GeForce FX 5600 Ultra vs GeForce GTX 1060

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce FX 5600 Ultra vs GeForce GTX 1060 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce FX 5600 Ultra vs GeForce GTX 1060: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce FX 5600 Ultra

2011

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 128 MB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2011 hardware with 128 MB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.1 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Why buy it

✅10724.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 47212.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0.1 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅4700% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 128 MB).
✅GeForce FX 5600 Ultra is already obsolete for modern gaming, so GeForce GTX 1060 is the less risky modern option long term.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 190mm, a 17mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌2016 hardware with 6 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce GTX 1060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 10724.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 59100% in PassMark G3D (10,064 vs 17), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce GTX 1060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 6 GB vs 128 MB of VRAM, a 16nm process instead of 40nm, and a newer 2016 generation instead of 2011. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 1060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $50 more expensive on MSRP at $249 vs $199, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 47212.4% (40.4 vs 0.1), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce FX 5600 Ultra vs GeForce GTX 1060 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce FX 5600 Ultra

The GeForce FX 5600 Ultra is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 25 2011. It features the Rankine architecture. The core clock speed is 823 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 17 points. Launch price was $249.

GeForce GTX 1060

The GeForce GTX 1060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 27 2016. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1607 MHz to 1733 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 180W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 10,064 points. Launch price was $599.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra scores 17 versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 10,064 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 59100%. The GeForce FX 5600 Ultra is built on Rankine while the GeForce GTX 1060 uses Pascal, both on 40 nm vs 16 nm. Shader units: 384 (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra) vs 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060). Raw compute: 1.263 TFLOPS (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra) vs 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060).

Feature	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra	GeForce GTX 1060
G3D Mark Score	17	10,064+59100%
Architecture	Rankine	Pascal
Process Node	40 nm	16 nm
Shading Units	384	2560+567%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.263 TFLOPS	8.873 TFLOPS+603%
ROPs	32	64+100%
TMUs	64	160+150%
L1 Cache	512 KB	960 KB+88%
L2 Cache	0.5 MB	2 MB+300%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra	GeForce GTX 1060
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce FX 5600 Ultra has 128 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 1060 carries 6 GB. GeForce GTX 1060 gives you 4700% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 128-bit on the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra and 192-bit on the GeForce GTX 1060. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra) vs 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra	GeForce GTX 1060
VRAM Capacity	0.125 GB	6 GB+4700%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	192 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	0.5 MB	2 MB+300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 9.0a (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra) vs 12 (GeForce GTX 1060). Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra	GeForce GTX 1060
DirectX	9.0a	12+33%
Max Displays	2	4+100%

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce FX 5600 Ultra draws 160W versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 180W — a 11.8% difference. The GeForce FX 5600 Ultra is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra) vs 400W (GeForce GTX 1060). Power connectors: Legacy vs 6-pin. Card length: 190mm vs 173mm, occupying 1 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra	GeForce GTX 1060
TDP	160W-11%	180W
Recommended PSU	350W-13%	400W
Power Connector	Legacy	6-pin
Length	190mm	173mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	1-50%	2
Perf/Watt	0.1	55.9+55800%

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Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce FX 5600 Ultra came in at $199, while the GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249. On MSRP, GeForce FX 5600 Ultra was 20.1% cheaper ($50 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 0.1 (GeForce FX 5600 Ultra) vs 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 40300% better value. The newer card here is GeForce GTX 1060 (2016 vs 2011).

Feature	GeForce FX 5600 Ultra	GeForce GTX 1060
MSRP	$199-20%	$249
Performance per Dollar	0.1	40.4+40300%
Codename	GF114	GP104
Release	January 25 2011	May 27 2016
Ranking	#580	#137

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