GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile vs GTX 260

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Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 260 with GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile, including specs and performance data.

GTX 260
2008
896 MB GDDR3, 182 Watt
3.17

RTX 3050 Mobile outperforms GTX 260 by a whopping 649% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking753237
Place by popularitynot in top-10038
Cost-effectiveness evaluation0.16no data
Power efficiency1.2021.78
ArchitectureTesla 2.0 (2007−2013)Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code nameGT200GA107
Market segmentDesktopLaptop
Release date16 June 2008 (16 years ago)11 May 2021 (3 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$449 no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

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 cores1922048
Core clock speed576 MHz712 MHz
Boost clock speedno data1057 MHz
Number of transistors1,400 millionno data
Manufacturing process technology65 nm8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)182 Watt75 Watt
Maximum GPU temperature105 °Cno data
Texture fill rate36.8667.65
Floating-point processing power0.4769 TFLOPS4.329 TFLOPS
ROPs2840
TMUs6464
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 sizeno datalarge
InterfacePCIe 2.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x16
Length267 mmno data
Height4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm)no data
Width2-slotno data
Supplementary power connectors2x 6-pinno data
SLI options+-

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 typeGDDR3GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount896 MB4 GB
Memory bus width448 Bit128 Bit
Memory clock speed999 MHz1500 MHz
Memory bandwidth111.9 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 ConnectorsDual Link DVIHDTVNo outputs
Multi monitor support+no data
HDMI+-
Maximum VGA resolution2048x1536no data
Audio input for HDMIS/PDIFno data

API compatibility

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

DirectX11.1 (10_0)12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model4.06.6
OpenGL2.14.6
OpenCL1.13.0
VulkanN/A1.2
CUDA+8.6

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 260 3.17
RTX 3050 Mobile 23.73
+649%

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 260 1217
RTX 3050 Mobile 9122
+650%

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 HD12−14
−675%
93
+675%
1440p6−7
−767%
52
+767%
4K4−5
−725%
33
+725%

Cost per frame, $

1080p37.42no data
1440p74.83no data
4K112.25no data

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 106
+0%
106
+0%
Elden Ring 95
+0%
95
+0%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 70−75
+0%
70−75
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 73
+0%
73
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 156
+0%
156
+0%
Metro Exodus 110
+0%
110
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Valorant 95−100
+0%
95−100
+0%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 70−75
+0%
70−75
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 56
+0%
56
+0%
Dota 2 142
+0%
142
+0%
Elden Ring 123
+0%
123
+0%
Far Cry 5 130
+0%
130
+0%
Fortnite 120−130
+0%
120−130
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 123
+0%
123
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 128
+0%
128
+0%
Metro Exodus 74
+0%
74
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 150−160
+0%
150−160
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 75−80
+0%
75−80
+0%
Valorant 95−100
+0%
95−100
+0%
World of Tanks 250−260
+0%
250−260
+0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 70−75
+0%
70−75
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 51
+0%
51
+0%
Dota 2 155
+0%
155
+0%
Far Cry 5 70−75
+0%
70−75
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 106
+0%
106
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 150−160
+0%
150−160
+0%
Valorant 95−100
+0%
95−100
+0%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 57
+0%
57
+0%
Elden Ring 66
+0%
66
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 57
+0%
57
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 170−180
+0%
170−180
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
World of Tanks 150−160
+0%
150−160
+0%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 20−22
+0%
20−22
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 28
+0%
28
+0%
Far Cry 5 65−70
+0%
65−70
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 78
+0%
78
+0%
Metro Exodus 69
+0%
69
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Valorant 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Dota 2 57
+0%
57
+0%
Elden Ring 33
+0%
33
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 57
+0%
57
+0%
Metro Exodus 23
+0%
23
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 70−75
+0%
70−75
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 57
+0%
57
+0%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 12
+0%
12
+0%
Dota 2 93
+0%
93
+0%
Far Cry 5 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Fortnite 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 45
+0%
45
+0%
Valorant 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%

This is how GTX 260 and RTX 3050 Mobile compete in popular games:

  • RTX 3050 Mobile is 675% faster in 1080p
  • RTX 3050 Mobile is 767% faster in 1440p
  • RTX 3050 Mobile is 725% faster in 4K

All in all, in popular games:

  • there's a draw in 63 tests (100%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 3.17 23.73
Recency 16 June 2008 11 May 2021
Maximum RAM amount 896 MB 4 GB
Chip lithography 65 nm 8 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 182 Watt 75 Watt

RTX 3050 Mobile has a 648.6% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 12 years, a 357.1% higher maximum VRAM amount, a 712.5% more advanced lithography process, and 142.7% lower power consumption.

The GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 260 in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 260 is a desktop card while GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile is a notebook one.


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

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.


NVIDIA GeForce GTX 260
GeForce GTX 260
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile
GeForce RTX 3050 Mobile

Other comparisons

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Community ratings

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


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Questions & comments

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