RTX 3050 Graphics Card Review

Initial Impressions

• RTX 3050 launched with a negative reception.
• Overpriced at $250 for a 50-class GPU in 2022.
• Compared to typical 50-class GPUs costing around $150.
• Performance similar to the older RTX 2060 but with more VRAM (2 GB).

Testing Setup

• PC Specs:
  • CPU: Ryzen 5 7600
  • RAM: 32 GB DDR5 (6000 MHz)
  • Storage: Western Digital SN 770 NVMe Gen 4 SSD
  • Motherboard: MSI X 70E Tomahawk
• GPU settings: Undervolted to 900mV, Memory overclocked by 1000 MHz.
• Latest Nvidia driver (5599) and resizable bar enabled.

Benchmark Results

1. Cyberpunk 2077

   • Average FPS: 68 (Medium preset, High textures)
   • 1% Low: 60 FPS
   • Playable, but performance expectations were higher.

2. Hogwarts Legacy

   • Average FPS: 61 (High preset)
   • 1% Low: 45 FPS
   • Playable, but lower than other GPUs in the price range.

3. Fortnite

   • Average FPS: >300 (Low preset with DirectX 11)
   • 1% Low: <200 FPS
   • Excellent performance for competitive gaming.

4. Forza Motorsport

   • Average FPS: 69
   • 1% Low: 56 FPS
   • Playable, but lower than ideal for racing games.

5. Starfield

   • Performance better than expected (Medium preset)
   • FPS: Below 60, but playable with DLSS enabled.

6. Star Wars Jedi Survivor

   • Average FPS: 49
   • 1% Low: 32 FPS
   • Poor performance; not recommended for RTX 3050 users.

7. F1 23

   • Average FPS: 145
   • Solid performance on medium preset.

8. Spider-Man

   • Average FPS: 92
   • 1% Low: 58 FPS
   • Good performance; can play on high presets.

Value Assessment

• Overall, the RTX 3050 is considered one of the worst value graphics cards.
• Games are playable but require lowering settings for some titles.
• Competing GPUs (e.g., RX 6600) outperform the 3050 at similar or lower prices.
• The 3050's advantages:
  • Access to DLSS for better performance in some scenarios.
  • Consumes low power (under 100 watts).
  • Supported by Nvidia for longer with game-ready drivers.
• Disadvantages:
  • Performance isn't competitive for the price point (around £150 or $250).
  • Alternatives like RX 5700 XT offer better performance for similar costs.

Conclusion

• RTX 3050 is not worth the current used market price, which should realistically be around $100.
• If considering a new purchase, focus on RX 6600 or similar alternatives for better value in 2024.