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 5GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 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 5GB vs GeForce RTX 4060: 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 5GB

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 5 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌2017 hardware with 5 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 36.8 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅106.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 77.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 36.8 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅60% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 5 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4060 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 106.6% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 113.1% in PassMark G3D (19,548 vs 9,175), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 4060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 5 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 5GB is limited to no meaningful modern upscaling stack and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 16nm, and 24 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 RTX 4060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $50 more expensive on MSRP at $299 vs $249, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 77.4% (65.4 vs 36.8), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 1060 5GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 1060 5GB

The GeForce GTX 1060 5GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 26 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1506 MHz to 1709 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 120W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,175 points.

GeForce RTX 4060

The GeForce RTX 4060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1830 MHz to 2460 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 24 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,548 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 5GB scores 9,175 versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 19,548 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 113.1%. The GeForce GTX 1060 5GB is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 4060 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060). Raw compute: 4.375 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 15.11 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060). Boost clocks: 1709 MHz vs 2460 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 4060
G3D Mark Score	9,175	19,548+113%
Architecture	Pascal	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	16 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1280	3072+140%
Compute (TFLOPS)	4.375 TFLOPS	15.11 TFLOPS+245%
Boost Clock	1709 MHz	2460 MHz+44%
ROPs	40	48+20%
TMUs	80	96+20%
L1 Cache	0.47 MB	3 MB+538%
L2 Cache	1.25 MB	24 MB+1820%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4060 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 5GB does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 5GB is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 4060
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 5GB has 5 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 4060 gives you 60% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 160 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) — a 70% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Memory bus width is 160-bit on the GeForce GTX 1060 5GB and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 4060. L2 Cache: 1.25 MB (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 24 MB (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 4060
VRAM Capacity	5 GB	8 GB+60%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	160 GB/s	272 GB/s+70%
Bus Width	160-bit+25%	128-bit
L2 Cache	1.25 MB	24 MB+1820%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 4060
DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (6th Gen) (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060). Decoder: NVDEC (3rd Gen) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9 (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 4060
Encoder	NVENC (6th Gen)	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (3rd Gen)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265,VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 5GB draws 120W versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 115W — a 4.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 250mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 73°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 4060
TDP	120W	115W-4%
Recommended PSU	400W-27%	550W
Power Connector	6-pin	8-pin
Length	250mm	240mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75	73°C-3%
Perf/Watt	76.5	170.0+122%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 1060 5GB came in at $249, while the GeForce RTX 4060 launched at $299. On MSRP, GeForce GTX 1060 5GB was 16.7% cheaper ($50 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 36.8 (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 65.4 (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 offers 77.7% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4060 (2023 vs 2017).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 5GB	GeForce RTX 4060
MSRP	$249-17%	$299
Performance per Dollar	36.8	65.4+78%
Codename	GP106	AD107
Release	December 26 2017	May 18 2023
Ranking	#289	#84

Search GeForce GTX 1060 5GB on Amazon

Search GeForce RTX 4060 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.