NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£250
  • Avg. price in US: ~$320
  • VRAM: 6 GB
  • Memory bus width: 192 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 120 W

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

4.7

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

4.4

Technical Score

10.0%

7.2

User score

Poor
4.4

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

2.8

Performance

24.0%

3.1

Memory

12.0%

8.0

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.6

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.4

Design

4.0%

8.2

Connectivity & Media

Poor
7.2

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.6

User reviews

30.0%

3.9

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.3
(35)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(39)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Very good
  • 3.5
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.3

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.2

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.5
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    2.2

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.3

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.8
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.3

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.2

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.9
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.3

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    2.2

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 3.3
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.3

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    2.2

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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Best prices in UK

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 is a mid-range graphics card built on the 16nm Pascal architecture, featuring 1,280 CUDA cores, a base clock of 1506 MHz, and a boost clock of 1708 MHz. It is equipped with 6GB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit interface, delivering a memory bandwidth of 192 GB/s while maintaining a low 120W TDP. Its primary advantages include excellent 1080p gaming performance, high power efficiency, and a quiet dual-slot design that remains relevant for budget builds. However, it lacks support for modern features like ray tracing and DLSS, provides no SLI support for multi-GPU setups, and may struggle with limited VRAM in the latest AAA titles at higher resolutions.

Technical Specifications of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

2.8

Performance

24.0%

3.1

Memory

12.0%

8.0

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.6

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.4

Design

4.0%

8.2

Connectivity & Media

4.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a technical score of 4.4 points, which is lower than that of 85.8% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

8.6

User reviews

30.0%

3.9

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.3
(35)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.3
(39)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

7.2
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a user score of 7.21 points, which is lower than that of 89.2% of products in this category.
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
3.9
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a popularity of 3.9 points, which is higher than 57.4% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

4.7

Overall score

40.0%

9.2

Price

6.0
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a quality-to-price ratio of 6 points, which is lower than 82% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

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3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

?
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

9,795 points
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 scores 9795 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 53.6% of graphics cards.
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

?
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

4.375 TFLOPS
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 delivers 4.375 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 91.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.3% of graphics cards.
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

6 GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has 6 GB of VRAM, which is less than 82.7% of graphics cards and equal to 5.1% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

192 bit
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 uses a 192 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 50.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 18.8% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

192.2 GB/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 reaches 192.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 87% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.9% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

3.0
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

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Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports Vulkan 1.4, which is more advanced than on 26.6% of graphics cards and equal to 73.4% of graphics cards.
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports up to 4 displays, which is more than 7.8% of graphics cards and equal to 89.2% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

7680x4320
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320, which is higher than that of 44.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 55.6% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

3
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 offers 3 DisplayPort outputs, which is more than 20.9% of graphics cards and equal to 77.3% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.4
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports DisplayPort 1.4, which is older than on 77.3% of graphics cards and equal to 16.2% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

120 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a TDP of 120 W, which is lower than that of 83.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.6% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

120 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 draws 120 W under peak load, which is lower than 84.4% of graphics cards and equal to 1.5% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

400 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 recommends a 400 W PSU, which is lower than that of 91.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.5% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

120 W
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a board power limit of 120 W, which is lower than that of 85.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

120 W
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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

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Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

250 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 is 250 mm long, which is shorter than 67.9% of graphics cards and equal in length to 1.5% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

111 mm
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 is 111 mm tall, which is shorter than 89.6% of graphics cards and equal in height to 5.6% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 vs the average graphics card

  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.400 W vs 650 W
  • 44.2% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (120 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (120 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.120 W vs 215 W
  • 16 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
    What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
    When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.111 mm vs 127 mm
  • 14.4% faster VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,002 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
    What it is: Speed at which the GPU memory operates
    When it matters: When you want more context on how quickly the card's VRAM can move data.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,002 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.2002 MHz vs 1750 MHz
  • 45.5% lower board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (120 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
    What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
    When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (120 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.120 W vs 220 W
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • 35.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 is shorter than the average graphics card (250 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
    When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 is shorter than the average graphics card (250 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.250 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • Broader encode codec support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports broader hardware encode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264/H.265 vs H.264).
    What it is: Supported hardware video encoding formats
    When it matters: When you record, stream, or transcode and need the right hardware video formats.

