RTX 3050 6GB Vs RTX 3050 8GB – is the cheaper price worth it?

After quite a soft launch, it’s time to compare the RTX 3050 6GB Vs RTX 3050 8GB to see whether the gap in the prices means a sacrifice in specs, or whether you should start looking into where to buy RTX 3050 6GB so you can get your hands on one as soon as the release date arrives. 

For all the information on the RTX 3050 6GB upcoming release and specs check out our hub, or if you want to see how the new RTX 3050 6GB stacks up against an entry-level 40 Series GPU, have a look at our RTX 3050 6GB Vs RTX 4060 Ti. Now let’s get into it. 

RTX 3050 6GB Vs RTX 3050 8GB price comparison

January 2022 saw the release of the RTX 3050 8GB, which hit the market with an MSRP of $249, a very affordable GPU compared to other asking prices in the RTX 30 series, with the RTX 3060 costing $329 and RTX 4060 launching with a price tag of $299. The original RTX 3050 came with an MSRP of $249 as well, while the RTX 3050 6GB is set to have a comparatively low price of around $179, making it a cheaper alternative if you don’t mind giving up 2GB of VRAM. For a pre order price under $200 here’s a RTX 3050 6GB we recommend.

RTX 3050 6GB Vs RTX 3050 8GB release date comparison

The RTX 30 series became available as of September 2020, with the RTX 3050 8GB launching in January 2022, shortly succeeded by the 40 series in October of the same year. Meanwhile, following a very discreet launch, the RTX 3050 6GB is currently available to pre order, with a release date set for this Friday, February 9. 

RTX 3050 6GB Vs RTX 3050 8GB specs comparison

For just under $100 extra, the RTX 3050 8GB naturally comes with 8GB of GDDR6 VRAM rather than the RTX 3050 6GB which comes with – you guessed it – 6GB of VRAM. Alongside that, the RTX 3050 8GB comes with a 128-bit memory bus (the 6GB variant comes with a 96-bit memory bus), the RTX 3050 8GB has a memory clock speed of 14GB/s and a memory bandwidth of 224.0GB/s, while the RTX 3050 6GB boasts an equal 14GB/s and 168.0GB/s respectively. 

With only 200 hundred more cores, the RTX 3050 8GB is the same processing size as the RTX 3050 6GB (8nm) but a higher power consumption of 130W, vs the RTX 3050 6GB which has a comparatively low TDP of 80W. The RTX 3050 8GH has a higher boost clock speed of 1777MHz and a higher texture fill rate of 142.2, while the RTX 3050 6GB falls behind with a boost clock speed of 1470MHz and a texture fill rate of 105.8. 

RTX 3050 6GB Vs RTX 3050 8GB performance comparison

The RTX 3050 8GB graphics card is capable of running 1080p at high or medium settings, with capabilities of reaching 1440p resolution for certain titles – though this may require lowering the graphics settings to achieve this. Ahead of the RTX 3050 6GB official release, we’re basing its performance on the RTX 3050, which leaves us hoping this will be a more affordable GPU for the low-end gamer.

When compared By GamesOracle on YouTube, the RTX 3050 vs the RTX 4060 at 1080p with settings maxed, during Far Cry 6 gameplay, the RTX 3050 maintained a healthy 74fps at average, and during Assassin’s Creed Valhalla gameplay the RTX 3050 maintained an average frame rate of around 69fps, which is comparatively high for a graphically demanding game from the Assassin’s Creed series. Capable of comfortably running modern titles at 1080p, with 1440p potential, this GPU could perfect for the casual gamer who needs up-to-date hardware without spending loads, and without need of 4K Ultra capabilities. 

We’ll be updating you with our own in-house testing and benchmarks when we go hands on with the RTX 3050 6GB to better reflect its performance capabilities. From what we’ve seen, however, the lower end card should be just fine at running games in 1080p albeit unexceptionally.

Should I buy the RTX 3050 6GB or the RTX 3050 8GB?

Though on paper the RTX 3050 8GB takes the lead in raw specs, there is not a huge amount of difference between the two in terms of graphics performance. The more important factor to consider is if you are on a budget, and don’t require large VRAM capacity in your new graphics card, then the RTX 3050 6GB is a solid and inexpensive pick. But if you would rather have an extra 2GB of VRAM for a little less than $100, which also offers a higher memory clock speed and higher texture fill rate, then why not pick the RTX 3050 8GB, which is still very much a good choice for those who are trying to stick to a budget. 

When will the RTX 3050 6GB be available to buy?

The RTX 3050 6GB is still available to buy, with a release date of February 9, this Friday.

How much will the RTX 3050 6GB cost?

The RTX 3050 6GB is currently available to pre-order via Newegg for around $179.