RTX 4060 vs RTX 5050
If the RTX 4060 and the RTX 5050 look alike to you, that’s by design: they belong to the same family. The details below are where they part ways. Count the areas and a pattern appears. The RTX 4060 is ahead in 2 of 3, led by a clear margin in gpu & performance. Price is part of the story too: the RTX 5050 launched at $50 less than the RTX 4060.
At a glance
- GPU & Performance RTX 4060 wins
- Memory RTX 5050 wins
- Power & Thermals RTX 4060 wins
- Price RTX 5050 wins
- GPU & Performance3.1
- Memory0.0
- GPU & Performance0.8
- Memory0.9
Spec scores (0 to 10) are calculated from manufacturer specs against other models in the same class. See how the formula works. They are not reviews or user ratings.
Key Differences
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The RTX 4060 has 20% more shader units
A clear win for the RTX 4060: 3,072 against 2,560. Few specs in this matchup are as one-sided. Treat shader count as a strong hint about performance tier, then check benchmarks for the games you actually play.
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The RTX 5050 has 18% more memory bandwidth
Here the RTX 5050 pulls well ahead of the RTX 4060, with 320 GB/s compared to 272 GB/s. The RTX 5050 has more bandwidth to work with, helping it hold up in memory-heavy games.
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The RTX 4060 has 14% more theoretical FP32 compute
Think of it as a tiebreaker rather than a deal-breaker: 15.1 TFLOPS for the RTX 4060, 13.2 TFLOPS for the RTX 5050. FP32 compute is a theoretical peak that combines shader count and clock speed, a quick way to size up raw power.
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The RTX 4060 has 20% more ray tracing units
The RTX 4060 doesn’t just edge this one; 24 against 20 is a lead you’ll feel. Ray tracing units differ between generations and brands, so the count matters most within the same family.
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The RTX 4060 has 15 W lower board power
On paper, the RTX 4060 is a touch ahead here, listing 115 W against 130 W. Lower board power means less heat, quieter cooling and a smaller impact on your electricity bill.
Design & Size
GPU & Performance
RTX 4060 leads
Few areas are as clear-cut as this one: the RTX 4060 leads the gpu & performance section with room to spare. The RTX 4060 comes with 20% more shader units. Shader units do most of the heavy lifting in games, so more of them usually means more frames per second within the same architecture. In its favor, the RTX 5050 has. If this section decides it for you, choose the RTX 4060.
Shader units
RTX 4060: 3,072 RTX 5050: 2,560 The RTX 4060’s extra shaders give it more raw muscle, although comparisons across different architectures aren’t one-to-one.
FP32 compute
RTX 4060: 15.1 TFLOPS RTX 5050: 13.2 TFLOPS The RTX 4060 has more theoretical compute, which often, but not always, translates into higher frame rates.
Memory
RTX 5050 leads
No contest in memory: the RTX 5050 is the stronger of the two. The RTX 5050 steps ahead thanks to 18% more memory bandwidth. Bandwidth needs vary by architecture, so compare it alongside VRAM and cache rather than on its own. Bottom line for memory: the RTX 5050 has the edge.
Memory bandwidth
RTX 4060: 272 GB/s RTX 5050: 320 GB/s Memory bandwidth decides how quickly the GPU can feed itself with data, which matters most at 1440p and 4K.
Features
Names, not numbers: the features rows below show what each one is built with, and it’s worth reading them side by side.
Power & Thermals
RTX 4060 leads
It’s a narrow one, but the power & thermals round goes to the RTX 4060. The RTX 4060 wins here with 15 W lower board power. The RTX 4060 draws less power, which makes it easier to cool in compact cases. The takeaway: on power & thermals, the RTX 4060 is the stronger card.
Total board power
RTX 4060: 115 W RTX 5050: 130 W Higher board power often comes with higher performance, so the RTX 5050’s appetite may be part of the price of its speed.
