RX 6600 XT Vs RTX 3050: Which Is Better?

If you’re in the market for a mid-to-high-end graphics card for your PC, then AMD’s RX 6600 XT and Nvidia’s RTX 3050 are two solid options. But which one is better? Today, we find out as we compare the Radeon RX 6600 XT vs GeForce RTX 3050.

Key Takeaways

• The Radeon RX 6600 XT is based on a 7nm node from TSMC, while the GeForce RTX 3050 uses an 8nm node from Samsung.
• The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is 45.4% faster than the GeForce RTX 3050 in 1080P gaming.
• The GeForce RTX 3050 is 4.94% more power efficient than AMD’s Radeon RX 6600 XT.
• The Radeon RX 6600 XT shows weaker thermal performance, running 10.8% warmer than the GeForce RTX 3050, on average.

Comparison Table

Specification Differences

The two cards are not very far apart regarding specifications, but some differences remain to be noted. 

Memory Speeds

In terms of memory, the two graphics cards feature the same capacity of GDDR6 memory. However, the GDDR6 chips on the Radeon RX 6600 XT boast faster bandwidth at 256 GB/s compared to 224 GB/s. 

Also Read: RX 6600 XT vs RTX 3060

Base Clock And Boost Clock

The Radeon RX 6600 XT is far ahead regarding clock speeds. AMD advertised up to 30% faster frequencies than their previous generation – which can be seen here. The GeForce RTX 3050 clocks up to 1522 MHz at base and boosts to 1777 MHz. The Radeon RX 6600 XT has a base clock of 1968 MHz and a boost clock of 2359 MHz.

Shaders, TMUs, And Ray Tracing Cores

The Radeon RX 6600 XT also takes the win purely regarding the number of core components. It has 2560 shaders, 128 TMUs, and 32 ray-tracing cores. The RTX 3050 counters this with 2048 shaders, 48 TMUs, and 20 ray-tracing cores. This effectively means that the RX 6600 XT has better capabilities for processing images, mapping textures, and ray tracing.

Total Board Power

Regarding the TDP, the GeForce RTX 3050 is rated at an efficient 130 watts, while the Radeon RX 6600 XT is rated at 160 watts.

Architectural Differences

The two graphics cards from the two companies have their own architectures. The Radeon RX 6600 XT is based on the AMD RDNA 2 architecture, while the GeForce RTX 3050 is based on Nvidia’s Ampere architecture. So naturally, there are also a few architectural differences to be noted.

Processing Node And Transistor Density

Like the flagship RTX 3000 cards, the GeForce RTX 3050 uses the 8nm node from Samsung to manufacture these chips. On the other hand, AMD’s Radeon RX 6600 XT uses TSMC’s 7nm node. 

The Radeon RX 6600 XT, thus, uses a more efficient manufacturing process and has a higher transistor density at 46.7M / mm². The RTX 3050’s transistor density is 43.5M / mm². The Radeon RX 6600 XT contains 11.06 billion transistors, and the GeForce RTX 3050 contains 12 billion transistors. The RTX 3050 has more transistors because it has a larger die. 

AI / Tensor Cores

Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3050 uses their second-generation Tensor cores, which are built to handle deep learning-based workloads, including Nvidia’s upscaling technology, DLSS. AMD’s RX 6600 XT does not feature such cores, and their “AI accelerators” were introduced in their RDNA 3-based cards instead.

L3 Cache

AMD’s Radeon RX 6600 XT contains their CPU L3 cache-based “Infinity Cache”. The Radeon RX 6600 XT contains a more modest 32 MB of Infinity Cache, as compared to the more powerful GPUs of this generation. Nvidia uses large amounts of L2 cache instead, particularly in their newer Ada Lovelace GPUs. The GeForce RTX 3050 only contains 2 MB of L2 cache, though.

Nvidia Reflex Vs AMD Boost / Low Latency Vs Anti-Lag

Both Nvidia Reflex and AMD Boost are technologies from the respective sides that aim to reduce input lag for competitive gaming. 

