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 GTX 1060 3GB vs GeForce RTX 4070 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 GTX 1060 3GB vs GeForce RTX 4070: 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 GTX 1060 3GB

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $400 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 200W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 250mm instead of 304mm, a 54mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌2016 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅158.7% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 3 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
201% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌66.7% higher power demand at 200W vs 120W.
❌21.6% longer card at 304mm vs 250mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4070 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 158.7% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 174.3% in PassMark G3D (26,919 vs 9,815), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 4070 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 3 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is limited to no meaningful modern upscaling stack and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 16nm, and 46 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB makes the most sense to buy today. It is $400 cheaper on MSRP at $199 vs $599, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 9.8% (49.3 vs 44.9), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and strong 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 4070 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB vs GeForce RTX 4070 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 18 2016. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1506 MHz to 1708 MHz. It has 1152 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 120W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,815 points. Launch price was $199.

GeForce RTX 4070

The GeForce RTX 4070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 12 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,919 points. Launch price was $599.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB scores 9,815 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 174.3%. The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,152 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 3.935 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1708 MHz vs 2475 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	9,815	26,919+174%
Architecture	Pascal	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	16 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1152	5888+411%
Compute (TFLOPS)	3.935 TFLOPS	29.15 TFLOPS+641%
Boost Clock	1708 MHz	2475 MHz+45%
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	72	184+156%
L1 Cache	0.42 MB	5.8 MB+1281%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	36 MB+2300%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4070 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4070
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB has 3 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 4070 gives you 300% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) — a 162.5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	3 GB	12 GB+300%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	504 GB/s+163%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	36 MB+2300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4070
DirectX	12.1	12.2
Vulkan	1.1	1.3+18%
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 4.0 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder	NVENC 4.0	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP6	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB draws 120W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 50% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 250mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	120W-40%	200W
Recommended PSU	400W-38%	650W
Power Connector	6-pin	8-pin
Length	250mm	304mm
Height	111mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	75°C-6%	80°C
Perf/Watt	81.8	134.6+65%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB came in at $199, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. On MSRP, GeForce GTX 1060 3GB was 66.8% cheaper ($400 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 49.3 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB offers 9.8% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 (2023 vs 2016).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4070
MSRP	$199-67%	$599
Performance per Dollar	49.3+10%	44.9
Codename	GP106	AD104
Release	August 18 2016	April 12 2023
Ranking	#272	#32

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