Depends on the recipe. Garlic powder is stronger than fresh garlic, yet less fragrant, and as it cooks fresh garlic gets sweeter.
Powdered garlic has more of an impact on the breath too, IMO.
I think it should be ok in a pasta sauce, you shouldn't need to put much in it.
If you don't use a lot or garlic and hesitate to buy fresh bulbs for fear they will go off before you use it all up, you can buy jars of chopped 'lazy garlic' or tubes of garlic purée which will both last longer.