Nvidia reflex decreases latency by optimizing the CPU-GPU pipeline. This means that the GPU only accepts data from the CPU when the GPU is not fully utilized and can process it. 

On the other hand, AMD Boost tries to solve the problem by increasing the framerate. It does this by rendering the frames where there’s rapid movement at a lower resolution. 

A comprehensive analysis from Battle(non)sense on YouTube showed us that Nvidia’s Reflex is the more efficient technology. This is because AMD Boost’s method of reducing latency has limitations, mainly when the graphics card is already at high utilization and generating higher framerates is difficult.

Nvidia Reflex: Low Latency Mode and AMD’s Anti-Lag are the same technologies that are available as update drivers and thus can be applied to any game.

Nvidia DLSS Vs AMD FSR

One of the most highly debated topics regarding AMD and Nvidia’s rivalry is their upscaling technologies.

Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 supports DLSS iterations below DLSS 3.0. On the contrary, AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT supports FSR 2.0 and above and will likely support the upcoming iteration, FSR 3.0.

Nvidia DLSS 2.0 uses a temporal feedback technique involving the use of motion vectors, which take motion information from the previous frame to predict the new frame. Furthermore, it uses a convolutional autoencoder which takes the current and the last high-resolution frames to generate a new high-resolution frame.

AMD FSR 2.0 uses temporal upscaling, the same as Nvidia DLSS. It uses information from the previous frame to generate a new one and also uses anti-aliasing to improve the output of the new image. 

AMD FSR is software-based, while Nvidia DLSS relies on Tensor cores. FSR is available on approximately 110 titles, while DLSS is supported on around 200 games. (Read more about Nvidia DLSS vs AMD FSR)

Gaming Benchmarks

Next, let’s move on to the gaming performance of the two graphics cards. We’ll be comparing the performance across 10 games at 1080P, thanks to benchmarks provided by BenchmarKing on YouTube. Please note that these figures can vary slightly from actual in-game performance because of inconsistencies in monitoring software. With that out of the way, here is a look at the test bench:

• CPU: Intel Core i9-10900K
• CPU Cooler: Asus ROG Ryujin 360
• Motherboard: Asus Rog Maximus XIII Extreme Z590
• Memory: Corsair Dominator Platinum DDR4 32GB (4x8GB) 3200 MHz CL16
• Storage: Samsung 980 PRO M.2 1TB PCIe NVMe Gen 4.0
• Operating System: Windows 10 Pro
• Power Supply: Asus Rog Thor 1200W 80+ Platinum

Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla

• The Radeon RX 6600 XT starts things off strong with a 53% average FPS lead in Assassin’s Creed: Valhalla, scoring 86 FPS, while the RTX 3050 only scores 56 FPS.
• Moving to the %1 lows, the Radeon RX 6600 XT has a big lead again with 71 FPS. The GeForce RTX 3050 replies with 43 FPS.
• The Radeon RX 6600 XT runs somewhat hotter than the GeForce RTX 3050, averaging around 61°C. Its Nvidia competitor runs at around 55°C.
• Looking at the power draw figures, the Radeon RX 6600 XT is again on the worse side, drawing 10 watts more than the GeForce RTX 3050.

Also Read: RTX 3050 Vs RX 6600 [Gaming Benchmarks 2023]

Horizon Zero Dawn

• Running Horizon Zero Dawn at ultimate quality preset, the Radeon RX 6600 XT averages 97 FPS. In contrast, the GeForce RTX 3050 averages 61 FPS.
• The Radeon RX 6600 XT scores 82 FPS in the %1 lows, and the GeForce RTX 3050 only manages 55 FPS in reply. 
• The Radeon RX 6600 XT runs at 63°C on average, while the GeForce RTX 3050 runs at 57°C.
• Nvidia RTX 3050 uses 119 watts of power on average, and the Radeon RX 6600 XT runs at 129 watts.

