RTX 3050 vs GTX 1660 Super
The RTX 3050 is about 26% faster at 1440p. Whether that is worth it depends on the rest of your build.
The gap changes with resolution.
Graphics card differences grow with resolution, because higher resolutions load the GPU harder.
| Resolution | RTX 3050 | GTX 1660 Super | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 35 | 28 | +25% |
| 1440p | 34 | 27 | +26% |
| 4K | 35 | 30 | +17% |
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 3050 + Ryzen 5 9600X
35% GPU-bound
GPU is the limit — the healthy case, with CPU headroom to spare.
Full verdict for this pairing →GTX 1660 Super + 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 3050 | GTX 1660 Super |
|---|---|---|
| League of Legends | 224 fps | 209 fps |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 201 fps | 189 fps |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 88 fps | 81 fps |
| Elden Ring | 62 fps | 55 fps |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 50 fps | 45 fps |
| Starfield | 52 fps | 48 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?
The RTX 3050 — it is 26% ahead at 1440p for about $20 more, and it holds that lead in the pairings above.
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Common questions.
Straight answers on the RTX 3050 versus the GTX 1660 Super.
Is the RTX 3050 better than the GTX 1660 Super?
Yes, but by less than the spec sheet suggests. At 1440p the RTX 3050 scores 34 against 27 for the GTX 1660 Super — roughly 26% faster. It also costs about $20 more at MSRP, so the question is whether that gap is worth the money for your build.
Does the RTX 3050 or GTX 1660 Super bottleneck a Ryzen 5 9600X?
Paired with a Ryzen 5 9600X at 1440p, the RTX 3050 build comes out 35% GPU-bound, and the GTX 1660 Super 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 GTX 1660 Super to the RTX 3050?
Only if you are also lifting the rest of the build. The RTX 3050 is about 26% ahead at 1440p, and gaps like that shrink further at 4K where the GPU does more of the work. If you are upgrading from the GTX 1660 Super purely for frames, check the pairing first.
Which is better value, the RTX 3050 or the GTX 1660 Super?
On performance per dollar at MSRP, the RTX 3050 wins. The RTX 3050 lists at $249 for an index of 34, and the GTX 1660 Super at $229 for 27.
Check either one against your build.
Pick a GPU and its counterpart, and get a verdict at all three resolutions in under 30 seconds.