Nvidia RTX 3050: Entry-Level Gaming GPU with Ray Tracing
The Nvidia GeForce RTX 3050 is an entry-level gaming graphics card designed for gamers and content creators seeking affordable ray-tracing capable performance. It belongs to Nvidia’s RTX 30-series, leveraging the Ampere architecture.
Key Features of Nvidia RTX 3050
1. CUDA Cores
- Features 2,560 CUDA cores, providing solid performance for gaming and GPU-accelerated tasks.
- Supports parallel processing for gaming, rendering, and AI workloads.
2. Ray Tracing and AI Features
- Supports real-time ray tracing for realistic lighting, shadows, and reflections.
- Includes DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) for improved performance with AI-based upscaling.
3. Memory
- Equipped with 8 GB GDDR6 memory.
- Provides sufficient bandwidth for 1080p and 1440p gaming.
4. PCIe and Display Support
- Supports PCIe 4.0 interface.
- Includes HDMI 2.1 and DisplayPort 1.4a, supporting multiple monitors and high refresh rates.
5. Power Efficiency
- TDP of 130W, allowing operation on entry-level and mid-range power supplies.
- Compatible with compact gaming builds.
Use Cases
- Gaming: Smooth 1080p and 1440p gaming with modern titles, including ray-traced effects.
- Content Creation: Video editing, 3D rendering, and streaming.
- GPU Acceleration: AI inference, CUDA-based software, and general GPU compute tasks.
- Affordable Gaming Builds: Ideal for gamers on a budget seeking RTX features.
Specifications
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 2,560 |
| Base Clock | 1.55 GHz |
| Boost Clock | 1.78 GHz |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit |
| TDP | 130W |
| PCIe Support | PCIe 4.0 |
| Ray Tracing / DLSS | Yes / Yes |
Conclusion
The Nvidia RTX 3050 is an entry-level GPU that brings ray-tracing and AI-powered gaming features to budget-conscious gamers. With 2,560 CUDA cores, 8 GB of GDDR6 memory, and PCIe 4.0 support, it is an ideal choice for 1080p gaming, content creation, and GPU-accelerated workloads.