Monday, November 25, 2024
Laptops

3060RTX (Laptop) vs 4050RTX (Laptop)

Miguel Salas

TL;DR: If both GPUs are running at maximum wattage (4050RTX = +115W , 3060RTX =+ 115W).
  • Both have nearly the same performance regarding games at 1080p running at ultra-epic settings so choose:
    • RTX 4050 if you prioritize efficiency, modern features like DLSS 3, cooler operation.
    • RTX 3060 if your focus is on raw performance for tasks that require CUDA cores and memory bandwidth, such as 4K gaming, 3D rendering, and professional video editing.

 

Contents hide
1. Specifications : 4050RTX vs 3060RTX
2. Benchmarks: 4050RTX vs 3060RTX
3. Performance Comparison: 3060RTX vs 4050RTX
Gaming
Video Editing
3D Rendering and Modeling
AI-Assisted Applications
4. Conclusion: RTX 3060 vs RTX 4050
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1. Specifications : 4050RTX vs 3060RTX

Specification RTX 3060 Laptop GPU RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
Architecture Ampere Ada Lovelace
CUDA Cores 3,840 2,560
Tensor Cores 120 80
RT Cores 30 20
Base Clock 900 MHz 1,600 MHz
Boost Clock 1,425 MHz 2,370 MHz
Memory Size 6 GB GDDR6 6 GB GDDR6
Memory Interface 192-bit 96-bit
Memory Bandwidth 336 GB/s 192 GB/s
TGP Range 60W – 115W 35W – 115W
Dynamic Boost (Additional) +15W to +25W +15W to +25W
Max TGP (With Dynamic Boost) Up to 140W Up to 140W
TDP (at Max TGP) ~115W ~115W
Manufacturing Process 8nm 5nm

Note: Specifications may vary based on laptop manufacturer configurations.

The following conclusions assume, both 3060RTX and 4050RTX run at the highest wattages.

1. Architecture: Ampere vs. Ada Lovelace

  • RTX 3060 uses the Ampere architecture (8nm), while the RTX 4050 leverages the newer Ada Lovelace architecture (5nm).
    • Impact: The Ada Lovelace architecture is significantly more power-efficient, enabling the RTX 4050 to achieve comparable or better performance than the RTX 3060 at lower TGPs. This is especially beneficial for thinner, lighter laptops with limited cooling systems.
    • Example: An RTX 4050 at 80W may deliver performance close to an RTX 3060 at 115W in some scenarios.

2. CUDA, Tensor, and RT Cores

  • The RTX 3060 has more CUDA cores (3,840), Tensor cores (120), and RT cores (30) compared to the RTX 4050, which has 2,560 CUDA cores, 80 Tensor cores, and 20 RT cores.
    • Impact: In tasks that scale directly with core counts, such as parallel computing and rendering, the RTX 3060 will have an edge.
    • However, the RTX 4050’s architectural improvements and higher clock speeds often compensate, making it competitive despite fewer cores.
    • Example: In Blender Cycles rendering, the RTX 3060 may slightly outperform the RTX 4050.

3. Clock Speeds: Base and Boost

  • The RTX 4050 has significantly higher base and boost clock speeds (1,600 MHz base, 2,370 MHz boost) compared to the RTX 3060 (900 MHz base, 1,425 MHz boost).
    • Impact: The RTX 4050’s higher clock speeds translate to better single-threaded and less-parallelized performance, especially in gaming and lighter workloads.
    • Example: In gaming at medium settings, the RTX 4050 may achieve higher frame rates in certain titles, even at a lower TGP. This is because medium settings require much less “CUDA cores”.
      For example, it may require 500 CUDA cores to run at low settings since both the 3060RTX and 4050RTX have more than 500 CUDA cores, the performance difference is down to how fast each CUDA core can run. Thus the 4050RTX outperforming the 3060RTX.

4. Memory Configuration

  • The RTX 3060 features a 192-bit memory interface with 336 GB/s bandwidth, while the RTX 4050 has a narrower 96-bit interface with 192 GB/s bandwidth.
    • Impact: The RTX 3060 is better suited for tasks that require higher memory throughput, such as:
      • 4K gaming with high-resolution textures.
      • Data-intensive rendering workloads.
    • Example: In games or applications requiring large texture loads, the RTX 3060 may show an advantage over the RTX 4050.

