GeForce GTX 1060 3GB vs L4

CPU

GPU

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

2016Core: 1506 MHzBoost: 1708 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

L4

2023Core: 795 MHzBoost: 2040 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

3 GB 120

9,815

0.0%

GeForce GTX 760 Ti OEM

GeForce GTX 1650 Ti with Max-Q Design

GeForce GTX 1650 Ti

GeForce GTX 1660 Ti with Max-Q Design

GeForce GTX 1070

RTX 2000 Ada Generation

GeForce RTX 5060

GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile

8 GB 72

10,153

+3.4%

GeForce GTX 680

GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE

GeForce GTX 1650

GeForce GTX TITAN Z

GeForce RTX 2060

GeForce RTX 5060 Laptop GPU

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile

About G3D Mark

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,146 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $2,345 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1039.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 49.3 vs 4.3 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $2,345 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌66.7% higher power demand at 120W vs 72W.
❌47.9% longer card at 250mm vs 169mm.

L4

2023

Why buy it

✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 3 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 72W instead of 120W, a 48W reduction.
✅Measures 169mm instead of 250mm, a 81mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌
1078.4% HIGHER MSRP
$2,345 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.3 vs 49.3 G3D/$ ($2,345 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

2016

L4

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,146 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $2,345 MSRP).
✅Delivers 1039.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 49.3 vs 4.3 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $2,345 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 3 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 72W instead of 120W, a 48W reduction.
✅Measures 169mm instead of 250mm, a 81mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌66.7% higher power demand at 120W vs 72W.
❌47.9% longer card at 250mm vs 169mm.

Trade-offs

❌
1078.4% HIGHER MSRP
$2,345 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 4.3 vs 49.3 G3D/$ ($2,345 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is L4 better than GeForce GTX 1060 3GB?

Yes. L4 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 10,153 vs 9,815 in G3D Mark. On top of that, L4 is a 2023 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is a 2016 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

L4 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2016, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 3 GB, 100.0% more ray-tracing hardware, and a 5nm process instead of 16nm. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

L4 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. L4 is about 1078.4% more expensive on MSRP at $2,345 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and you are getting 3.4% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 1060 3GB really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is GeForce GTX 1060 3GB still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is 2016 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM, 9,815 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Benchmark Check

L4 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	L4
1080p
low	95 FPS	184 FPS
medium	83 FPS	162 FPS
high	70 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	86 FPS
1440p
low	84 FPS	144 FPS
medium	70 FPS	121 FPS
high	58 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	58 FPS
4K
low	41 FPS	59 FPS
medium	38 FPS	51 FPS
high	27 FPS	38 FPS
ultra	24 FPS	33 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Open L4

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	L4
1080p
low	191 FPS	287 FPS
medium	161 FPS	231 FPS
high	132 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	157 FPS
1440p
low	127 FPS	219 FPS
medium	101 FPS	169 FPS
high	80 FPS	139 FPS
ultra	61 FPS	114 FPS
4K
low	54 FPS	119 FPS
medium	45 FPS	95 FPS
high	43 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	66 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Open L4

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	L4
1080p
low	379 FPS	457 FPS
medium	332 FPS	366 FPS
high	246 FPS	305 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	228 FPS
1440p
low	308 FPS	343 FPS
medium	265 FPS	274 FPS
high	207 FPS	228 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	171 FPS
4K
low	187 FPS	228 FPS
medium	160 FPS	183 FPS
high	108 FPS	152 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	114 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Open L4

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	L4
1080p
low	257 FPS	375 FPS
medium	206 FPS	321 FPS
high	186 FPS	275 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	223 FPS
1440p
low	196 FPS	285 FPS
medium	154 FPS	249 FPS
high	136 FPS	216 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	170 FPS
4K
low	97 FPS	171 FPS
medium	73 FPS	144 FPS
high	65 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	51 FPS	93 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Open L4

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 3GB and L4

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.

L4

The L4 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 21 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 795 MHz to 2040 MHz. It has 7424 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 72W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 60 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 10,153 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB scores 9,815 and the L4 reaches 10,153 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.4% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is built on Pascal while the L4 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,152 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 7,424 (L4). Raw compute: 3.935 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 30.29 TFLOPS (L4). Boost clocks: 1708 MHz vs 2040 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	L4
G3D Mark Score	9,815	10,153+3%
Architecture	Pascal	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	16 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1152	7424+544%
Compute (TFLOPS)	3.935 TFLOPS	30.29 TFLOPS+670%
Boost Clock	1708 MHz	2040 MHz+19%
ROPs	48	80+67%
TMUs	72	240+233%
L1 Cache	0.42 MB	7.5 MB+1686%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	48 MB+3100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The L4 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	L4
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB comes with 3 GB of VRAM, while the L4 has 8 GB. The L4 offers 166.7% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 48 MB (L4) — the L4 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	L4
VRAM Capacity	3 GB	8 GB+167%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	48 MB+3100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 12.2 (L4). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 0.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	L4
DirectX	12.1	12.2
Vulkan	1.1	1.3+18%
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	0

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 4.0 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (L4). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs 5th Gen NVDEC (4x). Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (L4).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	L4
Encoder	NVENC 4.0	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP6	5th Gen NVDEC (4x)
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB draws 120W versus the L4's 72W — a 50% difference. The L4 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 500W (L4). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 250mm vs 169mm, occupying 2 vs 1 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	L4
TDP	120W	72W-40%
Recommended PSU	400W-20%	500W
Power Connector	6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	250mm	169mm
Height	111mm	69mm
Slots	2	1-50%
Temp (Load)	75°C	75°C
Perf/Watt	81.8	141.0+72%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB launched at $199 MSRP, while the L4 launched at $2345. The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB costs 91.5% less ($2146 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 49.3 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 4.3 (L4) — the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB offers 1046.5% better value. The L4 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2016).