Low-end cards in the series, like the RX 6500 XT, usually don’t get a lot of love from AIB partners. They create cheap coolers for entry-level cards simply because they don’t need any substantial cooling.
Nvidia’s RTX 3050, on the other hand, got a deluxe treatment from most AIB partners and coolers with up to three fans and enormous heatsinks.
To get the most out of your money when buying this entry-level card, you will need to pick the suitable aftermarket variant. This article will assist you with that.
So, let’s get into it and discover which RTX 3050 is the finest.
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Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 Gaming OC
Specifications:rn• Interface: 2 x Display Port, 2 x HDMIrn• Boost Clock: 1815 MHzrn• Dimensions: L: 286 W:115H: 51mm
The Pros:
- Good factory overclockrnNice custom overclock
The Cons:
- Noisy and hot
Gigabyte’s Gaming OC cooler setup is extremely popular with the RTX 3000 and RX 6000 GPU series. This is because it’s cost-effective, isn’t unnecessarily large, and provides effective cooling.
The RTX 3050 also gets Gigabyte’s Gaming OC cooler, so let’s inspect how it functions.
Pricing
Nvidia settled on an MSRP of $250 for the RTX 3050.
However, it seems like Gigabyte wants to make a little bit more money from this entry-level card, so the RTX 3050 Gaming OC has a starting price of $380. That’s a significant price increase, and we find any room to justify that.
Either way, let’s examine this card’s appearance and effectiveness.
Design
The Gaming OC cooler has not changed in terms of design over the past few years. It’s the same triple-fan setup we’ve seen on the RTX 3080 Ti or RTX 3070 TI.
Around those three fans, there’s a predominantly ebony and charcoal shroud. There’s a bit of RGB on the side, which is always pleasant to have rather than nothing.
And the back is pretty straightforward, a metal backplate with a substantial protrusion at the end for enhanced air circulation.
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
The reference RTX 3050 has a boost clock of 1777 MHz, while Gigabyte’s GPU is factory overclocked to 1815 Mhz. A modest increase in frequency, but let’s see whether benchmarks will tell a different story.
Based on various reviewers, the Gaming OC card actually clocks a bit higher than advertised in games such as Cyberpunk 2077. The GPU clock averages around 1895 MHz, about 6% higher than the stock card. Not terrible. So, let’s see whether a custom OC can push the Gaming OC further.
The overclocking capabilities of the RTX 3050 are actually quite impressive. Users can push the clock frequencies over 2100 MHz and the memory clocks up to 2150 MHz. This custom OC can lead to a 10% increase in performance. Not bad at all.
Thermals And Acoustics
A substantial factory overclock is always remarkable, but a card quickly loses its charm if it doesn’t have good acoustics and thermals.
Unfortunately, it seems like the RTX 3050 Gaming OC is a bit on the noisier side, with noise levels going up to 38 dBA fans up to 2230 RPM while temperatures still stick around 66 degrees Celsius.
A bit disappointing out-of-the-box experience. If you go down this Gigabyte route for your PC build, we recommend playing around with the GPU’s fan curve for a superior experience.
EVGA GeForce RTX 3050 XC Black
Specifications:rn• Interface: 3 x Display Port, 1 x HDMIrn• Boost Clock: 1777 MHzrn• Dimensions: L: 201.8 mm W:110 mm H: 2 slots
The Pros:
- Good factory overclockrnOverclocks quite well
The Cons:
- Could use a better fan curve
The XC Black is probably EVGA’s most celebrated design, mostly because it is straightforward and one of the more economical options. Although unlike the 3070, 3080, or 3090, the RTX 3050 XC Black has a cooler with just two fans because of its lower power draw.
Pricing
While Gigabyte’s Gaming OC got an uncommonly steep price increase, EVGA’s XC Black gets no increase in MSRP. Instead, it is precisely $250, the same as the reference card from Nvidia.
Let’s explore whether this variant is an enhancement over the Founders Edition.
Design
Design-wise, the RTX 3050 XC Black is comparatively straightforward. The entire shroud surrounding the two fans is utterly black.
There’s nothing else noteworthy to report, other than there being no backplate.
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
Even though the XC Black from EVGA is rated at the identical same GPU clock (1777 MHz) as the Founders Edition, it actually clocks a bit faster.
In Cyberpunk 2077, the typical GPU clock frequency is around 1900 MHz. That is a 7% increase in clock frequency. But what about overclocking?
Overclocking the RTX 3050 XC Black brings the memory clock to around 1970 MHz, but the GPU clock rises to 2150 MHz.
So, a bit slower than the Gaming OC in memory clocks and a tad higher in GPU clocks. But, overall, the performance boost should be very similar to Gigabyte.
