Buying Guide
The Best GPUs for N++
We weighed five graphics cards on video memory and GPU, and the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce costs the least.
By The PC Journal editorial team
12 min read5 products evaluated
N++ is a light PC game, which makes price, memory size and driver support the main buying points for a card. Every pick is an RTX card that cost $650 or less, ordered from the lowest price.
The order reflects GPU, VRAM and memory from maker specifications; we did not test these graphics cards ourselves, and a missing boost clock is flagged, not filled in.
Quick Picks
Our 5 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)
Strong Alternative
MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC
14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus.
Best for: Buyers who want 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus.
Our take Check price for MSI Gaming RTX 3050 LP 6G OC (opens in a new tab)
Worth a Look
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC
Two 90mm BladeLink fans.
Best for: Buyers who want two 90mm BladeLink fans.
Our take Check price for ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC (opens in a new tab)
Premium Pick
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8G
The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with three WINDFORCE fans.
Best for: Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans and can spend more than the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge costs.
Our take Check price for Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8G (opens in a new tab)
Our Picks
Lowest Price Here1 of 5
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
- Look at the others if this bothers you: 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games.
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. It is built on NVIDIA Ampere streaming multiprocessors, and its two Windforce fans sit on the GV-N3050WF2OCV2-6GD model.
It matches the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X and the MSI RTX 3050 LP on video memory (6GB). Like the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X and MSI RTX 3050 LP, it has an RTX 3050 gpu, while the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge uses an RTX 5050 gpu. It was the cheapest of the group when we checked; the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X was the next step up. The main gap: video memory of 6GB, behind the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge (8GB). If that matters, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge offers 8GB.
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
- Video memory of 6GB, behind the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge (8GB)
Also Consider2 of 5
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
- Worth skipping when 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
It is built on the Ampere architecture with 6GB of GDDR6 at 14Gbps on a 96-bit interface and a 1492MHz boost clock. Its single DisplayPort output is version 1.4a, and the card carries two HDMI 2.1a ports. On video memory it ties with the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce and the MSI RTX 3050 LP at 6GB.
It also comes with 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.
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
Strong Alternative3 of 5
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
- Buyers who want 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus.
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
Two HDMI 2.1a ports and a DisplayPort make it useful in a multi-monitor work PC. It matches the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce and the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X on video memory (6GB). Like the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce and MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X, it has an RTX 3050 gpu, while the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge uses an RTX 5050 gpu.
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. On price it sat third of 5, between the cheaper MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X and the pricier Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, at the time of writing. The trade-off is video memory; for more, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge offers 8GB.
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
Cons
- 6GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games
- Video memory trails the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge (8GB)
- Costs more than the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce at the time of writing
Worth a Look4 of 5
ZOTAC Gaming GeForce RTX 5050 Twin Edge OC on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Zotac's RTX 5050 Twin Edge is a two-slot, SFF-Ready card with two 90mm fans and one 8-pin plug.
Best for
- Buyers who want two 90mm BladeLink fans.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
It is the smallest NVIDIA option here for a compact case. It matches the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile on video memory (8GB). It is the only pick here with an RTX 5050 gpu; the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce has an RTX 3050 gpu instead.
It also offers a pass-through airflow design and a metal backplate. The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case. SFF-Ready is NVIDIA's size guideline, not a guarantee the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge fits every small case. Its price falls between the MSI RTX 3050 LP and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile, based on our last check.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 5050
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Thickness: 2-slot
- Power connector: 1 x 8-pin
- SFF-Ready: Yes
- Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 2.1b, 1 x HDMI 2.1b
Pros
- Dual-slot cooler leaves the next slot free
- A single 8-pin power connector
- Carries NVIDIA's SFF-Ready label
- Two 90mm BladeLink fans
Cons
- 8GB 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 Pick5 of 5
Gigabyte GeForce RTX 4060 OC Low Profile 8G on Amazon (opens in a new tab)
Gigabyte's RTX 4060 Low Profile is the previous generation, with DLSS 3 rather than DLSS 4.
Best for
- Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans and can spend more than the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge costs.
Skip if
- Worth skipping when 8GB of VRAM may force lower texture settings in some recent games is a problem.