Full Specifications
GPU & Performance
| Spec | RTX 4060 | RTX 5050 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Blackwell |
| GPU die | AD107 | GB207 |
| Process | TSMC 4N | TSMC 4N |
| Shader units | 3,072 (winner) | 2,560 |
| Ray tracing units | 24 (winner) | 20 |
| Base clock | 1,830 MHz Lowest base clock | 2,317 MHz (winner) Highest base clock |
| Boost clock | 2,460 MHz Lowest boost clock | 2,572 MHz (winner) |
| FP32 computeTheoretical peak; AMD counts dual-issue, so compare within a brand only | 15.1 TFLOPS (winner) | 13.2 TFLOPS Least compute in class |
Memory
| Spec | RTX 4060 | RTX 5050 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM | 8 GB | 8 GB |
| Memory type | GDDR6 | GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 128-bit | 128-bit |
| Memory bandwidth | 272 GB/s Least memory bandwidth | 320 GB/s (winner) |
Features
| Spec | RTX 4060 | RTX 5050 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling | DLSS Super Resolution | DLSS 4 Super Resolution |
| Frame generation | DLSS Frame Generation (2x) | DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (up to 4x) |
| PCIe interface | PCIe 4.0 x8 | PCIe 5.0 x8 |
Power & Thermals
| Spec | RTX 4060 | RTX 5050 |
|---|---|---|
| Total board power | 115 W (winner) Lowest power draw in class | 130 W |
| Recommended PSU | 300 W | N/A (not specified) |
Price
| Spec | RTX 4060 | RTX 5050 |
|---|---|---|
| Launch price (MSRP) | $299 | $249 (winner) |
“N/A” means the manufacturer does not specify the value or we could not confirm it. Figures marked “manufacturer rating” are the maker’s own claims, not our measurements.
Price & Value
That’s $50 between the two launch prices, a spread of 20% that makes the RTX 5050 the value-minded choice. For $50 more, the RTX 4060 adds 20% more shader units and 14% more theoretical FP32 compute. Whether that’s good value depends on how much you need those upgrades.
Launch prices in the US as of July 2025; street prices move, so check before you buy.
Which One Should You Buy?
Choose the RTX 4060 if…
- you want more raw GPU hardware (3,072 vs 2,560 shader units)
- you run compute-heavy work alongside gaming (15.1 TFLOPS vs 13.2 TFLOPS FP32)
- you play with ray tracing switched on (24 vs 20 RT units)
- you want lower power draw and less heat (115 W vs 130 W board power)
Choose the RTX 5050 if…
- you game at high resolutions where bandwidth matters (320 GB/s vs 272 GB/s)
- you want the higher guaranteed base clock (2,317 MHz vs 1,830 MHz)
- you care about peak clock speed (2,572 MHz vs 2,460 MHz boost)
- you’d put the $50 saving toward something else
- you find that the improvements in the RTX 5050 match what you need
Also Compared
Frequently Asked Questions
Which is better for most people, the RTX 4060 or the RTX 5050?
The RTX 4060 wins more of the areas we compared, so it’s the safer pick unless you value 18% more memory bandwidth above everything else.
Is the RTX 5050 worth it over the RTX 4060?
It’s one of the more worthwhile generational jumps: the RTX 5050 offers 18% more memory bandwidth and a 4.6% higher boost clock compared with the RTX 4060.
Does the RTX 4060 perform better than the RTX 5050?
On paper, the RTX 4060 is the stronger performer, with 20% more shader units and 14% more theoretical FP32 compute.
Is the RTX 4060 cheaper than the RTX 5050?
Going by launch prices, the RTX 5050 costs $50 less than the RTX 4060. Prices as of July 2025; current offers may differ.
Executive Summary
I like comparisons within a lineup because the brand can’t be the excuse. It’s just the RTX 4060 against the RTX 5050. Start with the headline difference (the RTX 4060 has 20% more shader units), and a lot of the decision falls into place. I’d also count 20% more ray tracing units in the RTX 4060’s favor. The RTX 5050 does have a strong card to play: 18% more memory bandwidth.
The RTX 4060 is built for people who weigh gpu & performance heavily, and the RTX 5050 for people who weigh memory.
My pick: the RTX 4060, though the RTX 5050 makes sense if you care more about 18% more memory bandwidth than anything else.
Personal opinion based on the data above. Your priorities may differ.