Buying Guide
The Best NVIDIA Gaming GPUs Under $300
Three graphics cards ranked on video memory and GPU; the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce is the cheapest route in.
By The PC Journal editorial team
11 min read3 products evaluated
A GeForce card under $300 gets you DLSS and NVENC at an entry price. Every pick is an RTX card that cost $300 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
Rankings weigh GPU, VRAM and memory as the makers state them; if a maker skips boost clock, the guide says so rather than guess, since we have not benched them.
Quick Picks
Our 3 recommendations at a glance. Tap a pick for the full verdict.
Lowest Price Here
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G
Undercutting the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X on price when we checked.
Best for: Getting dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler for the least money.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G (opens in a new tab)
Also Consider
MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Ventus 2X 6G OC
Two HDMI 2.1a outputs.
Best for: Buyers who want two HDMI 2.1a outputs.
Our take Check price for MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Ventus 2X 6G OC (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC
The top of this price range, adding 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus.
Best for: Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Our take Check price for MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC (opens in a new tab)
| Pick | Why it’s here | Best for | Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Undercutting the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X on price when we checked. | Getting dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler for the least money. | Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G (opens in a new tab) |
| Two HDMI 2.1a outputs. | Buyers who want two HDMI 2.1a outputs. | Check price for MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Ventus 2X 6G OC (opens in a new tab) |
| The top of this price range, adding 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus. | Spending more for the fullest feature set. | Check price for MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC (opens in a new tab) |
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 3
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 3050 WINDFORCE OC V2 6G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Gigabyte's RTX 3050 Windforce OC V2 is the 6GB version of the RTX 3050, with DLSS support and a dual-fan cooler.
Best for
- Getting dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler for the least money.
Skip if
- Pass on it if 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent game rules it out for your setup.
Why we like it
It has 6GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit interface and third-generation Tensor cores for DLSS. The RTX 3050 chip has 6GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus and supports DLSS and second-generation ray tracing cores. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce with the maker. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X was the next step up.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 3050
- VRAM: 6GB
- Memory: GDDR6
Pros
- Dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler
- DLSS support
- Second-generation RT cores
- Undercutting the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X on price when we checked
Cons
- 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
Also Consider2 of 3
MSI GeForce RTX 3050 Ventus 2X 6G OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
MSI's RTX 3050 Ventus 2X 6G OC has two HDMI 2.1a outputs and one DisplayPort, with DLSS support.
Best for
- Buyers who want two HDMI 2.1a outputs.
Skip if
- Choose another pick if you can't accept this: 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
It also offers a dual-fan Ventus cooler. No dimensions are published for the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X with the maker. When we checked, only the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce cost less, and the MSI RTX 3050 LP cost more.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 3050
- VRAM: 6GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 1492MHz
- Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 2 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- Two HDMI 2.1a outputs
- Dual-fan Ventus cooler
- DLSS support
Cons
- 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce at the time of writing
Premium Pick3 of 3
MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
MSI's RTX 3050 LP is an entry card with 6GB of memory, fine for older games and esports titles.
Best for
- Spending more for the fullest feature set.
Skip if
- Skip it if this is a deal-breaker for you: 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
Why we like it
Two HDMI 2.1a ports and a DisplayPort make it useful in a multi-monitor work PC. No dimensions are published for the MSI RTX 3050 LP; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the MSI RTX 3050 LP with the maker.
Half-height cases need the low-profile bracket; confirm it ships with the MSI RTX 3050 LP. It was the highest-priced of the 3 picks at the time of writing, so the case for it rests on what it adds over the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X and the rest. The trade-off is video memory; for more, the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce offers 6GB.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 3050
- VRAM: 6GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Boost clock: 1492MHz
- Low profile: Yes
- Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4a, 2 x HDMI 2.1a
Pros
- Low-profile design for slim desktops
- 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus
- Two HDMI 2.1a outputs
- The top of this price range, adding 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus
Cons
- 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce at the time of writing
How We Chose
Each pick was assessed across 4 criteria weighted for real-world use.
- What we compared
- We lined up three cards on GPU, video memory, memory and boost clock, using each maker's published specs. We did not test them in-house.
- What every pick has in common
- All 3, from the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce to the MSI RTX 3050 LP, state GPU, video memory and memory and share RTX 3050 GPU and GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce gives no boost clock; the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce gives no outputs.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce ($150 to $250) to the MSI RTX 3050 LP ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in an NVIDIA Gaming GPUs Under $300
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
Fit and compatibility
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce; get length and thickness from the maker's page first.
Extras that separate them
The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce: DLSS support. The MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X: a dual-fan Ventus cooler. The MSI RTX 3050 LP: two HDMI 2.1a outputs.
Where your budget lands
$150 to $250 buys the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce; $250 to $500 buys the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X and the MSI RTX 3050 LP at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Getting dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler for the least money: the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce. Spending more for the fullest feature set: the MSI RTX 3050 LP.
Cooler size affects noise
Larger triple-fan coolers usually run quieter under load than compact dual-fan designs. A 0dB mode stops the fans at light load.
How to Choose an NVIDIA Gaming GPUs Under $300
By priority
| Priority | Consider | Why |
|---|---|---|
| Getting dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler for the least money | Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce | Undercutting the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X on price when we checked |
| Buyers who want two HDMI 2.1a outputs | MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X | Two HDMI 2.1a outputs |
| Spending more for the fullest feature set | MSI RTX 3050 LP | The top of this price range, adding 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce, the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X and the rest, as their makers list them.
| Card | GPU | VRAM | Memory | Boost clock |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce | RTX 3050 | 6GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X | RTX 3050 | 6GB | GDDR6 | 1492MHz |
| MSI RTX 3050 LP | RTX 3050 | 6GB | GDDR6 | 1492MHz |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce was the lowest-priced pick and the MSI RTX 3050 LP the highest when we checked; tiers move with Amazon pricing.
| Price tier | Cards |
|---|---|
| About $150 to $250 | Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce |
| About $250 to $500 | MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X, MSI RTX 3050 LP |
Frequently Asked Questions
Why is the MSI RTX 3050 LP our Premium Pick pick?
It earns the label for the top of this price range, adding 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus. It suits spending more for the fullest feature set.
Will the MSI RTX 3050 LP work with my setup?
No dimensions are published for the MSI RTX 3050 LP; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. Its power connector and recommended PSU are not published, so confirm both for the MSI RTX 3050 LP with the maker. In this guide it ranks third of 3, as our Premium Pick pick.
What extras do the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce and the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X include?
The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce: a dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler. The MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X: two HDMI 2.1a outputs. The MSI RTX 3050 LP: 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus.
Who should choose the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce?
The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce carries our Lowest Price Here label for undercutting the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X on price when we checked. It ranks first of 3 here.
Should I pick the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce or the MSI RTX 3050 LP?
The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce suits getting dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler for the least money; the MSI RTX 3050 LP suits spending more for the fullest feature set.
Bottom Line
Our first pick is the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce, chosen for undercutting the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X on price when we checked. Look at the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X for two HDMI 2.1a outputs and the MSI RTX 3050 LP for the top of this price range, adding 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus if those matter more to you.
Look at the power-supply recommendation on the box before you buy.