The gap changes with resolution.
Graphics card differences grow with resolution, because higher resolutions load the GPU harder.
| Resolution | RX 6600 | RTX 3050 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 39 | 35 | +11% |
| 1440p | 36 | 34 | +6% |
| 4K | 38 | 35 | +9% |
In a real build with a Ryzen 5 9600X.
Specs alone don’t tell you which to buy. Here is what each one does when it’s actually paired up, at 1440p.
RX 6600 + Ryzen 5 9600X
35% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →RTX 3050 + Ryzen 5 9600X
35% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →| Game (1440p, paired with the Ryzen 5 9600X) | RX 6600 | RTX 3050 |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 229 fps | 224 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 204 fps | 201 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 90 fps | 88 fps |
| Elden Ring | 64 fps | 62 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 51 fps | 50 fps |
| Starfield | 54 fps | 52 fps |
Modelled from benchmark data, not measured for every pairing. Our published error rate is 21.6% mean absolute error.
So which should you buy?
Whichever is cheaper on the day. There is roughly 6% between them at 1440p, which you will not notice in a game.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the RX 6600 versus the RTX 3050.
Is the RX 6600 better than the RTX 3050?
They are close enough to call a tie. At 1440p the RX 6600 scores 36 on our index against 34 for the RTX 3050 — a gap of about 6%, which is inside the margin where you would not feel a difference while gaming. Buy whichever is cheaper or easier to find.
Does the RX 6600 or RTX 3050 bottleneck a Ryzen 5 9600X?
Paired with a Ryzen 5 9600X at 1440p, the RX 6600 build comes out 35% GPU-bound, and the RTX 3050 build comes out 35% GPU-bound. Being GPU-bound is the healthy outcome — it means the graphics card is the part working hardest.
Is it worth upgrading from the RTX 3050 to the RX 6600?
No. A 6% index gap will not be visible in games, and the money is better spent on the other side of the build — usually the GPU.
Which is better value, the RX 6600 or the RTX 3050?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the RTX 3050 wins. The RX 6600 lists at $329 for an index of 36, and the RTX 3050 at $249 for 34.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a GPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.