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

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $350 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 55.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 26.1 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Measures 173mm instead of 267mm, a 94mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1080 across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.

GeForce GTX 1080

2016

Why buy it

✅16.9% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 1060: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 1060 is already legacy-tier future-proofing.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 8 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
140.6% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.1 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌54.3% longer card at 267mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

GeForce GTX 1080

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $350 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 55.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 26.1 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Measures 173mm instead of 267mm, a 94mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅16.9% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 1060: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 1060 is already legacy-tier future-proofing.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1080 across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 8 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
140.6% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.1 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌54.3% longer card at 267mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1080 better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1080 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 16.9% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data, 55.1% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 8 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM.

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

GeForce GTX 1080 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 55.1% more raw performance headroom and more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

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

GeForce GTX 1080 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce GTX 1080 is about 140.6% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 16.9% more estimated average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data and 55.1% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 1060 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

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

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 1060 is 2016 hardware with 6 GB of VRAM, 10,064 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 Benchmark Check

GeForce GTX 1080 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080
1080p
low	117 FPS	153 FPS
medium	105 FPS	135 FPS
high	91 FPS	120 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	131 FPS
medium	87 FPS	106 FPS
high	76 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	77 FPS
medium	49 FPS	65 FPS
high	41 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	45 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1080

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080
1080p
low	216 FPS	300 FPS
medium	181 FPS	251 FPS
high	148 FPS	187 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	151 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	188 FPS
medium	107 FPS	158 FPS
high	87 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	101 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	106 FPS
medium	51 FPS	87 FPS
high	49 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	55 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1080

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080
1080p
low	453 FPS	702 FPS
medium	362 FPS	562 FPS
high	302 FPS	468 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	351 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	527 FPS
medium	272 FPS	421 FPS
high	226 FPS	351 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	263 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	351 FPS
medium	181 FPS	281 FPS
high	151 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	176 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1080

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080
1080p
low	358 FPS	433 FPS
medium	302 FPS	364 FPS
high	260 FPS	303 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	258 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	356 FPS
medium	254 FPS	298 FPS
high	208 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	192 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	193 FPS
medium	133 FPS	151 FPS
high	123 FPS	137 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	112 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1080

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 1080

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.

GeForce GTX 1080

The GeForce GTX 1080 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: 15,609 points. Launch price was $599.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce GTX 1080's 15,609 — the GeForce GTX 1080 leads by 55.1%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce GTX 1080 uses Pascal, both on a 16 nm process. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1080). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1080). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1733 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080
G3D Mark Score	10,064	15,609+55%
Architecture	Pascal	Pascal
Process Node	16 nm	16 nm
Shading Units	2560	2560
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	8.873 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1733 MHz	1733 MHz
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	160	160
L1 Cache	960 KB	960 KB
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080
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 GTX 1060 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 1080 has 8 GB. The GeForce GTX 1080 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 320 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1080) — a 66.7% advantage for the GeForce GTX 1080. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5X
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	320 GB/s+67%
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1080). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080
DirectX	12	12.1
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs NVENC 6th gen (GeForce GTX 1080). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs NVDEC 3rd gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce GTX 1080).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	NVENC 6th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	NVDEC 3rd gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,H.265/HEVC,VP8,VP9,MPEG-2,VC-1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce GTX 1080's 180W — a 0% difference. The GeForce GTX 1080 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 500W (GeForce GTX 1080). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080
TDP	180W	180W
Recommended PSU	400W-20%	500W
Power Connector	6-pin	8-pin
Length	173mm	267mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	75°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	86.7+55%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce GTX 1080 launched at $599. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 58.4% less ($350 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 26.1 (GeForce GTX 1080) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 54.8% better value.