    Importance: LOW

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports broader hardware encode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264/H.265 vs H.264).H.264/H.265 vs H.264
  • 14.4% faster VRAM clock
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (2,002 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Broader encode codec support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports broader hardware encode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264/H.265 vs H.264).
  • 44.2% lower TDP
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (120 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 45.5% lower board power limit
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (120 W vs 220 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 220 W.
  • 16 mm lower card height
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 is shorter than the average graphics card (111 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 35.37 mm shorter card length
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 is shorter than the average graphics card (250 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
  • 31.7% lower boost clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,708 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 30 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (10 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 104 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 68% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (120.5 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 192 fewer AI cores
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer AI cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 192). The average graphics card has 192 AI cores.
  • 56.2% lower pixel rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (72.3 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 80.9% lower FP32 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (4.4 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 21.6% lower base clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,506 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 16 fewer ROPs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (48 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 81.1% lower compute throughput
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (4.4 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 70.6% lower FP64 performance
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower FP64 performance than the average graphics card (0.1 TFLOPS vs 0.4651 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP64 performance of 0.4651 TFLOPS.
  • 3,072 fewer FP32 units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,280 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 6 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (6 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 64 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 57.1% lower memory bandwidth
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (192.2 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 57.9% slower memory speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (8,008 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 95.3% smaller L2 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (1.5 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 62.5% smaller L1 cache
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (48 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 3.2x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (16 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • No DLSS support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • Older PCIe version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • 7 older
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,016 vs 2,023).
  • No mesh shaders
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • 2 fewer GPUs supported
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports fewer GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (0 vs 2). The average graphics card supports 2 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.
  • No sampler feedback
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 79.9% fewer transistors
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (4,400 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • No AV1 encoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No AV1 decoding
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.4 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2.0b vs 2.1).
  • 3 fewer monitors per output type
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (1 vs 4). The average graphics card supports 4 monitors per output type.
  • Older HDCP version
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • Older NVDEC generation
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower NVDEC generation than the average graphics card (3 vs 6). The average graphics card offers NVDEC generation 6.
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
  • 31.4 dB noisier at idle
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a higher idle noise level than the average graphics card (31.4 dB vs 0 dB). The average graphics card has an idle noise level of 0 dB.
  • No backplate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • No RGB lighting
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 31.7% lower boost clock speed
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,708 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,708 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1708 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 30 fewer compute units
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (10 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (10 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.10 vs 40
  • 2 fewer fans
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (1 vs 3).1 vs 3
  • 3.2x larger process node
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (16 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a higher process node than the average graphics card (16 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.16 nm vs 5 nm
  • 6 GB less VRAM
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (6 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (6 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.6 GB vs 12 GB
  • 64 bit narrower memory bus
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (192 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.192 bit vs 256 bit
  • 104 fewer TMUs
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (80 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.80 vs 184
  • 68% lower texture rate
    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (120.5 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (120.5 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.120.5 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s

Graphic comparison of NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 and

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Third-party reviews

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(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060?

  • Excellent value for 1080p gaming, often cited as a legendary 'mid-range king'
  • Highly power efficient with a low 120W TDP, requiring only a single 6-pin connector
  • Stays cool and quiet under load compared to contemporary rivals like the RX 480
  • Solid driver support and longevity, remaining viable for esports and lighter titles years after release
  • Competitive performance that matched or exceeded the previous generation's flagship (GTX 980) at launch
  • 6GB VRAM variant provides enough buffer for most standard texture settings at 1080p

What customers dislike about NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060?

  • Does not support SLI (multi-GPU) configurations, unlike many of its predecessors
  • The 3GB model is significantly less capable and often suffers from stuttering in modern games
  • Lacks modern hardware features like Ray Tracing (RT cores) and DLSS support
  • Falls behind AMD competitors (RX 480/580) in some newer DirectX 12 and Vulkan titles
  • Struggles with modern AAA releases (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077) without heavy settings compromises
  • Founders Edition was criticized for its higher price premium over partner cards at launch

Expert reviews

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techspot.com
30/06/2021

The TechSpot review of the GeForce GTX 1060 6GB in 2021 highlights the Pascal-era card's enduring viability, showing it still delivers very playable 1080p performance with an average of 69 fps at high settings and over 100 fps on low. While it handles entry-level 1440p gaming by achieving around 70 fps on low settings, the card exhibits clear limitations in modern, demanding titles,...Read more

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legitreviews.com
19/07/2016

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition ($299) and the EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 SuperClocked ($259) introduce the 16nm Pascal GP106 architecture, delivering substantial upgrades over the previous generation Maxwell-based GTX 960 while maintaining the same 120W TDP. The reference Founders Edition sports a solid, faceted die-cast aluminum body with a blower-style thermal solution....Read more

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vortez.net
19/07/2016

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition is a mid-range graphics card based on the 16nm Pascal GP106 architecture, priced at £275 GBP in the UK and designed as a direct competitor to AMD’s Radeon RX 480. Reviewed by David Mitchelson for Vortez, the card effectively replaces the older Maxwell-based GTX 970 and GTX 980, delivering comparable or superior performance at a...Read more

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techadvisor.com
05/08/2016

Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition Review Summary The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition brings a significant performance leap to mid-range gaming, making it an excellent choice for users targeting fluid 60fps gameplay at resolutions up to 2560×1440 pixels. Built on the GP106 Pascal architecture, the card delivers impressive power efficiency with a 120W power consumption...Read more

