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Abde Manaf

At HI Digital I test and write about different hardware configurations to show other PC users what they can expect from their build. My end goal is to educate the masses to make the right decision when they are looking for new PC parts to buy

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Pros And Cons

Comparison Table 

Architectural Difference

• Clock Speeds: The GTX 1650 has a base clock speed of 1485 MHz, while the boost clock speed is 1665 MHz. On the other hand, the RTX 3050 has a base clock speed of 1552 MHz and a boost clock speed of 1777 MHz.
• 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.
• 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.
• 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 remained the top graphics card manufacturer in the market for many years. We tested recently reviewed GTX 1650 against RTX 3050. Both are powerful GPUs, but how much difference is there in the performance between the last GTX series and the latest RTX series? In this GTX 1650 vs RTX 3050 comparison, we’ll compare these two GPUs with gaming benchmarks.

Gaming Benchmarks  – 1080p

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 after discussing their general specification. The bottleneck-free testing rig that we used to perform these tests is given below:

Testing Rig

• CPU: Core i9-12900K
• 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. This translates to a significant improvement of 48% in the average FPS offered by the RTX 3050.
• 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.
• We observed that the GTX 1650 experienced a minimum FPS of as low as 37 FPS in our tests of God of War, while the RTX 3050 held a minimum 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 20 frames faster than the GTX 1650, translating to 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 offered noticeably smoother performance because the lowest 1% of frames, representing the most minor smooth moments you’re likely to experience, dropped no lower than 76 FPS. Meanwhile, the GTX 1650 dipped as low as 48 FPS during the lowest performance.

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

• We can see the GTX 1650 barely making it with 63 FPS on average compared to the RTX 3050, which reached 114 FPS. With 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

• After analyzing Horizon Zero Dawn, we realized that the GTX 1650 averaged 45 FPS, while the RTX 3050 achieved a significantly smoother 78 FPS on average, with a small gap compared to other games we tested. Even so, the RTX 3050 delivered 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

The RTX 3050, with a newer architecture than the GTX 1650, gave approximately 73% higher frame rate. It is without the latest technologies like ray-tracing enabled. Regarding minimum FPS, it outperformed the GTX 1650 by the same percentage. This massive difference indicates that the RTX 3050 performed with more stability and less dropped frame rates. 

Power Consumption

While the RTX 3050 offers superior performance by giving higher frame rates, it comes at a cost. The GTX 1650 boasts a significantly lower power draw, about 77% less than its counterpart. It means lower electricity bills and less heat generated, potentially extending the lifespan of your components.

Price And Availability

Per current market prices, both cards are sold higher than their MSRP. The difference between their MSRP and the current market price has increased significantly. But if you are on a tight budget and want a GPU with reasonably good performance, GTX 1650 is a good option. It is an older model, so you can easily find it in the used market, saving some extra bucks. The RTX 3080 can be purchased on Newegg, Amazon or BestBuy.

GTX 1650 Vs RTX 3050: What Would We Recommend?

GTX 1650: For budget-conscious users prioritizing affordability, accessibility, and efficiency, the GTX 1650 is a good option. It boasts a lower power draw, making it a good choice for content creators focused on video editing or light gaming tasks. However, compared to the RTX 3050, it may not be ideal for gamers seeking high frame rates.

RTX 3050: The RTX 3050 has a newer “Ampere” architecture, enabling support for the latest technologies. It means superior gaming performance compared to the GTX 1650, potentially attracting core gamers with higher frame rates. However, its greater power draw and higher price tag might deter them from considering it the only option.

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.

More from RTX 3050:

• RTX 3050 Vs RX 6600
• RTX 3050 Vs RX 6600 XT
• RTX 3050 Vs RTX 3060

Abde Manaf

[How-To Guides Expert]

Laiba, our tech guru at HI Digital, simplifies and crafts How-To Guides with a Google IT Support Certificate. Beyond tech, she captures the city’s aesthetics through her lens. Join her journey where tech meets creativity!

Get In Touch: Laiba@hidgt.com