Why we like it
Three WINDFORCE fans and a dual BIOS make it a solid fallback if the RTX 5060 cards are out of stock. The low-profile 4060 pairs three WINDFORCE fans with 8GB of GDDR6, and it supports DLSS 3 and ray tracing. On video memory it ties with the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge at 8GB.
An RTX 4060 gpu is unique to it among these picks, while the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X uses an RTX 3050 gpu. No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile; 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 4060 Low Profile with the maker. Only the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge came close to it on price at the time of writing; it cost the most of the 5 picks.
Key dimensions & specs
- GPU: RTX 4060
- VRAM: 8GB
- Memory: GDDR6
- Low profile: Yes
Pros
- Low-profile design for slim desktops
- Three WINDFORCE fans
- Dual BIOS
- DLSS 3 support
Cons
- 8GB 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.
- How these picks were ranked
- We set side by side five cards on GPU, video memory, memory and boost clock from manufacturer specifications. Nothing was tested in-house; 3 of the 6 fields compared are stated for every pick, while boost clock and low profile have gaps.
- What every pick has in common
- All 5, from the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce to the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile, state GPU, video memory and memory and share GDDR6 memory.
- Where the specs have gaps
- The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile give no boost clock; the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce, the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge give no low profile.
- Price range
- At our last check the picks ran from the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce ($150 to $250) to the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile ($250 to $500).
What to Look for in a GPUs for N++
Key buying criteria so you get the right fit the first time.
How much video memory you need
The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge tops video memory at 8GB and the MSI RTX 3050 LP sits lowest at 6GB; 2 picks share the top figure. Start with the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge if video memory decides it.
Fit and compatibility
No dimensions are published for the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce; get length and thickness from the maker's page first. The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge occupies 2 slots, but no length is published, so check the maker's spec page against your case.
Extras that separate them
The MSI RTX 3050 LP: two HDMI 2.1a outputs. The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge: a pass-through airflow design. The Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile: a dual BIOS.
How much to spend
$150 to $250 buys the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce; $250 to $500 buys the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X, the MSI RTX 3050 LP, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile at our last check.
Start from what matters most
Getting dual-fan WINDFORCE cooler for the least money: the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce. Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans and can spend more than the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge costs: the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile.
How to Choose a GPUs for N++
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 |
| Buyers who want 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus | MSI RTX 3050 LP | 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus |
| Buyers who want two 90mm BladeLink fans | Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | Two 90mm BladeLink fans |
| Buyers who want three WINDFORCE fans and can spend more than the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge costs | Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile | The highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with three WINDFORCE fans |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
Key specs side by side
The Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge leads on video memory at 8GB, ahead of the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile at 8GB. "Not listed" marks boost clock where the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce, the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile leave the figure out.
| 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 |
| Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge | RTX 5050 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
| Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile | RTX 4060 | 8GB | GDDR6 | Not listed |
Scroll sideways to see every column.
By price at the time of writing
The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce was the lowest-priced pick ($150 to $250) and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile the highest ($250 to $500) 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, Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge, Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile |
Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile add over the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce?
On paper it adds video memory (8GB against 6GB). On our last price check the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce was in the $150 to $250 tier and the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile in the $250 to $500 tier, with 3 other picks between them; pay the difference only if video memory decides your purchase.
Why is the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile our Premium Pick?
The label rests on the highest-priced pick here at the time of writing, with three WINDFORCE fans. The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce, the cheapest pick, sat in the $150 to $250 tier against $250 to $500 here, without out-ranking it on any listed spec. It is aimed at anyone who wants three WINDFORCE fans and can spend more than the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge costs.
Do the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge differ on GPU?
The Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce, the MSI RTX 3050 Ventus 2X and the MSI RTX 3050 LP use RTX 3050; the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge uses RTX 5050; the Gigabyte RTX 4060 Low Profile uses RTX 4060.
Will the Gigabyte RTX 3050 Windforce work with my setup?
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. In this guide it ranks first of 5, as our Lowest Price Here pick, and third of 5 on video memory (6GB).
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.
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, the MSI RTX 3050 LP for 14Gbps memory on a 96-bit bus and the Zotac RTX 5050 Twin Edge for two 90mm BladeLink fans if those matter more to you.
Confirm the card fits your case; many budget cards are compact but some are long.