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gamespot.com
25/07/2017

GameSpot’s review of the $300 Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 highlights its exceptional 1080p performance and efficiency, boasting 1.6% faster speeds than the GTX 980 while running on only 120 watts. It solidifies its position as a strong 1440p performer by comfortably outperforming the AMD RX 480 in synthetic tests and select gaming benchmarks. However, the review notes the card struggles...Read more

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techspot.com
19/07/2016

The TechSpot review of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 highlights a highly efficient, 16nm Pascal-based GPU that matches GTX 980 performance at 1080p and 1440p, with key pros including low power consumption, a 120W TDP, and a quiet, compact blower design. However, the card faces cons in the form of poor asynchronous compute scaling in DX12/Vulkan, which causes it to trail the RX 480 in...Read more

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guru3d.com
19/07/2016

The GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition is a mainstream graphics card built on Nvidia's 16nm Pascal architecture, specifically utilizing the GP106 GPU with 1,280 active shader processors. Released ahead of schedule to compete with AMD's Radeon RX 480, it features a 192-bit memory bus locked at an 8 GHz effective GDDR5 speed, available in both 3 GB and 6 GB variants. Positioned in the...Read more

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pcmag.com
19/07/2016

The PCMag review of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition highlights its strong mid-range performance, offering excellent 1080p gaming and efficient power consumption that makes VR more accessible. It is praised for superior performance in current games compared to previous generations, serving as a solid, power-efficient option for mainstream users. However, the review notes...Read more

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techpowerup.com
19/07/2016

The TechPowerUp review of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB Founders Edition highlights the Pascal-based card as a superior 16 nm mid-range solution, delivering performance faster than the GTX 980 for 1080p and entry-level 1440p gaming. Key advantages include exceptional power efficiency, with idle consumption at 5–6 W, and a premium metal cooler that keeps temperatures under 80°C...Read more

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digitalfoundry.net
07/07/2018

Digital Foundry's review of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 highlights the Pascal-based GPU as a highly efficient, dominant mid-range card targeting 1080p gaming with a 120W TDP. Key advantages include massive efficiency gains and a 15% to 23% performance lead over the AMD Radeon RX 480 in titles like Assassin's Creed Unity and Rise of the Tomb Raider. However, the analysis notes that...Read more

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hardwarezone.com.sg
19/07/2016

The HardwareZone Singapore review evaluates the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 as an impressive, mainstream Pascal graphics card aimed at providing high-value performance to budget-conscious PC gamers. Built on a 16nm FinFET process, the card features a 120W TDP, 6GB of GDDR5 memory, and a 192-bit memory bus, launching at US$249 for partner boards and US$299 for the limited Founders...Read more

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hothardware.com
19/07/2016

The HotHardware review highlights the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Founder's Edition ($299 MSRP, with partner cards starting at $249) as an impressive, value-driven mid-range mainstream graphics card utilizing the highly efficient 16nm Pascal GP106 architecture. Boasting 1280 CUDA cores, a 192-bit memory interface, and 6GB of GDDR5 VRAM, the card delivers performance on par with the...Read more

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pcworld.com
19/07/2016

The PCWorld review positions the GeForce GTX 1060Go to product viewer dialog for this item. (6GB) as a high-performance, power-efficient contender for mainstream 1080p gaming and VR, built on Nvidia’s Pascal architecture. It offers stellar performance at 1080p with solid 1440p capabilities, featuring high overclocking potential past 2GHz. While delivering great efficiency and speed,...Read more

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tweakpc.de
19/07/2026

The TweakPC review of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition evaluates Nvidia's 16-nm FinFET Pascal architecture entry into the mid-range graphics card market, tracking its massive generational leap over the older GTX 960. Based on the GP106 GPU configuration, the hardware features 1,280 CUDA cores, 80 texture units, and a 192-bit memory interface configuration driving 6 GB of...Read more

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clubic.com
19/07/2016

In his review for Clubic, Julien Jay gives a highly positive assessment of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition. Built on the 16 nm Pascal architecture (GP106 chip), the mid-range card features 1,280 CUDA cores and 6 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus. The core performance pros highlighted in the review are its excellent power efficiency and strong 1080p/1440p gaming...Read more

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tweakers.net
22/11/2016

This 2016 midrange roundup pits four AMD Radeon RX 480 graphics cards against five Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 (6GB) variants to determine the best choice for sub-€300 gaming. Overall, the GTX 1060 cards emerge as the faster options in DirectX 11 titles like Grand Theft Auto V and Dragon Age: Inquisition, where they consistently maintain a 10% to 20% performance lead. However, the RX...Read more

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tweakers.net
19/07/2016

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 introduces the 16nm "Pascal" architecture to the midrange segment, aiming to deliver the performance of the previous generation's high-end GTX 980 at a lower price point and to compete directly with AMD’s RX 480. Benchmarks confirm that the GTX 1060 successfully fulfills this performance promise, making it an excellent option for fluid 60 FPS gaming at...Read more

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