The GeForce GTX 1650 was a mainstream graphics card released by NVIDIA in 2019. It had high cost-effectiveness at that time and was warmly welcomed by many gamers. Perhaps this graphics card is still in service on many friends’ main machines.
However, nearly five years have passed, and new games increasingly demand more graphics card performance and memory. The GeForce GTX 1650 is now considerably aged, and its performance is noticeably insufficient. Many friends may be considering upgrading their graphics cards.
This article will compare the gaming performance between the GeForce GTX 1650 and the GeForce RTX 3070. The primary purposes are twofold:
- Evaluate how capable the GeForce GTX 1650 is currently and whether it can continue for a few more years.
- Assess the potential gaming performance improvement when upgrading from the GeForce GTX 1650 to the GeForce RTX 3070. This information is provided for friends in need.
01
Parameter Comparison of GTX 1650 and RTX 3070
The GeForce GTX 1650 was launched on April 23, 2019, featuring the TU117 GPU based on the Turing architecture and built on the TSMC 12nm process. It comprises 896 CUDA cores, 56 texture units, 32 rasterization units, 14 multi-core processors, and a 1MB L2 cache.
It operates at a base frequency of 1485 MHz with a boost clock of up to 1665 MHz, equipped with 4GB GDDR5 VRAM clocked at 8Gbps. The memory has a 128-bit bus width, providing a bandwidth of 128.1GB/s. The FP32 floating-point performance is 2.984 TFLOPS, drawing a power of 75W, and was originally priced at $149.
On the other hand, the GeForce RTX 3070 was released on September 1, 2020, featuring the GA104 GPU based on the Ampere architecture and manufactured on Samsung’s 8nm process. It boasts 5888 CUDA cores, 184 texture units, 96 rasterization units, 46 ray tracing cores, 46 multi-core processors, and 184 tensor cores, along with a 4MB L2 cache.
The standard operating frequency is 1500 MHz, with a maximum boost clock of 1725 MHz, and it comes with 8GB GDDR6 VRAM clocked at 14 Gbps. Its memory has a 256-bit bus width, resulting in a bandwidth of 448GB/s. The FP32 floating-point performance is 20.31 TFLOPS, consuming 220W, and was initially priced at $499.
02
Benchmark Performance Comparison of GTX 1650 and RTX 3070
In the 3DMark Time Spy Extreme benchmark, the GeForce GTX 1650 scored 1524 points, while the GeForce RTX 3070 scored 6549 points. Based on these scores, the performance of the GeForce RTX 3070 is approximately 4.3 times that of the GeForce GTX 1650.
However, this is purely a theoretical value. The actual gaming performance depends on various factors and there are many variables to consider. Therefore, the real-world performance may differ from these benchmark numbers.
03
Main Configuration
The processor is the Ryzen 7 5800X3D, the motherboard is the ASUS TUF GAMING B550M-PLUS, memory is 16GB DDR4 3600MHz, storage consists of an 850 EVO 250GB SSD and a 2TB mechanical hard drive, and the operating system is Windows 11.
04
Game Performance Test of GTX 1650 and RTX 3070
The following will test seven games, all running at 1080P with the highest graphics settings. In the image series below, the left side represents the GeForce GTX 1650 platform, while the right side represents the GeForce RTX 3070 platform.
① The First Game, “Hitman 3”
On the GeForce GTX 1650 platform:
- Average framerate: 43 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 37 FPS
- Frame time: 23.1ms
- CPU usage: 11%
- Power consumption: 44.5W
- Temperature: 53 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 7.5GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.0GB
On the GeForce RTX 3070 platform:
- Average framerate: 170 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 133 FPS
- Frame time: 6.1ms
- CPU usage: 34%
- Power consumption: 70.6W
- Temperature: 68 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 7.0GB
- GPU usage: 97%
- VRAM usage: 4.4GB
In this game, the GeForce RTX 3070 platform exhibits:
- CPU usage is 23% higher than the competitor, roughly 3.4 times higher.
- Lower memory usage by 0.5GB.
- Slightly lower GPU usage by 2%.
- Higher VRAM usage by 0.4GB, nearly exhausting the VRAM capacity of the GeForce GTX 1650.
Regarding average framerate:
- The GeForce RTX 3070 platform outperforms the GeForce GTX 1650 platform by 127 FPS, approximately 4.0 (3.95) times higher.
- The lowest instantaneous framerate is about 3.6 times that of the competitor.
- The frame time is approximately 26% of the competitor’s.
The overall performance lead of the GeForce RTX 3070 is significantly higher, but it comes at a cost. It consumes 153W more power and operates at a temperature 6 degrees higher compared to the GeForce GTX 1650.
