RTX 4050 Laptop vs RTX 3060 Laptop: Which is the Better GPU?

RTX 4050 Laptop GPU stacked against an RTX 3060 Laptop GPU. Find out which one is the best in terms of gaming and value for money.

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The RTX 4050 and the RTX 3060 are both 6GB Laptop GPUs. In between, there is a significant architectural difference. The 3060 incorporates the Ampere core, and the 4050 includes the Ada-Lovelace.

Below is a guide that discusses the performance differences between the two.

Also Read: Enjoy $450 Off On MSI Vector Laptop With RTX 5070 Ti

RTX 4050 Laptop vs RTX 3060 Laptop: Detailed Comparison

An image of HP OmniBook X Flip — An image showing the HP laptop as a reference (Image via HP)

Specs Comparison

Here are the specs of RTX 4050 Mobile and the RTX 3060 Mobile:

Specifications	RTX 4050 Mobile	RTX 3060 Mobile
Architecture	Ada Lovelace	Ampere
Lithography	5nm	8nm
Shading Units	2560	3840
TMUs	80	120
SM Count:	20	30
Tensor Cores:	80	120
RT Cores:	20	30
L1 Cache:	128 KB per SM	128 KB per SM
L2 Cache:	12 MB	3 MB
Memory Size	6 GB	6 GB
Memory Type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Memory Width	96-bit	192-bit
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	336 GB/s
TDP (Configurable)	60-140 W	60-140 W

From the specs, it’s clear that the Ampere GPU is stronger, with more CUDA cores and increased memory bandwidth. But in reality, both are identical to each other. The reason is that the Lovelace architecture incorporates a 12MB L2 cache, which makes up for a very efficient approach in computing, rather than relying on brute force. It’s also on a much more efficient node compared to the 8nm one found within the 3060.

Synthetic Performance Comparison

An image showing the ROG Laptop as a reference (Image via Best Buy)

From the synthetic scores, it is clear that both of these GPUs are very evenly matched. In terms of pure computation, the 3060’s additional cores are noticeable, as evidenced by much higher OpenCL scores. But when you factor in gaming, then these two have almost no difference at all.

Benchmark	RTX 4050 Mobile	RTX 3060 Mobile
Blender (Optix)	2495	2554
GeekBench Open CL	74538	93263
3D Mark TimeSpy	9379 (overall)	10540 (overall)
3D Mark Firestrike	14534 (overall)	20140 (overall)

Gaming Performance Comparison

The data is sourced from Game Test’s YouTube channel, where the person tested two laptops with RTX 4050 and RTX 3060 with near identical specs, at 1080p low settings.

Games	RTX 4050 Mobile	RTX 4050 Mobile
Forza Horizon 5	58 FPS	52 FPS
Cyberpunk: 2077	56 FPS	49 FPS
Red Dead Redemption 2	53 FPS	62 FPS
Spiderman Miles Morales	105 FPS	110 PFS
Far Cry 6	95 FPS	85 FPS
Dying Light 2	65 FPS	71 FPS

As mentioned earlier, the 4050 has a vast difference in its L2 cache over the 3060, making it the most efficient GPU between the two. The gaming results do indeed stand tall upon that. Although the 3060 appears to be a higher-tier GPU, it matches the 4050’s performance.

Final Verdict on RTX 4050 Laptop vs RTX 3060 Laptop

If you have to choose between the two, going for a 3060 laptop will be the most reasonable choice. This is because you will find them at a much cheaper price than a 4050. But if you are looking for hardware-related frame generation features, the 4050 is the way. Still, do reconsider your purchase, as both are 6GB GPUs, and both will quickly run out of VRAM if you want to play modern AAA titles.

Also Read: RTX 3060 Laptop vs RTX 4060 Laptop: Which is the Better GPU?

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RTX 4050 Laptop vs RTX 3060 Laptop: Which is the Better GPU?