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 GT 1010 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 GT 1010 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 GT 1010

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $179 less on MSRP ($70 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅GeForce GTX 1060 is already legacy-tier future-proofing, so GeForce GT 1010 is the less risky modern option long term.
✅Draws 30W instead of 180W, a 150W reduction.
✅Measures 147mm instead of 173mm, a 26mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Older hardware, 512 MB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in newer AAA releases.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 13.9 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($70 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Why buy it

✅971.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 191.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 13.9 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $70 MSRP).
✅1100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 512 MB).

Trade-offs

❌2016 hardware with 6 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌500% higher power demand at 180W vs 30W.
❌17.7% longer card at 173mm vs 147mm.

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 971.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 935.4% in PassMark G3D (10,064 vs 972), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce GT 1010 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a 14nm process instead of 16nm and a newer 2021 generation instead of 2016. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 1060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $179 more expensive on MSRP at $249 vs $70, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 191.1% (40.4 vs 13.9), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce GTX 1060 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GT 1010 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GT 1010 vs GeForce GTX 1060 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GT 1010

The GeForce GT 1010 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 13 2021. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1228 MHz to 1468 MHz. It has 256 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 972 points.

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.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GT 1010 scores 972 versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 10,064 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 935.4%. The GeForce GT 1010 is built on Pascal while the GeForce GTX 1060 uses Pascal, both on 14 nm vs 16 nm. Shader units: 256 (GeForce GT 1010) vs 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060). Raw compute: 0.7516 TFLOPS (GeForce GT 1010) vs 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060). Boost clocks: 1468 MHz vs 1733 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GT 1010	GeForce GTX 1060
G3D Mark Score	972	10,064+935%
Architecture	Pascal	Pascal
Process Node	14 nm	16 nm
Shading Units	256	2560+900%
Compute (TFLOPS)	0.7516 TFLOPS	8.873 TFLOPS+1081%
Boost Clock	1468 MHz	1733 MHz+18%
ROPs	16	64+300%
TMUs	16	160+900%
L1 Cache	32 KB	960 KB+2900%
L2 Cache	0.25 MB	2 MB+700%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GT 1010	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

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GT 1010 has 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 1060 carries 6 GB. GeForce GTX 1060 gives you 1100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 64-bit on the GeForce GT 1010 and 192-bit on the GeForce GTX 1060. L2 Cache: 0.25 MB (GeForce GT 1010) vs 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GT 1010	GeForce GTX 1060
VRAM Capacity	0.5 GB	6 GB+1100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	192 GB/s
Bus Width	64-bit	192-bit+200%
L2 Cache	0.25 MB	2 MB+700%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (12_1) (GeForce GT 1010) vs 12 (GeForce GTX 1060). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.5. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GT 1010	GeForce GTX 1060
DirectX	12 (12_1)	12
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6+2%	4.5
Max Displays	2	4+100%

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: None (GeForce GT 1010) vs NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060). Decoder: VP8 (Feature Set H) vs NVDEC (Pascal). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265 (HEVC),VP8,VP9,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce GT 1010) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060).

Feature	GeForce GT 1010	GeForce GTX 1060
Encoder	None	NVENC (Pascal)
Decoder	VP8 (Feature Set H)	NVDEC (Pascal)
Codecs	H.264,H.265 (HEVC),VP8,VP9,MPEG-2,VC-1	H.264,H.265/HEVC

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GT 1010 draws 30W versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 180W — a 142.9% difference. The GeForce GT 1010 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 300W (GeForce GT 1010) vs 400W (GeForce GTX 1060). Power connectors: None vs 6-pin. Card length: 147mm vs 173mm, occupying 1 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GT 1010	GeForce GTX 1060
TDP	30W-83%	180W
Recommended PSU	300W-25%	400W
Power Connector	None	6-pin
Length	147mm	173mm
Height	69mm	111mm
Slots	1-50%	2
Temp (Load)	75	—
Perf/Watt	32.4	55.9+73%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GT 1010 came in at $70, while the GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249. On MSRP, GeForce GT 1010 was 71.9% cheaper ($179 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 13.9 (GeForce GT 1010) vs 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 190.6% better value. The newer card here is GeForce GT 1010 (2021 vs 2016).

Feature	GeForce GT 1010	GeForce GTX 1060
MSRP	$70-72%	$249
Performance per Dollar	13.9	40.4+191%
Codename	GP108	GP104
Release	January 13 2021	May 27 2016
Ranking	#895	#137

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