② The Second Game, “Spider-Man: Remastered”
On the GeForce GTX 1650 platform:
- Average framerate: 41 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 33 FPS
- Frame time: 25.9ms
- CPU usage: 18%
- Power consumption: 58.7W
- Temperature: 63 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 11.7GB
- GPU usage: 98%
- VRAM usage: 3.6GB
On the GeForce RTX 3070 platform:
- Average framerate: 156 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 95 FPS
- Frame time: 7.0ms
- CPU usage: 33%
- Power consumption: 73.5W
- Temperature: 73 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 8.1GB
- GPU usage: 95%
- VRAM usage: 7.1GB
In this game, the GeForce RTX 3070 platform exhibits:
- CPU usage is 15% higher than the competitor, roughly 1.8 times higher, nearly twice as much.
- Lower memory usage by 3.6GB.
- Slightly lower GPU usage by 3%.
- Higher VRAM usage by 3.5GB.
Regarding average framerate:
- The GeForce RTX 3070 platform outperforms the GeForce GTX 1650 platform by 115 FPS, approximately 3.8 times higher.
- The lowest instantaneous framerate is about 2.9 times that of the competitor.
- The frame time is approximately 27% of the competitor’s.
- However, it consumes 142W more power and operates at a temperature 4 degrees higher compared to the GeForce GTX 1650.
③ The Third Game, “Far Cry 6”
On the GeForce GTX 1650 platform:
- Average framerate: 45 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 38 FPS
- Frame time: 22.5ms
- CPU usage: 11%
- Power consumption: 47.3W
- Temperature: 57 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 9.3GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.0GB
On the GeForce RTX 3070 platform:
- Average framerate: 135 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 104 FPS
- Frame time: 7.5ms
- CPU usage: 26%
- Power consumption: 71.8W
- Temperature: 68 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 10.1GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 4.6GB
In this game, the GeForce RTX 3070 platform exhibits:
- CPU usage is 15% higher than the competitor, roughly 2.4 times higher.
- Higher memory usage by 0.8GB.
- Comparable GPU usage.
- Higher VRAM usage by 0.6GB, indicating the GeForce GTX 1650’s VRAM bottleneck.
Regarding average framerate:
- The GeForce RTX 3070 platform outperforms the GeForce GTX 1650 platform by 90 FPS, approximately 3.0 times higher.
- The lowest instantaneous framerate is about 2.7 times that of the competitor.
- The frame time is approximately 33% of the competitor’s.
- However, it consumes 131W more power and operates at a temperature 4 degrees higher compared to the GeForce GTX 1650.
④ The Fourth Game, “Days Gone”
On the GeForce GTX 1650 platform:
- Average framerate: 36 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 31 FPS
- Frame time: 27.9ms
- CPU usage: 13%
- Power consumption: 54.0W
- Temperature: 66 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 9.8GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 3.9GB
On the GeForce RTX 3070 platform:
- Average framerate: 133 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 81 FPS
- Frame time: 7.0ms
- CPU usage: 21%
- Power consumption: 70.1W
- Temperature: 75 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 9.1GB
- GPU usage: 98%
- VRAM usage: 4.6GB
In this game, the GeForce RTX 3070 platform exhibits:
- CPU usage is 8% higher than the competitor, roughly 1.6 times higher.
- Lower memory usage by 0.7GB.
- Comparable GPU usage.
- Higher VRAM usage by 0.7GB, indicating the GeForce GTX 1650’s VRAM is nearly maxed out and insufficient.
Regarding average framerate:
- The GeForce RTX 3070 platform outperforms the GeForce GTX 1650 platform by 97 FPS, approximately 3.7 times higher.
- The lowest instantaneous framerate is about 2.6 times that of the competitor.
- The frame time is approximately 25% of the competitor’s.
- However, it consumes 146W more power and operates at a temperature 6 degrees higher compared to the GeForce GTX 1650.
⑤ The Fifth Game, “Forza Horizon 5”
On the GeForce GTX 1650 platform:
- Average framerate: 31 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 24 FPS
- Frame time: 33.3ms
- CPU usage: 11%
- Power consumption: 47.7W
- Temperature: 57 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 10.0GB
- GPU usage: 100%
- VRAM usage: 3.8GB
On the GeForce RTX 3070 platform:
- Average framerate: 125 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 102 FPS
- Frame time: 7.9ms
- CPU usage: 31%
- Power consumption: 69.0W
- Temperature: 69 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 8.6GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 6.0GB
In this game, the GeForce RTX 3070 platform exhibits:
- CPU usage is 20% higher than the competitor, roughly 2.8 times higher.
- Lower memory usage by 1.4GB.
- Comparable GPU usage.