Hitman 3

• FPS galore in Hitman 3: The Radeon RX 6600 XT scores 120 FPS on average, and the GeForce RTX 3050 trails by exactly 50%, averaging 80 FPS.
• The GeForce RTX 3050 shows 69 FPS as the %1 low score, and the Radeon RX 6600 XT is miles ahead with 106 FPS.
• The GeForce RTX 3050 runs at 58°C on average. The Radeon RX 6600 XT continues to run hotter, averaging 63°C in this test.
• The GeForce RTX 3050 happens to draw more power in this instance, by only 1 watt, than the Radeon RX 6600 XT, at 127 watts.

Days Gone

• Moving on to Days Gone now. The Radeon RX 6600 XT top scores again with 92 FPS on average, and the GeForce RTX 3050 scores 67 FPS in reply.
• Regarding the %1 lows, the Radeon RX 6600 XT retains its position at the top, scoring 80 FPS. The GeForce RTX, 3050, notches up 53 FPS and so, is 50% behind.
• Here, the Radeon RX 6600 XT runs at 65°C on average while the GeForce RTX 3050 continues to impress with thermal performance, running 7°C cooler.
• The Radeon RX 6600 XT draws 134 watts, slightly higher than the GeForce RTX 3050 mark of 128 watts.

God of War

• Nvidia’s GeForce RTX 3050 averages 41 FPS, trailing the Radeon RX 6600 XT by 58.5%.
• A similar contrast is recorded between the two GPUs in the %1 lows, where the GeForce RTX 3050 achieves 31 FPS and the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT scores 49 FPS.
• The GeForce RTX 3050, on average, runs at 60°C. That is 4°C cooler than the Radeon RX 6600 XT.
• Again, there’s a minimal difference between the power drawn by the two graphics cards, as the GeForce RTX 3050 consumes 129 watts, and its AMD competitor counters that with 131 watts.

Red Dead Redemption 2

• The struggle continues for the GeForce RTX 3050, as it averages 42 FPS in Red Dead Redemption 2 at maxed-out settings. The Radeon RX 6600 XT struggles, too, scoring 57 FPS on average.
• Similar results are seen in the %1 lows. The Radeon RX 6600 XT falls to 47 FPS, while the GeForce RTX 3050 manages only 36 FPS.
• The Radeon RX 6600 XT runs 6°C hotter than the GeForce RTX 3050.
• The two graphics cards show almost no difference in power draw here, only an ignorable 1-watt difference.

Forza Horizon 5

• Another massive victory for the Radeon RX 6600 XT – this time in Forza Horizon 5 – it scores 96 FPS on average, and the GeForce RTX 3050 struggles to catch up, achieving only 55 FPS. 
• Regarding the %1 lows, the Radeon RX 6600 XT holds its ground and scores 90% higher than the GeForce RTX 3050.
• Again, we’re seeing familiar figures in terms of thermals. The Radeon RX 6600 XT runs at 62°C on average, and the GeForce RTX 3050 counters that with cooler temperatures of around 54°C.
• The Radeon RX 6600 XT again draws somewhat more power than the GeForce RTX 3050 – 9.74% more in exact.

Also Check: RTX 3050 vs 2060: Does Cheaper Equate Better?

Dying Light 2

• The Radeon RX 6600 XT continues to go strong, averaging 81 FPS in Dying Light 2. The GeForce RTX 3050 trails far behind with 48 FPS – a 68.75% difference.
• The %1 lows tell the same story, showing a big contrast between the two graphics cards. Specifically, the Radeon RX 6600 XT manages 72 FPS, and the GeForce RTX 3050 manages 42 FPS.
• The Radeon RX 6600 XT runs warmer again, averaging around 64°C, 12.2% higher than the GeForce RTX 3050.
• The GeForce RTX 3050 proves to be more power efficient again, albeit it doesn’t impress us, considering it only managed 48 FPS. It drew 119 watts on average, and the Radeon RX 6600 XT drew 131 watts of power.

