Page Index

GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design

CPUCPUGPUGPU
NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1060

2016Core: 1607 MHzBoost: 1733 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••
VS
NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design

2017Core: 1290 MHzBoost: 1468 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce GTX 1060
6 GB 180
10,064
0.0%
brand logoGeForce GTX 680
brand logoGeForce GTX 970XM FORCE
brand logoGeForce RTX 2050 Mobile
brand logoGeForce GTX TITAN Z
brand logoGeForce GTX 980 Ti
brand logoGeForce RTX 5060 Mobile
brand logoGeForce RTX 2080 Ti
brand logoGeForce RTX 4080 Mobile
GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
8 GB 150
11,566
+14.9%
brand logoGeForce GTX 1050 Ti
brand logoGeForce RTX 2050 Mobile
brand logoGeForce GTX TITAN Z
brand logoGeForce GTX 1650 SUPER
brand logoGeForce RTX 2080 (Mobile)
brand logoGeForce GTX 1080 Ti
brand logoRTX 4000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
brand logoGeForce RTX 5070 Ti 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

2016

Why buy it

  • ✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (10,064 vs 11,566).
  • ❌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.
  • ❌20% higher power demand at 180W vs 150W.

GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design

2017

Why buy it

  • ✅+14.9% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • ✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
  • ✅Draws 150W instead of 180W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Poor future-proofing: 2017-era hardware with 8 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
  • ❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design better than GeForce GTX 1060?
Yes. GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 14.9% higher PassMark G3D performance and 8 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 1060 is the safer long-term GPU choice because it gives you the stronger overall hardware and feature outlook for modern games.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?
GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is priced in an unclear MSRP range at an unclear MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 14.9% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 1060 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.
When does GeForce GTX 1060 make more sense than GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design?
Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is future-proofing and staying closer to $249 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design currently gives you 14.9% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 1060 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
1080p
low117 FPS182 FPS
medium105 FPS166 FPS
high91 FPS141 FPS
ultra77 FPS108 FPS
1440p
low103 FPS155 FPS
medium87 FPS128 FPS
high76 FPS106 FPS
ultra67 FPS83 FPS
4K
low55 FPS75 FPS
medium49 FPS63 FPS
high41 FPS47 FPS
ultra37 FPS41 FPS
Open GeForce GTX 1060Open GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
1080p
low216 FPS252 FPS
medium181 FPS213 FPS
high148 FPS165 FPS
ultra113 FPS135 FPS
1440p
low134 FPS174 FPS
medium107 FPS144 FPS
high87 FPS117 FPS
ultra68 FPS94 FPS
4K
low62 FPS98 FPS
medium51 FPS80 FPS
high49 FPS67 FPS
ultra41 FPS52 FPS
Open GeForce GTX 1060Open GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
1080p
low453 FPS520 FPS
medium362 FPS416 FPS
high302 FPS347 FPS
ultra226 FPS260 FPS
1440p
low340 FPS390 FPS
medium272 FPS312 FPS
high226 FPS260 FPS
ultra170 FPS195 FPS
4K
low226 FPS260 FPS
medium181 FPS208 FPS
high151 FPS173 FPS
ultra113 FPS130 FPS
Open GeForce GTX 1060Open GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
1080p
low358 FPS368 FPS
medium302 FPS320 FPS
high260 FPS270 FPS
ultra226 FPS211 FPS
1440p
low299 FPS290 FPS
medium254 FPS251 FPS
high208 FPS198 FPS
ultra170 FPS148 FPS
4K
low170 FPS157 FPS
medium133 FPS122 FPS
high123 FPS110 FPS
ultra102 FPS88 FPS
Open GeForce GTX 1060Open GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design

NVIDIA

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.

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design

The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 27 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1290 MHz to 1468 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 11,566 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design's 11,566 — the GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design leads by 14.9%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design uses Pascal, both on a 16 nm process. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 7.516 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1468 MHz.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
G3D Mark Score
10,064
11,566+15%
Architecture
Pascal
Pascal
Process Node
16 nm
16 nm
Shading Units
2560
2560
Compute (TFLOPS)
8.873 TFLOPS+18%
7.516 TFLOPS
Boost Clock
1733 MHz+18%
1468 MHz
ROPs
64
64
TMUs
160
160
L1 Cache
960 KB
960 KB
L2 Cache
2 MB
2 MB
✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
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 with Max-Q Design has 8 GB. The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 256 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design) — a 33.3% advantage for the GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
VRAM Capacity
6 GB
8 GB+33%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR5X
Memory Bandwidth
192 GB/s
256 GB/s+33%
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 with Max-Q Design). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.5. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
DirectX
12
12.1
Vulkan
1.3+18%
1.1
OpenGL
4.5
4.5
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs NVENC 4.0 (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs PureVideo HD VP6. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
Encoder
NVENC (Pascal)
NVENC 4.0
Decoder
NVDEC (Pascal)
PureVideo HD VP6
Codecs
H.264,H.265/HEVC
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design's 150W — a 18.2% difference. The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 500W (GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 173mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
TDP
180W
150W-17%
Recommended PSU
400W-20%
500W
Power Connector
6-pin
PCIe-powered
Length
173mm
0mm
Height
111mm
0mm
Slots
2
0-100%
Temp (Load)
—
80°C
Perf/Watt
55.9
77.1+38%
💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design is the newer GPU (2017 vs 2016).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 1080 with Max-Q Design
MSRP
$249
—
Codename
GP104
GP104
Release
May 27 2016
June 27 2017
Ranking
#137
#257