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GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£180
  • Avg. price in US: ~$170
  • VRAM: 8 GB
  • Memory bus width: 128 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 70 W

GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

5.2

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.7

Technical Score

10.0%

9.4

User score

Good
4.7

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

3.0

Performance

24.0%

2.8

Memory

12.0%

8.9

Power & Cooling

11.0%

9.2

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.5

Design

4.0%

6.2

Connectivity & Media

Poor
9.4

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

9.2

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
(623)
amazon
4.7
(249)
amazon
4.3
(185)
amazon
4.6
(92)
amazon
4.6
(5)
United States
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4.7
(412)
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4.7
(254)
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4.5
(186)
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4.6
(94)
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(5)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Exceptional
  • 2.8
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    2.2

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.0
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    2.2

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.9
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    2.2

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    10.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.5
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    2.2

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    15.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.5
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    2.2

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    2.8

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    8.8

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

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Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 Windforce OC is a budget-friendly entry-level graphics card based on the NVIDIA Ampere architecture, featuring 2560 CUDA cores and a factory overclocked boost clock of 1792 MHz. It is equipped with 8GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 224 GB/s of bandwidth and supporting essential features like real-time ray tracing and DLSS for enhanced 1080p gaming. The dual-fan Windforce cooling system utilizes alternate spinning fans and a semi-passive 3D Active Fan design to maintain thermal efficiency while operating quietly under low loads. Main pros include its low 130W power consumption, which is ideal for 450W power supplies, and its compact dual-slot form factor that fits most builds. However, notable cons include its limited performance in 1440p gaming and a memory bus that can become a bottleneck in texture-heavy modern titles.

Technical Specifications of GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

3.0

Performance

24.0%

2.8

Memory

12.0%

8.9

Power & Cooling

11.0%

9.2

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.5

Design

4.0%

6.2

Connectivity & Media

4.7
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a technical score of 4.67 points, which is lower than that of 81.7% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

9.2

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
(623)
amazon
4.7
(249)
amazon
4.3
(185)
amazon
4.6
(92)
amazon
4.6
(5)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(412)
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
(254)
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
(186)
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(94)
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(5)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

9.4
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a user score of 9.45 points, which is higher than that of 93.8% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
10
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 77.9% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

5.2

Overall score

40.0%

9.6

Price

6.5
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.5 points, which is lower than 61.8% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

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3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

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PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

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PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

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Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

9.18 TFLOPS
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC delivers 9.18 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 79.3% of graphics cards.
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

8 GB
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has 8 GB of VRAM, which is less than 57.6% of graphics cards and equal to 25.1% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR6
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR6
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC uses GDDR6 memory, which is newer than on 16.6% of graphics cards and equal to 39.1% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

128 bit
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC uses a 128 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 69.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 26.1% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

224 GB/s
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC reaches 224 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 83.9% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.7% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

4.0
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC supports PCIe 4.0, which is newer than on 22.5% of graphics cards and equal to 52% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x8
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC uses x8 PCIe lanes, which is fewer than 68.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.9% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

12 Ultimate
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, which is more advanced than on 12.5% of graphics cards and equal to 87.5% of graphics cards.
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.3
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC supports Vulkan 1.3, which is older than on 73.5% of graphics cards and equal to 22.5% of graphics cards.
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

3
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC supports up to 3 displays, which is fewer than 92.3% of graphics cards and equal to 5.8% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

7680x4320
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320, which is higher than that of 44.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 55.6% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

1
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC offers 1 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 89.5% of graphics cards and equal to 8.6% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.4a
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC supports DisplayPort 1.4a, which is more advanced than on 22.7% of graphics cards and equal to 44.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

70 W
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a TDP of 70 W, which is lower than that of 93.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.5% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

130 W
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC draws 130 W under peak load, which is lower than 79.8% of graphics cards and equal to 3.5% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

450 W
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC recommends a 450 W PSU, which is lower than that of 85.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 5.8% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

130 W
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a board power limit of 130 W, which is lower than that of 80.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 4.6% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

130 W
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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

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Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

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Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

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Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

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GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC vs the average graphics card

  • 67.4% lower TDP
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (70 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (70 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.70 W vs 215 W
  • 30.8% lower PSU requirement
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (450 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (450 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.450 W vs 650 W
  • 40.9% lower board power limit
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (130 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
    What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
    When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (130 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.130 W vs 220 W
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • 18.1% higher user score
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.45 vs 8.000).
    What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.
    When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.45 vs 8.000).9.45 vs 8
  • 2.94x cheaper
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC is cheaper than the average graphics card (£180 vs £530).
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC is cheaper than the average graphics card (£180 vs £530).£180 vs £530
  • 4.34x more popular
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC is more popular than the average graphics card (10.00 vs 2.303).
    What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
    When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC is more popular than the average graphics card (10.00 vs 2.303).10 vs 2.3
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 67.4% lower TDP
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (70 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 30.8% lower PSU requirement
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (450 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 40.9% lower board power limit
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (130 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.