Thermals And Acoustics
The XC Black might be a basic cooler with just two fans at an affordable price, but it still delivers when it comes to cooling. At 1900 RPM, it produces only 33 dBA while temperatures average around 60 degrees Celsius.
ASUS GeForce RTX 3050 STRIX OC
Specifications:rn• Interface: 3 x Display Port, 2 x HDMIrn• Boost Clock: 1890 MHzrn• Dimensions: L: 300 W:133.6 H: 53.5 mm
The Pros:
- Best factory overclockrnBest overclockerrnExceptionally quiet and cool
The Cons:
- Pricey
ASUS’ Strix is probably one of the most dependable GPU coolers on the market. So anytime you’re looking for a premium product and exceptional overclocking at a cool temperature, the STRIX brand is the answer.
However, that dominance does come at a cost.
Pricing
And that price is $490, almost two times Nvidia’s MSRP of the RTX 3050. To put that into context, the RTX 3070 launched at an MSRP of $500.
A substantial price bump will be difficult to justify. Let’s check it out.
Design
The design of the RTX 3050 Strix OC or any other STRIX GPU, for that matter, is nothing to overlook. It’s a high-end look all-around, and it feels that way too.
This massive boy comes with a triple-fan setup and a huge heatsink which leads to a thickness of 53.5mm, 300 mm long, and it’s also quite broad at 133.6 mm.
Compared to EVGA’s and Gigabyte’s cards, it also comes with additional I/O. It has 3 Display Ports and 2 HDMIs. Not terrible.
When it comes to RGB, you’ll receive abundant amounts of it. There are numerous RGB strips both at the front and side as well.
But, the Strix is not here only to look attractive. It’s also built for performance.
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
The factory overclock is at 1890 MHz, slightly higher than the stock card speeds. But, this is where things get enhanced. Firing up Cyberpunk 2077 pushes the GPU clock to an average of 2040 MHz. That’s a 15% higher clock speed.
However, we always want to see a graphics card’s full potential, so let’s check out overclocking.
With power limits pushed to the utmost, the GPU clock can be overclocked to an average of 2200 MHz and the memory clock up to 2060 MHz. But, of course, your mileage may vary. You’ll get more performance if you manage to push the memory clocks even further.
Thermals And Acoustics
Even though this is the swiftest card of the bunch, it’s also the coldest one yet, with an average of 56 degrees Celsius even at its performance BIOS. The STRIX OC maintains that temperature while the fans spin up just to a maximum of 1170 RPM, resulting in very low noise levels of about 25 dBA.
Palit GeForce RTX 3050 StormX
Specifications:rn• Interface: 3 x Display Port, 1 x HDMIrn• Boost Clock: 1777 MHzrn• Dimensions: L:170 W:125 H: 40 mm
The Pros:
- CompactrnGreat overclocker
The Cons:
- No significant disadvantages (for its size)
We decided to go with Palit’s RTX 3050 StromX not because of its efficiency but its conciseness. As a result, it’s the only GPU in this article that’s less than 200mm brief.
Pricing
Palit’s StormX doesn’t get any deluxe pricing, and you will understand why as we examine this GPU. Its MSRP is the same as Nvidia’s, just $250.
Design
This RTX 3050 takes on a very different design style. It has only one fan, and it’s just 170mm long. So it’s certainly a compact form-factor card.
Its style is relatively simple, with a black shroud surrounding the entire PCB and no backplate, but that’s anticipated from these compact cards.
Performance And Overclocking Capabilities
Even though it seems like Palit’s compact RTX 3050 doesn’t have sufficient cooling, GPU clocks still manage to stay around 1910 MHz which is elevated when compared to its specifications.
Overclocking the StormX brings GPU clocks up to 2132 MHz and memory clocks up to 2040 MHz. That’s not an insignificant achievement considering there is only one fan cooling this compact device.
Thermals And Acoustics
We never expected anything exceptional here, but it’s not too bad. GPU temperatures reach an average of 69°C while the fan spins up to 1670 RPM, producing 35 dBA.
That’s actually more quiet than the Gigabyte card, which has three fans on top of the heatsink.
Which RTX 3050 Graphics Card Should You Buy?
There is a superior choice in this list of four great graphics cards, but which one?
Well, it’s clear that the ASUS GeForce RTX 3050 Strix OC outperforms all other options in terms of performance, aesthetics, and cooling. But that comes at a price premium, so it gets the Best Premium pick.
On the other side of the spectrum is the EVGA GeForce RTX 3050 XC Black, which doesn’t get any kind of price increase, but delivers excellent cooling and performance, so it gets a Best Value award from us.