(Also Read: DRR4 vs DDR5 Memory)

Cyberpunk 2077

• Things are really dull for the GeForce RTX 3050 in Cyberpunk 2077, as it only manages 37 FPS on average on the ultra preset. The Radeon RX 6600 XT shows much better numbers, with 59 FPS on average.
• Looking at the %1 lows, the situation worsens for the GeForce RTX 3050. It manages 27 FPS, while the Radeon RX 6600 XT is 55% better with 42 FPS.
• The temperature figures are pretty comparable; an average 4°C difference between the two cards is seen here.
• Same as the temperature, the power drawn by the two graphics cards is similar. The Radeon RX 6600 XT draws 129 watts, and the GeForce RTX 3050 draws 127 watts of power.

• In this final test, the GeForce RTX 3050 catches up to the Radeon RX 6600 XT and only lags the AMD card by 2.8% in average FPS.
• A similar story is told by the %1 FPS figures, as there is a difference of only 1 FPS between the two graphics cards.
• Regarding thermals, the Radeon RX 6600 XT runs at 64°C – much hotter again compared to the GeForce RTX 3050 running at only 55°C.
• Looking at the power draw, the Radeon RX 6600 XT draws 135 watts, and the GeForce RTX 3050 betters that with 129 watts.

Also Read: GTX 1650 vs RTX 3050 [Gaming Benchmarks 2023]

Overall Gaming Performance

To conclude the 1080P Radeon RX 6600 XT vs GeForce RTX 3050 gaming results, we’ve derived a mean of the average FPS recorded by both GPUs across the 10 tests.

• The Radeon RX 6600 XT blows the GeForce RTX 3050 out of the water with 86.1 FPS on average. The GeForce RTX 3050 averages 59.2 FPS across the 10 titles.
• So, the AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT is a whopping 45.4% faster in 1080P gaming compared to the GeForce RTX 3050.

Power Draw

Next, let’s discuss the average power drawn across the 10 games for both GPUs. Remember that the Radeon RX 6600 XT has a TDP rating of 160 watts, while the GeForce RTX 3050 is rated at 130 watts.

• The AMD Radeon RX 6600 XT draws 127.3 watts of power on average, while the GeForce RTX 3050 draws 121.3 watts. 
• The GeForce RTX 3050 is thus 4.94% more power efficient.
• Both the graphics cards perform adequately according to their TDP ratings, but the Radeon RX 6600 XT stays well below its TDP rating.

Thermal Statistics

Next up, let’s look at the thermal statistics. For that, we’re averaging the temperature recorded by the two graphics cards across the 10 games.

• On average, the Radeon RX 6600 XT ran at 63.1°C during the 1080P gaming tests. On the other hand, the Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 ran at a much cooler 56.9°C.
• The GeForce RTX 3050 is thus 10.8% more thermally efficient than the Radeon RX 6600 XT.

Also, make sure to read about safe idle GPU temperatures here.

Pricing And Availability

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050, which has an official MSRP of $249, is difficult to find for the base MSRP in online stores. This is disappointing, considering it needs all the wins it can get after being comprehensively beaten in gaming performance.

The Radeon RX 6600 XT never saw an official price cut, but its replacement in the product stack, the Radeon RX 6650 XT, did in September 2022. This means that the Radeon RX 6600 XT has also been going for much lower prices since the price cut.

The Radeon RX 6600 XT draws slightly more power, but not to a level where it can drastically impact your electricity bills. So the remaining costs don’t come into play.

RX 6600 XT Vs RTX 3050: Which One Should You Get?

We saw that the Radeon RX 6600 XT was far and away the better card in 1080P gaming, performing 45.4% better. Also, it hardly draws any more power than the GeForce RTX 3050 despite being rated at 130 watts higher. 

The only factor that the Radeon RX 6600 XT lacked was the temperature. It ran 10.7% hotter than its Nvidia competitor, averaging around 63.1°C in 1080P gaming. While this seems fair enough, the temperatures will rise at higher resolutions and could be problematic.

Finally, the Radeon RX 6600 XT can be found for around the same price as the GeForce RTX 3050 and even cheaper in some cases.

While the RX 6600 XT seems to be the better choice here, in the end, it all comes down to you. If you think the RTX 3050 is still a suitable GPU for your next build, then you should go for it because its still a great GPU.