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 $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 51.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 26.7 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 215W, a 35W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 267mm, a 94mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 2080 across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.

GeForce RTX 2080

2018

Why buy it

✅41.4% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅31.8% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Turing (2018−2022) on 12nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
180.7% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.7 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌19.4% higher power demand at 215W vs 180W.
❌54.3% longer card at 267mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

GeForce RTX 2080

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $450 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 51.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 26.7 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 215W, a 35W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 267mm, a 94mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅41.4% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅31.8% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Turing (2018−2022) on 12nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 2080 across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.

Trade-offs

❌
180.7% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 26.7 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌19.4% higher power demand at 215W vs 180W.
❌54.3% longer card at 267mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 2080 better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 2080 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 2080 averages 41.4% more FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 18,676 vs 10,064 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 2080 is a 2018 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while GeForce GTX 1060 is a 2016 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

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

GeForce RTX 2080 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2018 generation instead of 2016, 85.6% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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 RTX 2080 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 2080 is about 180.7% more expensive on MSRP at $699 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 41.4% more estimated average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data and 85.6% 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 RTX 2080 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080
1080p
low	117 FPS	159 FPS
medium	105 FPS	141 FPS
high	91 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	135 FPS
medium	87 FPS	109 FPS
high	76 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	80 FPS
medium	49 FPS	68 FPS
high	41 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	47 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 2080

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080
1080p
low	216 FPS	413 FPS
medium	181 FPS	347 FPS
high	148 FPS	282 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	242 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	262 FPS
medium	107 FPS	221 FPS
high	87 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	161 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	126 FPS
medium	51 FPS	108 FPS
high	49 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	72 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 2080

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080
1080p
low	453 FPS	783 FPS
medium	362 FPS	634 FPS
high	302 FPS	560 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	420 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	606 FPS
medium	272 FPS	492 FPS
high	226 FPS	420 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	315 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	409 FPS
medium	181 FPS	331 FPS
high	151 FPS	277 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	210 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 2080

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080
1080p
low	358 FPS	529 FPS
medium	302 FPS	460 FPS
high	260 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	327 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	431 FPS
medium	254 FPS	376 FPS
high	208 FPS	307 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	253 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	272 FPS
medium	133 FPS	257 FPS
high	123 FPS	224 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	185 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 2080

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce RTX 2080

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 RTX 2080

The GeForce RTX 2080 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 20 2018. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1515 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 2944 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 215W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 18,676 points. Launch price was $699.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce RTX 2080's 18,676 — the GeForce RTX 2080 leads by 85.6%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 2080 uses Turing, both on 16 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 2,944 (GeForce RTX 2080). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 10.07 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2080). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1710 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080
G3D Mark Score	10,064	18,676+86%
Architecture	Pascal	Turing
Process Node	16 nm	12 nm
Shading Units	2560	2944+15%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	10.07 TFLOPS+13%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+1%	1710 MHz
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	160	184+15%
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	2.9 MB+209%
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 2080 supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
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 RTX 2080 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 2080 offers 31.8% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2080) — a 133.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 2080. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 4 MB (GeForce RTX 2080) — the GeForce RTX 2080 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	7.906 GB+32%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	448 GB/s+133%
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12.1 (GeForce RTX 2080). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080
DirectX	12	12.1
Vulkan	1.3+8%	1.2
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 6th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 2080). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs 4th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce RTX 2080).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	6th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	4th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce RTX 2080's 215W — a 17.7% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 2080). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 6-pin + 8-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080
TDP	180W-16%	215W
Recommended PSU	400W-38%	650W
Power Connector	6-pin	6-pin + 8-pin
Length	173mm	267mm
Height	111mm	116mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	80°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	86.9+55%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 2080 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 26.7 (GeForce RTX 2080) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 51.3% better value. The GeForce RTX 2080 is the newer GPU (2018 vs 2016).