- Higher VRAM usage by 2.2GB, indicating severe VRAM limitations on the GeForce GTX 1650.
Regarding average framerate:
- The GeForce RTX 3070 platform outperforms the GeForce GTX 1650 platform by 94 FPS, approximately 4.0 times higher.
- The lowest instantaneous framerate is about 4.3 times that of the competitor.
- The frame time is approximately 24% of the competitor’s.
- However, it consumes 128W more power and operates at a temperature of 3 degrees higher compared to the GeForce GTX 1650.
⑥ The Sixth Game, “Hogwarts Legacy”
On the GeForce GTX 1650 platform:
- Average framerate: 29 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 24 FPS
- Frame time: 38.7ms
- CPU usage: 10%
- Power consumption: 43.0W
- Temperature: 55 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 14.5GB
- GPU usage: 100%
- VRAM usage: 3.4GB
On the GeForce RTX 3070 platform:
- Average framerate: 98 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 74 FPS
- Frame time: 10.2ms
- CPU usage: 26%
- Power consumption: 65W
- Temperature: 68 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 13.0GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 6.7GB
In this game, the GeForce RTX 3070 platform exhibits:
- CPU usage is 16% higher than the competitor, roughly 2.6 times higher.
- Lower memory usage by 1.5GB.
- Comparable GPU usage.
- Higher VRAM usage by 3.3GB, nearly twice as much as the competitor.
Regarding average framerate:
- The GeForce GTX 1650 platform barely meets the minimum smooth gameplay threshold, struggling significantly.
- The GeForce RTX 3070 platform outperforms the GeForce GTX 1650 platform by 69 FPS, approximately 3.4 times higher.
- The lowest instantaneous framerate is about 3.1 times that of the competitor.
- The frame time is approximately 26% of the competitor’s.
- However, it consumes 144W more power and operates at a temperature 4 degrees higher compared to the GeForce GTX 1650.
⑦ The Seventh Game, “The Last of Us Part I”
On the GeForce GTX 1650 platform:
- Average framerate: 28 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 25 FPS
- Frame time: 36.1ms
- CPU usage: 23%
- Power consumption: 54.9W
- Temperature: 59 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 14.9GB
- GPU usage: 99%
- VRAM usage: 3.5GB
On the GeForce RTX 3070 platform:
- Average framerate: 103 FPS
- Lowest instantaneous framerate: 92 FPS
- Frame time: 9.9ms
- CPU usage: 69%
- Power consumption: 94.3W
- Temperature: 77 degrees Celsius
- Memory usage: 14.8GB
- GPU usage: 98%
- VRAM usage: 6.6GB
In this game, the GeForce RTX 3070 platform exhibits:
- CPU usage is 46% higher than the competitor, roughly 3.0 times higher.
- Similar memory usage and GPU usage.
- Higher VRAM usage by 3.1GB.
Regarding average framerate:
- The GeForce GTX 1650 platform falls slightly short of the minimum smooth gameplay threshold.
- The GeForce RTX 3070 platform outperforms the GeForce GTX 1650 platform by 75 FPS, approximately 3.7 times higher.
- The lowest instantaneous framerate is also about 3.7 times that of the competitor.
- The frame time is approximately 27% of the competitor’s.
- However, it consumes 145W more power and operates at a temperature 5 degrees higher compared to the GeForce GTX 1650.
05
Comparative Conclusion
Overall, in gaming scenarios, the performance (and VRAM) of the GeForce GTX 1650 is indeed inadequate and nearing obsolescence. It falls short of modern gaming demands. It might just manage to handle lighter games for another year or two, but it’s generally insufficient for current titles.
In contrast, the advantage of the GeForce RTX 3070 is substantial. Calculating an average framerate across the seven mentioned games (though not scientifically rigorous), the overall performance of the GeForce RTX 3070 is around 3.7 (3.65) times that of the GeForce GTX 1650. This figure slightly differs from the theoretical value of 4.3 calculated based on the Time Spy Extreme platform scores.
However, upgrading from the GeForce GTX 1650 to the GeForce RTX 3070 remains an excellent choice. It offers at least a threefold improvement in gaming performance and experience. Yet, two aspects need attention:
- Processor performance should match to avoid bottlenecking the GeForce RTX 3070. Ideally, it’s recommended to have a 10th Gen Intel Core i5 or higher model.
- The GeForce RTX 3070 has significantly higher power consumption. Before upgrading, ensure the power supply is sufficiently robust to handle the increased power demand without causing any bottlenecks in the power delivery.
Related:
- GTX 1050 Ti to RTX 4060 Upgrade: See the Gaming Boost!
- RTX 4070 SUPER vs RX 7900 XT: Gaming Showdown
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