The gap changes with resolution.
Graphics card differences grow with resolution, because higher resolutions load the GPU harder.
| Resolution | RTX 2070 | RTX 3050 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 33 | 35 | -6% |
| 1440p | 35 | 34 | +3% |
| 4K | 39 | 35 | +11% |
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.
RTX 2070 + 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) | RTX 2070 | RTX 3050 |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 226 fps | 224 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 203 fps | 201 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 89 fps | 88 fps |
| Elden Ring | 63 fps | 62 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 51 fps | 50 fps |
| Starfield | 53 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 3% between them at 1440p, which you will not notice in a game.
Affiliate links — we earn a small commission on Amazon purchases at no cost to you, which keeps the calculator free. Full disclosure.
Common questions.
Straight answers on the RTX 2070 versus the RTX 3050.
Is the RTX 2070 better than the RTX 3050?
They are close enough to call a tie. At 1440p the RTX 2070 scores 35 on our index against 34 for the RTX 3050 — a gap of about 3%, which is inside the margin where you would not feel a difference while gaming. Buy whichever is cheaper or easier to find.
Does the RTX 2070 or RTX 3050 bottleneck a Ryzen 5 9600X?
Paired with a Ryzen 5 9600X at 1440p, the RTX 2070 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 RTX 2070?
No. A 3% 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 RTX 2070 or the RTX 3050?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the RTX 3050 wins. The RTX 2070 lists at $499 for an index of 35, 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.