GTX 1650 vs RTX 3050: Our Recommendation

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Uzair Qureshi

At Tech4Gamers, I proudly wear the title of Comparisons Specialist. Focused on CPUs and GPUs, I bring forth a wealth of hands-on experience and a keen eye for detail to provide our audience with the latest insights and analyses.

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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table 

Architectural Difference

1. Clock Speeds: The GTX 1650’s base clock speed is 1485 MHz, while the boost clock speed is 1665 MHz. The RTX 3050’s base clock speed is 1552 MHz, and the boost clock speed is 1777 MHz.
2. VRAM: The RTX 3050 has a virtual random access memory of 8 GB, almost double that of the GTX 1650, which has a VRAM of only 4 GB.
3. TDP: The GTX 1650 has a thermal design power of around 75 watts, while the RTX 3050 has a TDP of 130 watts. It means the former drew less power than the latter.
4. Supported Technologies: The GTX 1650 supports graphical features, including OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.3, and CUDA 7.5, with the help of the DirectX 12 (12_1) version. The RTX 3050 can also support OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.3, and CUDA 8.6.

NVIDIA has long been the leading graphics card maker. We recently compared the GTX 1650 and RTX 3050, two powerful GPUs, to see the performance gap between the last GTX series and the latest RTX series using gaming benchmarks.

Gaming Benchmarks  – 1080p

After discussing their general specification, let’s compare the GTX 1650 vs RTX 3050 in seven video games to find out how much of a difference there is in performance. The bottleneck-free testing rig that we used to perform these tests is given below:

Testing Rig

• CPU: Intel Core i7 13700k
• Motherboard: MSI MPG Z690 Carbon WiFi II 
• RAM: 32Gb Anacomda ET RGB DDR5-7200 CL34
• CPU Cooler: Corsair Hydro Series H150i Pro RGB 
• SSD: 2 x Sabrent Rocket 4 Plus 1TB NVMe
• Power Supply: Enermax Revolution DFX

Days Gone

• In our testing of Days Gone, the GTX 1650 averaged 58 FPS, while the RTX 3050 delivered a significantly smoother experience at 106 FPS, roughly 45% faster at rendering frames.
• The RTX 3050 significantly improved frame rate consistency compared to the GTX 1650, maintaining a minimum of 89 FPS higher than 49 FPS of the second card.

Cyberpunk 2077

• We noted that the GTX 1650 struggled in Cyberpunk 2077, averaging only 37 FPS. In contrast, the RTX 3050 averaged 70 FPS, a significant improvement of 48% over the GTX 1650.
• The RTX 3050 showed a clear advantage over the GTX 1650 when considering the 1% low FPS. While the GTX 1650 dropped to 34 FPS, the RTX 3050 maintained a significantly higher 66 FPS.

God of War

• The GTX 1650 averaged 44 FPS. The RTX 3050 achieved a significantly smoother gameplay experience with an average of 82 FPS with nearly 47% improvement.
• In our tests of God of War, we observed that the GTX 1650 experienced a minimum FPS of as low as 37 FPS, while the RTX 3050 maintained a minimum FPS of 67 FPS.

Dying Light 2

• The GTX 1650 averaged 37 FPS in our benchmarks. The newer RTX 3050, however, delivered a noticeable performance boost, averaging 57 FPS, which is a 36% improvement compared to the GTX 1650.
• The GTX 1650 experienced frame rate drops as low as 30 FPS for the 1% low FPS. On the other hand, the RTX 3050 fared better, falling only to 47 FPS.

PUBG

• The RTX 3050 achieved an average frame rate of 116 FPS in PUBG, while the GTX 1650 managed only 69 FPS, a significant 41% improvement for the RTX 3050.
• The RTX 3050 provided smoother performance, with frame drops no lower than 76 FPS, while the GTX 1650 dropped to 48 FPS at its lowest.

Forza Horizon 5

• In Forza Horizon 5, the GTX 1650 averaged 86 FPS, while the RTX 3050 achieved a significantly higher average of 136 FPS with around 17% performance advantage.
• As for the lowest 1% FPS drops, the GTX 1650 dropped to 79 FPS compared to the RTX 3050, which went down to 121 FPS. 

Hitman 3

• The GTX 1650 barely made it with an average of 63 FPS compared to the RTX 3050, which reached 114 FPS. That said, the RTX 3050 gave an average 45% higher frame rate in Hitman 3.  
• The RTX 3050 delivered significantly better performance than the GTX 1650, which averaged 51 FPS; the RTX 3050 dipped to a minimum of 92 FPS.

Horizon Zero Dawn

• In Horizon Zero Dawn, the GTX 1650 averaged 45 FPS, while the RTX 3050 delivered a smoother 78 FPS, making it 43% faster.
• While the GTX 1650 dipped as low as 38 FPS, the RTX 3050 maintained a minimum of 68 FPS. This means the 3050 offers smoother performance even during demanding moments.

Overall Gaming Performance

Average Framerate

With its newer architecture, the RTX 3050 delivered about 73% higher frame rates than the GTX 1650 in our tests, even without ray tracing. It also had a more stable performance with fewer frame drops. This is a very major difference in performance.

1% Lows

The minimum frame rates were also much better on the RTX 3050, with a frame rate around 70% higher than the GTX 1650. 

It is safe to say that the newer 50 series card is much better than the 1650, at least regarding performance. However, as we will discuss below, the other aspects might not be as good for it.

Power Consumption

The RTX 3050 offers better performance but consumes 77% more power than the GTX 1650, leading to higher electricity costs and heat. The GTX 1650’s lower power draw may help extend the component lifespan.

Price And Availability

Both GPUs are priced above their MSRP at the time of this article, but the GTX 1650 is a good budget option with decent performance, being around 76% cheaper than the 3050. Both cards are especially cheap on the used market.

GTX 1650 Vs RTX 3050: What Would We Recommend?

GTX 1650: The GTX 1650 is a budget-friendly, efficient option with low power consumption, ideal for content creators or light gaming. However, it lacks the high frame rates of the RTX 3050 for more demanding gamers.

RTX 3050: The RTX 3050’s newer “Ampere” architecture offers superior gaming performance and support for the latest technologies, attracting core gamers with higher frame rates. However, its higher power draw and cost might make it less appealing.

Ultimately, the choice is as per users’ requirements and budget. The RTX 3050 is for higher frame rates, while the GTX 1650 is for less power draw, lower price, and higher availability.

Uzair Qureshi

[Comparisons Specialist]

I’m a passionate computer hardware expert specializing in CPUs and GPUs. With a lifelong curiosity for hardware and extensive hands-on experience, I provide valuable insights, practical advice, and in-depth analysis on these components. Engaging with the hardware community, I exchange knowledge and stay at the forefront of technological advancements.

Get In Touch: uzair@tech4gamers.com