By Sandeep 
It can be said that while choosing a graphics card, the end user usually has to consider three major factors – performance, functionality, and price. Whether you are using a graphics card in a gaming computer or buying a laptop equipped with a graphics card, here we have tried to make a versatile comparison of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 vs GTX 1650. RTX 3050 offers better performance in both the cases. Both the cards are known to offer better performance for entry-level to mid-range gaming. Where we talk about RTX 3050 graphics card, it is one of the best graphics card of NVIDIA’s RTX 30 series which comes with features like Rate Racing DLSS. On the other hand, Tux GTX 1650 which has been consistently used in the last generation is known to offer better performance than its price. In this article you will get to know how these GPUs compare to each other, which can help the buyer make the right decision based on gaming/compute requirements.
Why the RTX 3050 vs GTX 1650 Debate Matters for Your Next Upgrade
This can be one of the most important tasks for gamers and PC builders as it helps you figure out which of the two cards offers better performance for your price. With technology evolving and varying pricing, you want to evaluate the benefits of knowing which card offers better value for money, quality, cost, and how it works, what technology is used in it, and whether it will support us in the future. It is important to know all these things so that you can choose which one will be right for your setup.
GTX 1650 vs RTX 3050 Comparison – Which Graphics Card Is Better for Gaming?
In this comparison, we have covered the performance, benchmark results, features and limitations of NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 and GTX 1650, which will help you decide which GPU will give better performance for your system.
Gaming Performance
For anyone looking for a new GPU for gaming, it is very important to do a gaming comparison between these two graphics cards. Both graphics cards have their own features for gaming. RTX 3050 offers better performance than GTX1650 due to its better structure and features like rate racing, which we can find out from the benchmark report. The RTX 3050 delivers higher frame rates in popular titles like “Cyberpunk 2077” and “Call of Duty” Benefits like higher latency core count and higher memory rate and many others are a result of the fact that the RTX 3050 card has the capability to deliver 50% more FC than the GTX 1650 even at 1080p which can make it a better option for gamers who want smoother and lag free gaming
Although the TUX 1650 is capable of 1080p gaming at its higher setting rates which can handle most of the currently launched games. While it is not very powerful like other graphics cards, it is suitable for casual gaming and older games that offer a reasonable resolution of 1080p.
Benchmarks Scores
Before buying any graphics card we must know its benchmark scores and compare it with other graphics cards whether it gives better benchmark scores as compared to its price or not. Here are the benchmark scores of RTX 3050 and GTX 1650 shown in which you can see that RTX 3050 is giving better benchmark scores than GTX 1650 in every case. This kind of performance difference is really visible in rendering complex scenes and games and applications with high level of graphic details.
AAA Games
Related: Which is better GTX vs RTX in 2024
For AAA games, the RTX 3050 offers better performance than the GTX 1650. 9 games including “Assassin’s Creed Valhalla” and “Metro Exodus” perform better with the RTX 3050 when powered by more cores and a larger memory bandwidth. With the RTX 3050, gamers can achieve higher settings and higher frames in these and other games with better graphics.
The GTX 1650 can also offer significantly better performance in these games, but settings may need to be tuned when used on modern triple-A titles. But lag-free games will require you to set settings or lower resolutions, which may cause a drop in graphics, especially in newer and more demanding games.
Esports Titles
When it comes to esports titles like “Fortnite” and “League of Legends”, we get good performance from both the RTX 3050 and the GTX 1650. But still, the RTX 3050 has the ability to offer an advantage in terms of higher frame rates and additional functionalities due to its features like ray tracing and DLSS. The higher frame rates and lower latency that come with the RTX 3050 improves your gaming experience through higher frame rates and faster command response which can be very beneficial during esports games.
Features and Technology
RTX 3050 Capabilities
The RTX 3050 is a great graphics card in Nvidia’s RTX series. Like other graphics cards, it also includes features like rate racing and DLLS, making it special for gaming and other demanding tasks. Rate racing improves the quality of light sources that cast shadows and reflections. Still, ray tracing can be resource intensive, and the RTX 3050’s dedicated hardware allows games to achieve quite acceptable frame rates in less time.
In addition, its DLLS technology leverages the power of machine learning to enhance game and application performance while maintaining the original quality of images. This technology enables the RTX 3050 to deliver higher frame rates and provide better performance in demanding games. It can be a great option for gamers who are looking for a mid-range graphics card to play future games.
