster in rendering frames.
Cyberpunk 2077
In Cyberpunk 2077, one of the most GPU-intensive games, the GTX 1650 averaged 37 FPS, while the RTX 3050 managed a decent 70 FPS. This means the RTX 3050 was 48% faster than the GTX 1650.
God of War
The GTX 1650 managed 44 FPS in God of War, while the RTX 3050 breezed through with 82 FPS, indicating a 47% increase in performance.
Dying Light 2
In Dying Light 2, the GTX 1650 achieved 37 FPS on average, while the RTX 3050 achieved 57 FPS, showing a 36% performance boost.
PUBG
In the popular battle royale game PUBG, the GTX 1650 averaged 69 FPS while the RTX 3050 averaged 116 FPS. This shows a 41% increase in performance for the RTX 3050.
Forza Horizon 5
In Forza Horizon 5, the GTX 1650 achieved an average of 86 FPS, while the RTX 3050 managed 136 FPS, indicating a 37% performance increase.
Hitman 3
In Hitman 3, the GTX 1650 managed 63 FPS on average, while the RTX 3050 breezed through with 114 FPS, showing a 45% improvement.
Horizon Zero Dawn
In Horizon Zero Dawn, the GTX 1650 managed 45 FPS on average, while the RTX 3050 achieved 78 FPS, revealing a 43% increase in performance.
Red Dead Redemption 2
In Red Dead Redemption 2, the GTX 1650 achieved an average of 32 FPS, while the RTX 3050 scored 66 FPS, indicating a 52% improvement in performance.
Microsoft Flight Simulator
In Microsoft Flight Simulator, the GTX 1650 managed an average of 41 FPS, while the RTX 3050 scored 77 FPS, showing a 47% boost in performance.
Summing it Up
From this detailed comparison, it’s evident that the RTX 3050 outperforms the GTX 1650 by a significant margin in most gaming benchmarks. The gtx 1650 vs rtx 3050 battle clearly leans towards the RTX 3050 due to its superior performance and support for the latest technologies such as ray tracing and DLSS. However, the GTX 1650 still holds its ground as a budget-friendly option for gamers who prioritize power efficiency and cost-effectiveness over top-of-the-line performance.
In the end, the choice between the gtx 1650 vs rtx 3050 boils down to your personal preferences, gaming needs, and budget constraints. Either way, both these NVIDIA GPUs offer an impressive gaming experience that can cater to a wide range of gamers.
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