Graphics cards are usually a topic of conversation in the gaming community, especially as we approach the conclusion of a generation. With the volatile pricing trends of the last two years, many gamers are finally looking to upgrade or get a new GPU. Today, we'll compare two popular mid-range GPUs: the GeForce RTX 3050 and the Radeon RX 6600.

Price Overview

Before we dive into performance, let's take a look at the current pricing in India. The RTX 3050 is available in two variants: the 6GB version for under ₹17,000  and the 8GB version for under ₹18,000. On the other hand, the Radeon RX 6600 8GB can be purchased for under ₹21,000. This pricing sets the stage for an interesting showdown.

Performance Benchmarks

To determine which GPU provides better value, we’ve tested both cards across 51 games at 1080p and 1440p resolutions, using a Ryzen 7 5800X3D CPU and 32GB of dual-rank, dual-channel memory. We utilized the latest drivers—Radeon Adrenalin Edition 22.6.1 for the RX 6600 and GeForce Game Ready 516.59 for the RTX 3050.

Game Performance Highlights

1. Fortnite: Both GPUs maintain frame rates above 100 fps at 1080p. However, the RX 6600 shines here, delivering frame rates that are 20% higher than the RTX 3050 at 1080p and 21% faster at 1440p.

2. Tiny Tina's Wonderlands: This game showcases the RTX 3050's struggle, with the RX 6600 outpacing it by an impressive 66% at 1080p and 44% at 1440p.

3. God of War: In this title, the RX 6600 leaves the RTX 3050 in the dust, with a 63% performance increase at 1080p and 81% at 1440p. The RTX 3050 barely scrapes past 37 fps at 1440p compared to the RX 6600's 67 fps.

4. Forza Horizon 5: The RX 6600 delivers 60% more performance at 1080p and nearly 50% at 1440p, proving its superiority in this racing title.

5. PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds: While the RX 6600 maintains a slight edge, it’s only about 5% faster at 1080p and 9% at 1440p, illustrating that Nvidia’s hardware has its strengths in this competitive shooter.

6. Dying Light 2: The RX 6600 performs robustly here, being 49% faster at 1080p and 34% faster at 1440p, with the RTX 3050 struggling to reach 60 fps at the lower resolution.

7. Assassin's Creed Valhalla: The RX 6600 maintains its lead, with a 42% performance advantage at 1080p and 33% at 1440p, demonstrating its proficiency in open-world games.

8. Red Dead Redemption 2: The RTX 3050 struggles to attain 60 fps at 1080p, whilst the RX 6600 easily achieves 70 fps, 35% faster.

   
   

   
   

Summary of Findings

Across all tested games, the Radeon RX 6600 proves to be the superior choice. At 1080p, it outperformed the RTX 3050 by an average of 29% across 51 titles. 

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• ASUS Dual Radeon RX 6600 comes with 8GB GDDR6 Graphics RAM

• PCIe 4.0 Support for Ultrafast Data Transfer Speeds

• Minimum power supply required only 500W

• Up to 2491 MHz (Boost Clock)/up to 2044 MHz (Game Clock)

• HDMI 2.1 Supported

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• NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 6GB GDDR6

• 7680 x 4320 pixels 96 bit 14000 MHz PCI Express 4.0

• HDMI ports quantity: 1 DisplayPort ports quantity: 1

• DirectX version: 12 Ultimate OpenGL version: 4.6

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• Custom PCB: The custom PCB has been engineered with hardened circuits and optimized trace routing for performance and reliability.

• Zero Frozr: The fans completely stop when temperatures are relatively low, eliminating all noise.

• Reinforcing Backplate: The reinforcing backplate features a flow-through design that provides additional ventilation.

Power Consumption and Efficiency

When choosing a graphics card, consider its power usage. Both the RTX 3050 and RX 6600 have similar power requirements, which are often acceptable with a basic 500W PSU. This combination of power consumption and performance is critical for gamers who want to construct or upgrade their computers without incurring considerable additional expenses.

Conclusion: Making the Right Choice

Given the considerable performance differences and appealing cost, the Radeon RX 6600 is the clear winner in this comparison. While the RTX 3050 still delivers respectable performance, particularly in older titles, the RX 6600 regularly provides a more robust gaming experience.

If you have a budget of roughly ₹25,000, the Radeon RX 6600 is the greatest option for gamers looking for both performance and affordability. As next-generation graphics cards approach, the RX 6600 stands out as a sound investment for anyone looking to enjoy the latest games with a seamless experience.