GeForce RTX 3050 8 GB vs GTX 1660

VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 1660 and GeForce RTX 3050 8 GB, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 1660
2019
6 GB GDDR5, 120 Watt
30.33

RTX 3050 8 GB outperforms GTX 1660 by a small 8% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking187166
Place by popularity4011
Cost-effectiveness evaluation47.6969.22
Power efficiency17.4417.41
ArchitectureTuring (2018−2022)Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code nameTU116GA106
Market segmentDesktopDesktop
Release date14 March 2019 (5 years ago)4 January 2022 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$219 $249

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

RTX 3050 8 GB has 45% better value for money than GTX 1660.

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores14082560
Core clock speed1530 MHz1552 MHz
Boost clock speed1785 MHz1777 MHz
Number of transistors6,600 million12,000 million
Manufacturing process technology12 nm8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)120 Watt130 Watt
Texture fill rate157.1142.2
Floating-point processing power5.027 TFLOPS9.098 TFLOPS
ROPs4832
TMUs8880
Tensor Coresno data80
Ray Tracing Coresno data20

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x8
Length229 mm242 mm
Width2-slot2-slot
Supplementary power connectors1x 8-pin1x 8-pin

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount6 GB8 GB
Memory bus width192 Bit128 Bit
Memory clock speed2001 MHz1750 MHz
Memory bandwidth192.1 GB/s224.0 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI++

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (12_1)12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model6.56.6
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL1.23.0
Vulkan1.2.1311.3
CUDA7.58.6

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 1660 30.33
RTX 3050 8 GB 32.80
+8.1%

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GTX 1660 11664
RTX 3050 8 GB 12612
+8.1%

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD84
−7.1%
90−95
+7.1%
1440p51
−7.8%
55−60
+7.8%
4K27
+0%
27−30
+0%

Cost per frame, $

1080p2.61
+6.1%
2.77
−6.1%
1440p4.29
+5.4%
4.53
−5.4%
4K8.11
+13.7%
9.22
−13.7%
  • GTX 1660 has 6% lower cost per frame in 1080p
  • GTX 1660 has 5% lower cost per frame in 1440p
  • GTX 1660 has 14% lower cost per frame in 4K

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 72
−4.2%
75−80
+4.2%
Cyberpunk 2077 71
−5.6%
75−80
+5.6%
Elden Ring 84
−7.1%
90−95
+7.1%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 85−90
−6.7%
95−100
+6.7%
Counter-Strike 2 56
−7.1%
60−65
+7.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 55
+0%
55−60
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 132
−6.1%
140−150
+6.1%
Metro Exodus 95
−5.3%
100−105
+5.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2 112
−7.1%
120−130
+7.1%
Valorant 138
−1.4%
140−150
+1.4%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 85−90
−6.7%
95−100
+6.7%
Counter-Strike 2 48
−4.2%
50−55
+4.2%
Cyberpunk 2077 45
+0%
45−50
+0%
Dota 2 150
−6.7%
160−170
+6.7%
Elden Ring 90
−5.6%
95−100
+5.6%
Far Cry 5 145
−3.4%
150−160
+3.4%
Fortnite 140−150
−4.2%
150−160
+4.2%
Forza Horizon 4 110
+0%
110−120
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 115
−4.3%
120−130
+4.3%
Metro Exodus 66
−6.1%
70−75
+6.1%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 216
−6.5%
230−240
+6.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2 40
+0%
40−45
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 100−110
−7.8%
110−120
+7.8%
Valorant 65
−7.7%
70−75
+7.7%
World of Tanks 270−280
−5.8%
290−300
+5.8%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 85−90
−6.7%
95−100
+6.7%
Counter-Strike 2 43
−4.7%
45−50
+4.7%
Cyberpunk 2077 38
−5.3%
40−45
+5.3%
Dota 2 197
−6.6%
210−220
+6.6%
Far Cry 5 85−90
−5.9%
90−95
+5.9%
Forza Horizon 4 95
−5.3%
100−105
+5.3%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 170−180
−7.3%
190−200
+7.3%
Valorant 115
−4.3%
120−130
+4.3%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 52
−5.8%
55−60
+5.8%
Elden Ring 47
−6.4%
50−55
+6.4%
Grand Theft Auto V 52
−5.8%
55−60
+5.8%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 129
−0.8%
130−140
+0.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2 25
−8%
27−30
+8%
World of Tanks 190−200
−7.1%
210−220
+7.1%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 26
−3.8%
27−30
+3.8%
Cyberpunk 2077 23
−4.3%
24−27
+4.3%
Far Cry 5 90−95
−6.4%
100−105
+6.4%
Forza Horizon 4 67
−4.5%
70−75
+4.5%
Metro Exodus 59
−1.7%
60−65
+1.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 45−50
−4.2%
50−55
+4.2%
Valorant 72
−4.2%
75−80
+4.2%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 16
+0%
16−18
+0%
Dota 2 49
−2%
50−55
+2%
Elden Ring 21
+0%
21−24
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 49
−2%
50−55
+2%
Metro Exodus 20
−5%
21−24
+5%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 81
−4.9%
85−90
+4.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2 18−20
+5.6%
18−20
−5.6%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 49
−2%
50−55
+2%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 30−35
−6.1%
35−40
+6.1%
Counter-Strike 2 27−30
−3.4%
30−33
+3.4%
Cyberpunk 2077 10
+0%
10−11
+0%
Dota 2 87
−3.4%
90−95
+3.4%
Far Cry 5 40−45
−7.1%
45−50
+7.1%
Fortnite 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 36
+2.9%
35−40
−2.9%
Valorant 38
−5.3%
40−45
+5.3%

This is how GTX 1660 and RTX 3050 8 GB compete in popular games:

  • RTX 3050 8 GB is 7% faster in 1080p
  • RTX 3050 8 GB is 8% faster in 1440p
  • A tie in 4K

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 30.33 32.80
Recency 14 March 2019 4 January 2022
Maximum RAM amount 6 GB 8 GB
Chip lithography 12 nm 8 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 120 Watt 130 Watt

GTX 1660 has 8.3% lower power consumption.

RTX 3050 8 GB, on the other hand, has a 8.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 years, a 33.3% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 50% more advanced lithography process.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between GeForce GTX 1660 and GeForce RTX 3050 8 GB.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
GeForce GTX 1660
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 8 GB
GeForce RTX 3050 8 GB

Other comparisons

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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