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 $450 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 51.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 26.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 250W, a 70W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 267mm, a 94mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1080 Ti across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 11 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 Ti

2017

Why buy it

✅30.9% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅83.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (11 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: 2017-era hardware with 11 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
180.7% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌38.9% higher power demand at 250W vs 180W.
❌54.3% longer card at 267mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $450 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 51.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 26.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 250W, a 70W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 267mm, a 94mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅30.9% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅83.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (11 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 Ti across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 11 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: 2017-era hardware with 11 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
180.7% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌38.9% higher power demand at 250W vs 180W.
❌54.3% longer card at 267mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

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

Yes. GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 30.9% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data, 84.9% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 11 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2017 instead of 2016, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2017 generation instead of 2016, 84.9% more raw performance headroom, and more VRAM at 11 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 Ti is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is about 180.7% more expensive on MSRP at $699 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 30.9% more estimated average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data and 84.9% 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 Ti Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
1080p
low	117 FPS	153 FPS
medium	105 FPS	136 FPS
high	91 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	105 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	131 FPS
medium	87 FPS	107 FPS
high	76 FPS	95 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	74 FPS
medium	49 FPS	63 FPS
high	41 FPS	48 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	42 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
1080p
low	216 FPS	348 FPS
medium	181 FPS	302 FPS
high	148 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	181 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	219 FPS
medium	107 FPS	189 FPS
high	87 FPS	154 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	123 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	106 FPS
medium	51 FPS	89 FPS
high	49 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	58 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
1080p
low	453 FPS	798 FPS
medium	362 FPS	649 FPS
high	302 FPS	558 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	419 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	628 FPS
medium	272 FPS	502 FPS
high	226 FPS	419 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	314 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	419 FPS
medium	181 FPS	335 FPS
high	151 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	209 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
1080p
low	358 FPS	519 FPS
medium	302 FPS	449 FPS
high	260 FPS	386 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	319 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	422 FPS
medium	254 FPS	367 FPS
high	208 FPS	299 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	246 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	259 FPS
medium	133 FPS	246 FPS
high	123 FPS	214 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	180 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1080 Ti

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 Ti

The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 10 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1481 MHz to 1582 MHz. It has 3584 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 18,606 points. Launch price was $699.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti's 18,606 — the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti leads by 84.9%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti uses Pascal, both on a 16 nm process. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 3,584 (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 11.34 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1582 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
G3D Mark Score	10,064	18,606+85%
Architecture	Pascal	Pascal
Process Node	16 nm	16 nm
Shading Units	2560	3584+40%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	11.34 TFLOPS+28%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+10%	1582 MHz
ROPs	64	88+38%
TMUs	160	224+40%
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	1.3 MB+38%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2.75 MB+38%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
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 Ti has 11 GB. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti offers 83.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 484 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) — a 152.1% advantage for the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti. Bus width: 192-bit vs 352-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 2.75 MB (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) — the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	11 GB+83%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5X
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	484 GB/s+152%
Bus Width	192-bit	352-bit+83%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2.75 MB+38%

🖥️

Display & API Support

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

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

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs NVENC 4th gen (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti). 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 Ti).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	NVENC 4th 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 Ti's 250W — a 32.6% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 600W (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 6-pin + 8-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
TDP	180W-28%	250W
Recommended PSU	400W-33%	600W
Power Connector	6-pin	6-pin + 8-pin
Length	173mm	267mm
Height	111mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	75°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	74.4+33%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti launched at $699. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 64.4% less ($450 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 26.6 (GeForce GTX 1080 Ti) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 51.9% better value. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is the newer GPU (2017 vs 2016).