GeForce GTX 1060 5GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1060 5GB

2017Core: 1506 MHzBoost: 1709 MHz
GTX family
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VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

2023Core: 2310 MHzBoost: 2535 MHz
RTX family
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GeForce GTX 1060 5GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU Performance Spectrum

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.

GeForce GTX 1060 5GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 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 Laptop GPU: 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

  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 36.8 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • Draws 120W instead of 160W, a 40W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 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.

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

  • 142.1% 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).
  • 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

  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 36.8 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
  • 33.3% higher power demand at 160W vs 120W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 142.1% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 89.6% in PassMark G3D (17,400 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 Laptop GPU 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 34 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 5GB makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce GTX 1060 5GB is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and lighter 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 1060 5GB vs GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2310 MHz to 2535 MHz. It has 4352 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 17,400 points. Launch price was $399.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 5GB scores 9,175 versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU's 17,400 — the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU leads by 89.6%. The GeForce GTX 1060 5GB is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 4.375 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1709 MHz vs 2535 MHz.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 5GBGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score
9,175
17,400+90%
Architecture
Pascal
Ada Lovelace
Process Node
16 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
1280
4352+240%
Compute (TFLOPS)
4.375 TFLOPS
22.06 TFLOPS+404%
Boost Clock
1709 MHz
2535 MHz+48%
ROPs
40
48+20%
TMUs
80
136+70%
L1 Cache
0.47 MB
4.3 MB+815%
L2 Cache
1.25 MB
32 MB+2460%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 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 Laptop GPU supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 5GB is capped at Upscaling support.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 5GBGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
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 Laptop GPU carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 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 256 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) — a 60% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. Memory bus width is 160-bit on the GeForce GTX 1060 5GB and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. L2 Cache: 1.25 MB (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 5GBGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity
5 GB
8 GB+60%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth
160 GB/s
256 GB/s+60%
Bus Width
160-bit+25%
128-bit
L2 Cache
1.25 MB
32 MB+2460%
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 5GBGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
DirectX
12 (12_1)
12 Ultimate
Vulkan
1.3
1.4+8%
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 Laptop GPU). Decoder: NVDEC (3rd Gen) vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265,VP9 (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 5GBGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
Encoder
NVENC (6th Gen)
NVENC (8th Gen)
Decoder
NVDEC (3rd Gen)
NVDEC (5th Gen)
Codecs
H.264,H.265,VP9
H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 5GB draws 120W versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU's 160W — a 28.6% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 5GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060 5GB) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 6-pin vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 5GBGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
TDP
120W-25%
160W
Recommended PSU
400W-38%
650W
Power Connector
6-pin
Mobile
Length
250mm
Height
111mm
Slots
2
0-100%
Temp (Load)
75-6%
80°C
Perf/Watt
76.5
108.8+42%
💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (2023 vs 2017).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060 5GBGeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
MSRP
$249
Codename
GP106
AD106
Release
December 26 2017
May 18 2023
Ranking
#289
#59

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