The RTX 3050 and RX 580 graphics cards deliver impressive performance at affordable prices. But how do they compare for gaming, streaming, and creative work? This comprehensive guide examines every aspect including real-world benchmarks, ray tracing abilities, power draw, and more to help you decide which GPU fits your needs.
Key Specs Comparison
| Spec | RTX 3050 | RX 580 |
| Release Date | Jan 2022 | April 2017 |
| CUDA Cores | 2560 | 2304 |
| Boost Clock | 1777 MHz | 1340 MHz |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR6 | 8GB GDDR5 |
| TDP | 130W | 185W |
| MSRP | $249 | $229 |
As you can see, the RTX 3050 is newer and edges out the RX 580 in core specs critical to gaming with over 15% higher boost clock speed. But the RX 580 runs hotter with a higher 185W power draw. The 3050 also introduces upgraded GDDR6 memory.
Gaming Performance Benchmarks
For testing real-world gaming performance, UserBenchmark shows the RTX 3050 scoring around 20% higher than the RX 580 in effective speed benchmarks across popular games.
1080p Performance Estimate
| Game | RX 580 FPS | RTX 3050 FPS |
| Fortnite | 74 fps | 89 fps |
| GTA V | 96 fps | 116 fps |
| Call of Duty: Warzone | 68 fps | 82 fps |
| Apex Legends | 86 fps | 103 fps |
So while the RX 580 still hits very playable frame rates, the RTX 3050 meaningfully pushes faster performance on newer titles. This crystallizes why it‘s still a go-to budget pick among gamers.
Ray Tracing and DLSS Support
A major advantage of RTX cards like the 3050 is dedicated hardware support for ray tracing and Deep Learning Super Sampling (DLSS). These graphics technologies are being adopted in more and more AAA games to enable realistic lighting, reflections and improved anti-aliasing.
The RX 580 pre-dates ray tracing so lacks hardware and driver support. AMD has since released RDNA 2 cards that close this gap, but ray tracing support remains stronger in equivalent Nvidia GPUs today.
DLSS leverages AI to boost frame rates without compromising image quality, meaning DLSS-supported games will run faster on the RTX 3050.
Power Draw and Thermals
The higher 185W TDP for the RX 580 confirms its greater power appetite versus the 130W RTX 3050. As a result, expect both higher temperatures and fan noise from most RX 580 models under load. You‘ll want robust case cooling to tame the 580.
The 3050‘s trimmed back power consumption makes it easier to cool quietly. But its performance lead does shrink slightly against the RX 580 in well-ventilated systems where both can sustain boost clocks.
Which is Better Value Right Now?
Raw pricing has the RTX 3050 at an MSRP of $249 versus $229 for the RX 580 which would make it seem like less value given its age. However, supply and demand economics have inflated 30-series card street prices in recent years while the abundant RX 580 remains discounted.
As a result, you can readily find new RX 580 models selling for under $170. At that price, despite trailing performance, the RX 580 easily delivers better value and makes more economic sense for buyers on a budget. Paying 70%+ more for the 3050 is difficult to justify unless you‘re laser-focused on max FPS, ray tracing or DLSS capability.
Who Should Buy Each GPU?
For hardcore, competitive gamers wanting to max out frame rates on a budget, the RTX 3050 makes more sense, especially for DLSS or ray tracing enabled titles. You‘ll enjoy faster speeds in most games by 20% or more.
For more casual gaming and multimedia needs, grab an RX 580 deal while you still can. You get close gaming performance plus savings to put towards the rest of your system. The 8GB memory still affords you some future proofing and medium graphics settings at 1080p work beautifully. Just don‘t expect to enable ray tracing.
Quick Pros and Cons
RTX 3050
Pros
- Faster CUDA cores and gaming FPS
- Supports ray tracing and DLSS
- Lower power consumption
Cons
- Often overpriced due to demand
- Can struggle with 4K gaming
RX 580
Pros
- Fantastic value under $170
- Aged but capable 1080p performance
- Aftermarket cards widely available
Cons
- Lacks ray tracing support
- Runs loud and hot under load
- Showing its age in newer games
Frequently Asked Questions
Can the RX 580 run games at 4K resolution?
The RX 580 can technically output to 4K displays. However, gaming performance takes a huge hit at this high resolution with framerates plummeting to around 20 FPS in demanding titles. For 4K, you‘ll want a more capable GPU. Stick to 1080p gaming on the RX 580.
Is the RTX 3050 good for video editing?
The 3050‘s upgraded NVENC encoder makes it suitable for video editing and streaming up to 1080p. However, creators working extensively in 4K or 8K would want more VRAM and rendering horsepower from a higher tier GeForce or Quadro GPU.
How long will the RX 580 stay viable for modern gaming?
Despite its age, the RX 580‘s strong 1080p abilities mean it should keep playing new releases for at least 2-3 more years at low-medium settings. Its 8GB memory allotment also helps. But you will need to dial back quality earlier versus newer GPUs.
The Verdict: RX 580 Still Delivers More Value
When it comes to raw performance, the RTX 3050 is the superior card by over 20% proving its status as the budget gaming pick for team green. It also brings modern features like ray tracing and DLSS to the table. However, dramatically lower street prices for the RX 580 make it very difficult for the 3050 to justify its price premium.
Gamers wanting to maximize frames on a strict budget should target an RTX 3050 under $250. But the vast majority of buyers should grab an RX 580 deal instead and enjoy nearly as fast 1080p gaming while pocketing the savings.
Where to Buy:
