The Nvidia RTX 3050 is the most affordable RTX GPU available in India, making it a compelling option for budget gamers looking to experience ray tracing and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling). But is it really worth buying in 2024? Can it handle modern games with ray tracing enabled? And how does it stack up against its biggest competitor, the AMD RX 6600? Let’s take an in-depth look at its performance, benchmarks, ray tracing capability, FPS results, and overall value for money.
Nvidia RTX 3050 Graphics Card: Ray Tracing Review on New Games
Key Features of RTX 3050
- Architecture: Ampere (8nm)
- CUDA Cores: 2560
- Memory: 8GB GDDR6
- Base Clock: 1552 MHz
- Boost Clock: 1777 MHz
- Memory Bus: 128-bit
- Ray Tracing (RT) Cores: Yes
- DLSS Support: Yes (DLSS 2.0)
- TDP: 130W
- Recommended PSU: 450W or higher
- PCIe Interface: PCIe 4.0 x8
- DirectX Support: DirectX 12 Ultimate
Performance Comparison: RTX 3050 vs RX 6600
To see how well the RTX 3050 performs in real-world gaming scenarios, we’ll compare it to the AMD RX 6600, a GPU available in a similar price range that boasts higher raw power but lacks Nvidia’s signature DLSS and dedicated ray tracing cores.
1. Ray Tracing Performance
One of the most significant selling points of the RTX 3050 is its ray tracing support, but being an entry-level RTX GPU, its performance in ray-traced games is quite limited. The RX 6600 also supports ray tracing, but its implementation is significantly weaker compared to Nvidia’s RTX cards.
| Game | RTX 3050 (Ray Tracing ON) | RX 6600 (Ray Tracing ON) |
|---|---|---|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 30-35 FPS (DLSS On) | 25-30 FPS (FSR On) |
| Control | 40-45 FPS (DLSS On) | 35-40 FPS (FSR On) |
| Minecraft RTX | 35-40 FPS (DLSS On) | 28-32 FPS (FSR On) |
| Spider-Man Remastered | 45-50 FPS (DLSS On) | 38-45 FPS (FSR On) |
Winner: RTX 3050 outperforms the RX 6600 in ray-traced games thanks to DLSS, which significantly boosts FPS without compromising quality.
2. Gaming Performance Without Ray Tracing
When ray tracing is disabled, the RX 6600 is the superior performer due to its higher compute units (28 CUs vs 20 SMs in RTX 3050) and faster memory bandwidth.
| Game | RTX 3050 (1080p Ultra) | RX 6600 (1080p Ultra) |
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 50-55 FPS | 60-65 FPS |
| Assassin’s Creed Valhalla | 45-50 FPS | 65-70 FPS |
| Call of Duty Warzone | 70-75 FPS | 90-100 FPS |
| Fortnite | 100-110 FPS | 130-140 FPS |
| Elden Ring | 50-55 FPS | 65-75 FPS |
Winner: RX 6600 takes the lead in traditional gaming without ray tracing.
3. DLSS vs FSR Comparison
- DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) is Nvidia’s AI-based upscaling technology, making games look better while improving performance.
- FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution) is AMD’s alternative, offering performance boosts but lacking dedicated AI hardware like Nvidia’s Tensor Cores.
| Feature | RTX 3050 (DLSS) | RX 6600 (FSR) |
| Performance Boost | High (AI-based) | Moderate (Software-based) |
| Availability | Limited to Nvidia games | More widely available |
| Visual Quality | Higher fidelity | Decent but lower than DLSS |
Winner: RTX 3050 leads due to DLSS 2.0, which delivers better image quality and performance in supported games.
4. User Interface & Driver Support
- Nvidia RTX 3050 benefits from GeForce Experience, which provides better game-ready drivers and updates.
- AMD RX 6600 uses Adrenalin Software, offering deeper tweaking options but fewer game-optimized updates.
Winner: RTX 3050 has a better user-friendly interface & driver support.
Benchmark Comparison: RTX 3050 vs RX 6600
| Benchmark Test | RTX 3050 | RX 6600 |
| 3DMark Time Spy | 6400 | 8400 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike | 15000 | 17500 |
| Unigine Superposition 1080p | 7200 | 9200 |
Winner: RX 6600 performs better in synthetic benchmarks.
Power Consumption & Heat Management
- RTX 3050 (130W TDP) is more power-efficient and generates less heat.
- RX 6600 (132W TDP) runs slightly hotter under load.
Pricing & Value for Money
| GPU | Price in India (Approx) |
| RTX 3050 | ₹22,000 – ₹25,000 |
| RX 6600 | ₹23,000 – ₹26,000 |
At a similar price, RX 6600 is better for raw gaming performance, while RTX 3050 excels in ray tracing and DLSS support.
Conclusion: Should You Buy the RTX 3050?
Buy RTX 3050 if:
- You want ray tracing & DLSS support on a budget.
- You prefer Nvidia’s game-ready drivers & UI.
- You play games optimized for RTX features.
Buy RX 6600 if:
- You need higher FPS in non-ray-traced games.
- You don’t prioritize ray tracing or DLSS.
- You play AMD-optimized titles like COD Warzone & Assassin’s Creed Valhalla.
Final Verdict:
The Nvidia RTX 3050 is an entry-level RTX GPU that offers decent ray tracing performance with the advantage of DLSS to improve FPS in supported games. While it’s not a powerhouse, it allows budget gamers to experience RTX features at a reasonable price. However, when it comes to raw performance, FPS, and traditional gaming, the AMD RX 6600 is the clear winner. If you prioritize high frame rates and overall better gaming performance, the RX 6600 is the smarter investment. But if you want a taste of ray tracing and AI-powered upscaling, the RTX 3050 is still a solid choice.