GTX 1650 Limitations
However, the GTX 1650 still remains a card for old, standard games that do not include features like rate racing and DLLS, but it is still capable of providing better performance for lower-end games. For its price, it is capable of providing better performance. It is known for which you can get better performance in games like Grand Theft Auto V, Far Cry 3, Forza Horizon 5
Video Encoding and Decoding Features
The RTX 3050 graphics card features special features in video encoding and decoding as the architecture used in it has been expanded with the use of NVENC and NVDEC on the RTX 3050. This provides the performance needed for better video recording and streaming, which is why the RTX 3050 is ideal for content creators and gamers who stream. Hardware decoding support includes various codecs such as H. 264 and HEVC, which means quality video output in the most efficient way.
The GTX 1650 graphics card does not offer much better performance in video related tasks as there is not much focus on the use of NVENC and NVDEC. As a result, video encoding and decoding can be slow which increases the strain on the CPU and other components which can lead to lower overall performance in applications that require video processing. This can be important for users who want to engage in content creation or streaming.
Power Consumption and Efficiency
It is sure that RTX 3050 consumes more power than GTX 1650 due to its better hardware and additional functions but still RTX 3050 offers better performance with this power consumption than GTX 1650. RTX 3050 consumes 130 watts of power and at its peak it can use even higher voltage while GTX 1650 uses a mere 75 watts. For the successful operation of TX 3050, users need to ensure that the system has adequate power supply and cooling.
Performance per Watt
Yes RTX 3050 consumes more power than GTX 1650 but it offers 30% better performance per watt than GTX 1650. And it is capable of delivering more performance with less power consumption than the previous generation. This efficiency means better overall performance in terms of the power used in actual computing, making the RTX 3050 a better computing device for those who want maximum performance but relatively low power consumption.
Current Market Prices
We choose any graphics card according to our budget, so before buying any graphics card, it is important to know its price. As far as RTX 3050 is concerned, it is available at a higher price than GTX 1650 due to its additional performance and features. Currently, the price of RTX 3050 can be between $250 to $300 and currently the price of GTX 1650 can be between $150 to $200.
Cost-to-Performance Ratio
As far as C/P ratio is concerned, GTX 1650 is available at a more reasonable price for reasonable performance. However, RTX 3050 is recommended as a better option due to its massive features and high-performance equipment. However, if you’re going to be playing the latest games, want ray tracing or you need better video encoding quality, then the RTX 3050 is better for you, even though it comes at a premium price.
Which GPU is right for you?
To choose the right graphics card between the Nvidia RTX 3050 and the GTX 1650, we must consider which of the two offers better performance for the money we are spending. If you like new functions, more efficient gaming and computing, and more possibilities in the future, the RTX 3050 is better. However, if you are looking for a budget graphics card but don’t want to sacrifice too much in terms of performance for a budget graphics card, the GTX 1650 is a worthy candidate.
Conclusion
Overall, both the graphics cards are known for their respective features and both are designed keeping different audiences in mind. In comparison to these two, RTX 3050 can be a better graphics card as it supports features like rate racing and DLLS to improve performance. Apart from this, high end video encoding facility is available which makes it a better option for both new and expert gamers. Apart from this, those who aim to use the latest technology and high end games. Yes, GTX 1650 is a less powerful card than RTX 3050 but it offers better performance as per its price and can give a good result for people who are not involved in high end gaming. It can be a good option for those who want to do only normal gaming.
Q1. Is the RTX 3050 worth upgrading from the GTX 1650?
Ans. The RTX 3050 is definitely worth upgrading from the GTX 1650 if you want to take advantage of future features, better performance rates, and more compatibility. This is especially true if you load games with ray tracing or DLSS, or if you are going to focus on newer games that make higher graphical demands. For them, the RTX 3050 is a perfect fit.
Q2. What are the main advantages of the RTX 3050?
Ans. With the RTX 3050 you get ray tracing and DLSS capabilities, better performance in games and video encoding. They make it a better and more durable video card as opposed to the GTX 1650 since the latter is already outdated.
Q3. How do performance metrics compare for RTX 3050 and GTX 1650?
Ans. In terms of gaming, this graphics card offers better performance than the RTX 3050, giving higher frame rates and better control in case of modern games. The enhanced features of the RTX 3050 include support for ray tracing and DLSS, which is why the gaming performance of this video card is better than that of the GTX 1650.