GTX 1660 vs RTX 3050 8GB
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | GTX 1660 | RTX 3050 8GB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 1,760 | 3,640 | -51.6% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 31 | 44 | -29.5% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 17 | 25 | -32.0% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 9 | 14 | -35.7% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 5.0 | 9.1 | -44.7% |
| VRAM | 6 GB GDDR5 | 8 GB GDDR6 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 168 | 224 | -25.0% |
| TDP (W) | 120 | 130 | — |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $219 | $249 | -12.0% |
- RTX 3050 8GB averages 25 fps at 1440p versus 17 fps — about 32% faster.
- GTX 1660 draws less power (120W vs 130W).
Verdict: GTX 1660 or RTX 3050 8GB?
GTX 1660 advantages
- Power efficiency (+8%)
- Affordability (+12%)
RTX 3050 8GB advantages
- 1440p gaming (+32%)
- 4K gaming (+36%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+52%)
- Video memory (+25%)
- Memory bandwidth (+25%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the GTX 1660 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the RTX 3050 8GB if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the GTX 1660 if you want the better price for the performance.
Value for money
RTX 3050 8GB delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
GTX 1660 vs RTX 3050 8GB: which should you choose?
GTX 1660 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2019, Turing) with 6 GB of GDDR5, averaging 17 fps at 1440p; launched at $219.
RTX 3050 8GB — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2022, Ampere) with 8 GB of GDDR6, averaging 25 fps at 1440p; launched at $249.
GTX 1660 vs RTX 3050 8GB: RTX 3050 8GB is faster for gaming. RTX 3050 8GB averages 25 fps at 1440p versus 17 fps — about 32% faster. GTX 1660 draws less power (120W vs 130W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RTX 3050 8GB averages 25 fps against 17. At 4K (9 vs 14 fps) VRAM (6GB vs 8GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
Power and value
Board power is 120 W versus 130 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $219 vs $249, weigh the frame-rate lead against price and power draw for your target resolution.
The verdict
Both are credible choices in the graphics card comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GTX 1660 better than the RTX 3050 8GB?
RTX 3050 8GB takes the overall edge, though GTX 1660 wins in specific areas worth weighing. RTX 3050 8GB averages 25 fps at 1440p versus 17 fps — about 32% faster.
What is the main difference between the GTX 1660 and the RTX 3050 8GB?
RTX 3050 8GB averages 25 fps at 1440p versus 17 fps — about 32% faster. GTX 1660 draws less power (120W vs 130W).
Which is better value?
RTX 3050 8GB delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the GTX 1660 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise. Choose the RTX 3050 8GB if you game at 1440p.
Methodology
Graphics cards are compared on 3DMark Time Spy scores, average gaming frame rates at 1080p/1440p/4K, FP32 compute throughput, VRAM capacity and type, memory bandwidth, board power (TDP) and launch MSRP — plus AI workload throughput (Stable Diffusion iterations/s and local LLM tokens/s) where measured. Vintage and server GPUs without modern benchmark results are compared on specifications only, clearly labelled. Frame rates are averages across a game suite at high settings; specific titles vary.