Total
Overall
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
  • 28.3% lower boost clock speed
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,792 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 28 fewer ray tracing cores
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (20 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.
  • 20 fewer compute units
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 104 fewer TMUs
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 61.9% lower texture rate
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (143.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 65.3% lower pixel rate
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (57.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 120 fewer AI cores
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer AI cores than the average graphics card (72 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 19.2% lower base clock speed
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,552 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 59.8% lower FP32 performance
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (9.2 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 68.9% lower FP16 performance
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower FP16 performance than the average graphics card (9.2 TFLOPS vs 29.5 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP16 performance of 29.5 TFLOPS.
  • 60.3% lower compute throughput
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (9.2 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 50% lower memory bandwidth
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (224 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 4 GB less VRAM
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (8 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 26.3% slower memory speed
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (14,000 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 93.8% smaller L2 cache
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (2 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 60% larger process node
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a higher process node than the average graphics card (8 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • Fewer PCIe lanes
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer PCIe lanes than the average graphics card (x8 vs x16). The average graphics card has x16 PCIe lanes.
  • Older Vulkan version
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC supports an older Vulkan version than the average graphics card (1.3 vs 1.4).
  • Older encoder generation
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (7 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • 2 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 encoding
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • 1 fewer displays supported
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC supports fewer displays than the average graphics card (3 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 displays.
  • 1 fewer fans
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.128 bit vs 256 bit
  • 28.3% lower boost clock speed
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,792 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,792 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1792 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 28 fewer ray tracing cores
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (20 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.
    What it is: Number of dedicated ray tracing processing cores or units
    When it matters: When you care about ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows in newer games.

    Importance: HIGH

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (20 vs 48). The average graphics card has 48 ray tracing cores.20 vs 48
  • 20 fewer compute units
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (20 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.20 vs 40
  • 104 fewer TMUs
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.80 vs 184
  • 1 fewer fans
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • 61.9% lower texture rate
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (143.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (143.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.143.4 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 65.3% lower pixel rate
    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (57.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
    What it is: Number of pixels the GPU can render per second
    When it matters: When you play at high resolutions or care about older raster-heavy games.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (57.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.57.34 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s
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Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
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Graphic comparison of GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC and

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Third-party reviews

United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
623 Reviews
amazon
4.7
249 Reviews
amazon
4.3
185 Reviews
amazon
4.6
92 Reviews
amazon
4.6
5 Reviews
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
412 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.7
254 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
186 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
94 Reviews
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
5 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC?

  • Solid 1080p gaming performance for entry-level and esports titles.
  • Efficient power consumption; the 6GB version often requires no external power connector, making it ideal for office PC upgrades.
  • Support for NVIDIA features like DLSS 2.0, which significantly improves frame rates in supported games.
  • Excellent NVENC encoder, providing high-quality streaming capabilities for budget setups.
  • Runs cool and quiet due to the Windforce cooling system with idle fan-stop technology.
  • Compact dual-fan design fits easily into small form factor (SFF) cases.

What customers dislike about GIGABYTE GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC?

  • VRAM limitations (6GB or 8GB) can cause stuttering or force lower texture settings in modern AAA titles.
  • Poor value proposition compared to competitors like the AMD Radeon RX 6600, which offers better raw performance for a similar price.
  • Hardware ray tracing performance is too weak for practical use in most demanding games without heavy DLSS usage.
  • Narrow memory bus (96-bit on 6GB / 128-bit on 8GB) creates bandwidth bottlenecks at higher resolutions.
  • Lacks support for newer features like DLSS 3.0 Frame Generation found on the RTX 40-series.

Expert reviews

V
vividrepairs.co.uk
29/04/2026
Gigabyte RTX 3050 WINDFORCE Graphics Card Review UK

The Vivid Repairs review gives the Gigabyte NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G graphics card a mediocre final score of 6.4 out of 10, framing it as a highly compromised entry-level 1080p GPU. On the positive side, the card delivers competent 1080p gaming performance, hitting 50–65 FPS on high-to-ultra settings in most modern AAA titles and over 90 FPS in competitive esports...Read more

P
profesionalreview.com
26/01/2022
Nvidia RTX 3050 review en Español (Análisis completo)

The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Gaming OC, built on Nvidia's 8nm Ampere architecture, positions itself as a dominant entry-level graphics card designed to outperform the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT. Equipped with a GA106 core, 2,560 CUDA cores, and 8 GB of GDDR6 VRAM, it comfortably delivers excellent 1080p gaming performance, consistently exceeding 60 FPS in high-to-ultra settings, and even proves...Read more

(Translated)Show original
T
techtesters.eu
21/02/2022
Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 Review

The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 offers a reliable 1080p budget-oriented graphics card experience, performing significantly better than its direct entry-level competitor, the AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT. Equipped with a generous 8 GB of VRAM and a complete encoder and decoder suite, it easily runs modern games on high settings, records gameplay, and streams without severe performance...Read more

(Translated)Show original

Video reviews

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