My GTX 1660 just broke, and I'm in the market for a new GPU. I'm looking to stick with something budget-friendly, ideally under $300, and I've found the GTX 3050 6GB fits that bill. I'm mainly using my PC for gaming and some work tasks, but I don't play heavily demanding games—mostly titles like Roblox, Fortnite, and Valorant on low settings. Here's a quick rundown of my current setup:
- CPU: Intel Core i5-10400F 2.9 GHz 6-Core Processor
- Cooler: Intel E97379-001
- Motherboard: Gigabyte B460 DS3H AC Micro ATX LGA1200
- Memory: TEAMGROUP T-Force Delta RGB 16GB (2 x 8 GB) DDR4-3200 CL16
- Storage: Kingston NV1 500 GB PCIe 3.0 X4 NVME SSD
- Case: DeepCool MACUBE 110 MicroATX Mini Tower
- Power Supply: DeepCool DA500 W 80+ Bronze Certified ATX
- OS: Windows 10 Home OEM - 64-bit
- Monitor: LG UltraGear 1920 x 1080 144Hz
Given my current setup, is the GTX 3050 a wise choice, or should I consider other options?
4 Answers
If we were back in 2018, I’d say go for it. But in 2023? No way. It just doesn’t stack up anymore.
For your budget in Canadian dollars, I’d recommend steering clear of the 3050. It's underwhelming; instead, check out the Intel Arc B580 for around $330—it's almost twice as fast and comes with some nice free games. If you can hunt for deals, used cards like the 2070 Super, 3060, or even 6750 XT would be solid choices too.
Honestly, I wouldn't go for the 3050. Look into used options instead. Cards like the RX 6700 XT or even a 7600 XT offer much better performance for the price!
Check out the Intel Arc B580! It’s a price-to-performance champion and is listed around $250 now. If you just need something functional for the time being, a used 1660 Super could be snagged for about $100 and would keep you going just fine.
If I get the Intel Arc, will I need to change my power supply?