5. TGP and Dynamic Boost

  • Both GPUs support TGP configurations up to 115W with Dynamic Boost allowing up to 140W, but the RTX 4050 can achieve better performance at lower TGP levels thanks to Ada Lovelace’s efficiency.
    • Impact: The RTX 4050 provides similar or better performance than the RTX 3060 in laptops with lower TGP configurations (e.g., 80W or less).
    • Example: In a thin-and-light laptop with an 80W TGP configuration, the RTX 4050 will outperform the RTX 3060 due to its power efficiency.

6. Power Efficiency

  • The 5nm Ada Lovelace process of the RTX 4050 is far more power-efficient than the 8nm Ampere process of the RTX 3060.
    • Impact: Laptops with the RTX 4050 will run cooler, quieter, and offer longer battery life compared to those with the RTX 3060 at similar performance levels.

2. Benchmarks: 4050RTX vs 3060RTX

Note that benchmarks for the 4050RTX are limited due to its relatively early release compared to the 3060RTX.

Also note that these benchmarks are not really conclusive to say if a laptop with either of these GPUs is faster for a given application since performance realies heavily on wattage and cooling system as well CPU-pairing.

 

Benchmark RTX 3060 Laptop GPU RTX 4050 Laptop GPU
3DMark Time Spy 8,324 points 8,208 points
PassMark G3D Mark 13,353 points 14,442 points
GeekBench 6 OpenCL 94,459 points 81,436 points
GFXBench Aztec Ruins High 100.7 FPS 94.4 FPS

Note: These scores are sourced from NanoReview and PassMark.

Important Nuances to Consider

  • TGP Variations: Performance varies significantly depending on the GPU’s TGP (e.g., 60W, 80W, 115W, or 140W with Dynamic Boost). Higher TGP configurations will outperform lower TGP versions, regardless of the GPU model.
  • Cooling System: Laptops with robust cooling systems allow GPUs to maintain higher sustained clock speeds, directly impacting performance.
  • CPU Pairing: A powerful CPU reduces bottlenecks and enhances GPU performance, especially in compute-heavy workloads like rendering or gaming.

3DMark Time Spy

    • The RTX 3060 scores 8,324 points, slightly outperforming the RTX 4050’s 8,208 points (~1.4% difference).
    • Interpretation:
      • The RTX 3060 may provide slightly better performance in DirectX 12 gaming scenarios, especially at higher resolutions or ultra settings.
      • However, the RTX 4050’s support for DLSS 3 (exclusive to Ada Lovelace) makes it highly competitive in modern, optimized games.
    • Nuances:
      • At lower TGPs (e.g., 80W), the RTX 4050 may match or outperform a lower-TGP RTX 3060 due to Ada Lovelace’s efficiency.
      • In laptops with limited cooling, both GPUs might throttle, skewing real-world results.

GeekBench 6 OpenCL

    • RTX 3060: 94,459 points
    • RTX 4050: 81,436 points
    • Interpretation:
      • The RTX 3060 leads by ~16%, showcasing better performance in parallel workloads like image processing, simulations, or machine learning.
      • This advantage is primarily due to its higher CUDA core count and wider memory interface.
    • Nuances:
      • Lower TGP configurations or weaker CPU pairings can bottleneck the RTX 3060, narrowing the gap.
      • Compute-heavy applications may not fully utilize the RTX 4050’s newer architecture.

PassMark G3D Mark

    • RTX 3060: 13,353 points
    • RTX 4050: 14,442 points
    • Interpretation:
      • The RTX 4050 scores ~8% higher overall, indicating better general-purpose GPU performance in a balanced TGP configuration.
      • Efficiency gains from the Ada Lovelace architecture help the RTX 4050 excel in everyday tasks and lighter gaming workloads.
    • Nuances:
      • Higher TGP configurations of the RTX 3060 may outperform lower-TGP RTX 4050 laptops in sustained workloads.

3. Performance Comparison: 3060RTX vs 4050RTX

 Gaming

  • High-TGP Configurations (115W RTX 3060 vs. 115W RTX 4050):
    • The RTX 3060 typically delivers better raw gaming performance, especially at higher resolutions (1440p or 4K), due to its 192-bit memory bus and higher memory bandwidth.
    • The RTX 4050’s DLSS 3 compensates for lower raw power, making it highly competitive in modern games with DLSS support and will most of the time perform equally well at 1080p.
  • Low-TGP Configurations (80W RTX 3060 vs. 80W RTX 4050):
    • The RTX 4050 outperforms the RTX 3060 in modern games with ray tracing or AI-assisted optimizations due to its Ada Lovelace architecture.
    • At lower TGPs, the RTX 4050’s efficiency and higher clock speeds make it a better choice for portable gaming laptops.

Video Editing

  • High-TGP Configurations:
    • The RTX 3060 is better for 8K editing workflows or projects involving large video files due to its higher memory bandwidth.
    • The RTX 4050 competes well in 4K workflows with AI-accelerated tools (e.g., Adobe Sensei), but performance may drop in TGP-constrained environments.
  • Low-TGP Configurations:
    • The RTX 4050’s efficiency shines in light 1080p to 4K editing tasks, especially when paired with AI-accelerated effects.
    • The RTX 3060 may struggle in thin-and-light laptops if cooling and power are constrained.

3D Rendering and Modeling

  • High-TGP Configurations:
    • The RTX 3060 excels in memory-intensive rendering tasks, such as Blender Cycles or V-Ray, where CUDA core count and bandwidth are critical.
    • The RTX 4050 is competitive in AI-accelerated rendering workflows, such as real-time visualization or AI denoising in Unreal Engine.
  • Low-TGP Configurations:
    • The RTX 4050 outperforms the RTX 3060 in AI-assisted workflows and real-time rendering at lower power levels due to its architectural advantages.

AI-Assisted Applications

  • High-TGP Configurations:
    • The RTX 4050 benefits more from tensor core optimizations and AI-accelerated features like DLSS 3, making it a better choice for AI workloads like deep learning inference or image upscaling.
    • The RTX 3060’s raw CUDA core power is advantageous for traditional parallel workloads, but it lacks the AI-specific optimizations of Ada Lovelace.
  • Low-TGP Configurations:
    • The RTX 4050’s efficiency allows it to outperform the RTX 3060 in AI workflows, even at lower power levels.

 

4. Conclusion: RTX 3060  vs RTX 4050

The following conclusions assume both the 3060RTX and 4050RTX run at high wattages (achieving nearly their highest performance):

    • The RTX 4050 and RTX 3060 offer similar performance in most scenarios, with differences typically ranging between 1-6%, depending on the workload.
    • The RTX 4050 has a slight edge in modern gaming with features like DLSS 3 and frame generation, which improve performance and smoothness in supported games. This makes the RTX 4050 more future-proof for upcoming AAA titles.
    • The RTX 3060, with its higher CUDA core count and wider memory interface, is better suited for raw performance in memory-intensive tasks like 4K gaming, 3D rendering, and video editing.

Thermals and Efficiency:

    • The RTX 4050 runs cooler and is more power-efficient, even at the same 140W TGP. This translates to better thermal stability, especially for extended gaming or high-performance workloads.
    • The RTX 3060 may generate more heat under sustained loads, depending on the laptop’s cooling solution.

Future-Proofing and Features:

    • The RTX 4050’s Ada Lovelace architecture includes modern features like DLSS 3 and frame generation, providing smoother gameplay in supported games. These features make it a better choice for users planning to play next-generation games or use AI-assisted tools.
    • While the RTX 3060 lacks DLSS 3, it remains a strong performer for users focused on current-generation tasks and workloads that rely on raw GPU power.

Price-to-Performance:

    • Laptops with the RTX 4050 are often priced 20-40% lower than their RTX 3060 counterparts for similar configurations. This makes the RTX 4050 a more cost-effective choice for most users.
    • However, if an RTX 3060 laptop is available at a similar price, its higher memory bandwidth and better raw power may make it a more attractive option for professionals.

 

Author Profile

Miguel Salas
Miguel Salas
I am physicist and electrical engineer. My knowledge in computer software and hardware stems for my years spent doing research in optics and photonics devices and running simulations through various programming languages. My goal was to work for the quantum computing research team at IBM but Im now working with Astrophysical Simulations through Python. Most of the science related posts are written by me, the rest have different authors but I edited the final versions to fit the site's format.

Miguel Salas

I am physicist and electrical engineer. My knowledge in computer software and hardware stems for my years spent doing research in optics and photonics devices and running simulations through various programming languages. My goal was to work for the quantum computing research team at IBM but Im now working with Astrophysical Simulations through Python. Most of the science related posts are written by me, the rest have different authors but I edited the final versions to fit the site's format.

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