GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile vs GTX 1080 Max-Q

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q and GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 1080 Max-Q
2017
8 GB GDDR5X, 150 Watt
26.50
+11.9%

GTX 1080 Max-Q outperforms RTX 3050 Mobile by a moderate 12% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking207237
Place by popularitynot in top-10044
Power efficiency12.1121.64
ArchitecturePascal (2016−2021)Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code nameGP104GA107
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
Release date27 June 2017 (7 years ago)11 May 2021 (3 years ago)

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores25602048
Core clock speed1290 MHz712 MHz
Boost clock speed1468 MHz1057 MHz
Number of transistors7,200 millionno data
Manufacturing process technology16 nm8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)150 Watt75 Watt
Texture fill rate234.967.65
Floating-point processing power7.516 TFLOPS4.329 TFLOPS
ROPs6440
TMUs16064
Tensor Coresno data64
Ray Tracing Coresno data16

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop sizelargelarge
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x16
Supplementary power connectorsNoneno data

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5XGDDR6
Maximum RAM amount8 GB4 GB
Memory bus width256 Bit128 Bit
Memory clock speed1251 MHz1500 MHz
Memory bandwidth320.3 GB/s192.0 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display ConnectorsNo outputsNo outputs
G-SYNC support+-

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

VR Ready+no data

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (12_1)12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model6.46.6
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL1.23.0
Vulkan1.2.1311.2
CUDA6.18.6

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 1080 Max-Q 26.50
+11.9%
RTX 3050 Mobile 23.68

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GTX 1080 Max-Q 10207
+11.9%
RTX 3050 Mobile 9122

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 1080 Max-Q 23540
+10.2%
RTX 3050 Mobile 21358

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GTX 1080 Max-Q 39562
RTX 3050 Mobile 77234
+95.2%

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 1080 Max-Q 18192
+16%
RTX 3050 Mobile 15685

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1080 Max-Q 114542
+27%
RTX 3050 Mobile 90224

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1080 Max-Q 387951
RTX 3050 Mobile 580370
+49.6%

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD101
+8.6%
93
−8.6%
1440p65
+30%
50
−30%
4K47
+42.4%
33
−42.4%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
−147%
106
+147%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 78
+50%
50−55
−50%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 45−50
−66.7%
75
+66.7%
Battlefield 5 116
+48.7%
75−80
−48.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
+12.5%
45−50
−12.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
−93%
83
+93%
Far Cry 5 95
+72.7%
55−60
−72.7%
Far Cry New Dawn 118
+90.3%
60−65
−90.3%
Forza Horizon 4 260
+85.7%
140−150
−85.7%
Hitman 3 50−55
+14.9%
45−50
−14.9%
Horizon Zero Dawn 120−130
+9.1%
110−120
−9.1%
Metro Exodus 133
+64.2%
80−85
−64.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2 65−70
+9.7%
60−65
−9.7%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 173
+116%
80−85
−116%
Watch Dogs: Legion 100−110
+6%
100−105
−6%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 122
+135%
50−55
−135%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 45−50
−37.8%
62
+37.8%
Battlefield 5 104
+33.3%
75−80
−33.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
+12.5%
45−50
−12.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
−41.9%
61
+41.9%
Far Cry 5 77
+40%
55−60
−40%
Far Cry New Dawn 89
+43.5%
60−65
−43.5%
Forza Horizon 4 240
+71.4%
140−150
−71.4%
Hitman 3 50−55
+14.9%
45−50
−14.9%
Horizon Zero Dawn 203
+84.5%
110−120
−84.5%
Metro Exodus 110
+35.8%
80−85
−35.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2 65−70
+9.7%
60−65
−9.7%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 132
+7.3%
123
−7.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 55−60
+11.8%
50−55
−11.8%
Watch Dogs: Legion 100−110
+6%
100−105
−6%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 54
+3.8%
50−55
−3.8%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 45−50
−17.8%
53
+17.8%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
+12.5%
45−50
−12.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
−41.9%
61
+41.9%
Far Cry 5 62
+12.7%
55−60
−12.7%
Forza Horizon 4 106
−32.1%
140−150
+32.1%
Hitman 3 50−55
+14.9%
45−50
−14.9%
Horizon Zero Dawn 107
+0%
107
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 112
+5.7%
106
−5.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 64
−1.6%
65
+1.6%
Watch Dogs: Legion 48
−47.9%
71
+47.9%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 65−70
+9.7%
60−65
−9.7%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 72
+60%
45−50
−60%
Far Cry New Dawn 58
+61.1%
35−40
−61.1%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 43
+79.2%
24−27
−79.2%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 24−27
−53.8%
40
+53.8%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 30−33
+11.1%
27−30
−11.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−76.5%
30
+76.5%
Far Cry 5 42
+55.6%
27−30
−55.6%
Forza Horizon 4 238
+77.6%
130−140
−77.6%
Hitman 3 30−35
+14.3%
27−30
−14.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn 76
−2.6%
78
+2.6%
Metro Exodus 67
−3%
69
+3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 81
+3.8%
78
−3.8%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 30−35
+13.8%
27−30
−13.8%
Watch Dogs: Legion 140−150
+8.9%
130−140
−8.9%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 40−45
+12.8%
35−40
−12.8%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 35
+52.2%
21−24
−52.2%
Far Cry New Dawn 32
+77.8%
18−20
−77.8%
Hitman 3 21−24
−61.9%
34
+61.9%
Horizon Zero Dawn 93
−31.2%
120−130
+31.2%
Metro Exodus 37
+42.3%
24−27
−42.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 45
+2.3%
44
−2.3%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 26
+85.7%
14−16
−85.7%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 14−16
−71.4%
24
+71.4%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 14−16
+15.4%
12−14
−15.4%
Cyberpunk 2077 7−8
−71.4%
12
+71.4%
Far Cry 5 20
+53.8%
12−14
−53.8%
Forza Horizon 4 55
+71.9%
30−35
−71.9%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 46
+2.2%
45
−2.2%
Watch Dogs: Legion 12−14
−58.3%
19
+58.3%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+9.5%
21−24
−9.5%

This is how GTX 1080 Max-Q and RTX 3050 Mobile compete in popular games:

  • GTX 1080 Max-Q is 9% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 1080 Max-Q is 30% faster in 1440p
  • GTX 1080 Max-Q is 42% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Assassin's Creed Odyssey, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 1080 Max-Q is 135% faster.
  • in Cyberpunk 2077, with 1080p resolution and the Low Preset, the RTX 3050 Mobile is 147% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 1080 Max-Q is ahead in 52 tests (72%)
  • RTX 3050 Mobile is ahead in 19 tests (26%)
  • there's a draw in 1 test (1%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 26.50 23.68
Recency 27 June 2017 11 May 2021
Maximum RAM amount 8 GB 4 GB
Chip lithography 16 nm 8 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 150 Watt 75 Watt

GTX 1080 Max-Q has a 11.9% higher aggregate performance score, and a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount.

RTX 3050 Mobile, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 3 years, a 100% more advanced lithography process, and 100% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile in performance tests.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q
GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile
GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile

Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


4.2 35 votes

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Questions & comments

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