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 vs GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design 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 vs GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design: 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

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 average FPS than GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design across 50 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.
❌2016 hardware with 6 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌125% higher power demand at 180W vs 80W.

GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design

2019

Why buy it

✅13.8% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Turing (2018−2022) on 12nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Draws 80W instead of 180W, a 100W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 13.8% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 26.8% in PassMark G3D (12,766 vs 10,064), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM, the newer upscaling stack, DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 12nm process instead of 16nm, and 46 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 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 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and lighter 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design Technical Specifications

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

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 with Max-Q Design

The GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 29 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 735 MHz to 1095 MHz. It has 2944 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 80W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,766 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design's 12,766 — the GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design leads by 26.8%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design uses Turing, both on 16 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 2,944 (GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 6.447 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1095 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design
G3D Mark Score	10,064	12,766+27%
Architecture	Pascal	Turing
Process Node	16 nm	12 nm
Shading Units	2560	2944+15%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS+38%	6.447 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+58%	1095 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 with Max-Q Design supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 has 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 384 GB/s (GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design) — a 100% advantage for the GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce GTX 1060 and 256-bit on the GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 4 MB (GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design) — the GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	384 GB/s+100%
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 (12_2) (GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design
DirectX	12	12 (12_2)
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 6 (GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs NVDEC 4. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	NVENC 6
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	NVDEC 4
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,H.265,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design's 80W — a 76.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 0W (GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design). Power connectors: 6-pin vs None. Card length: 173mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design
TDP	180W	80W-56%
Recommended PSU	400W	0W-100%
Power Connector	6-pin	None
Length	173mm	0mm
Height	111mm	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	—	80
Perf/Watt	55.9	159.6+186%

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design (2019 vs 2016).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 2080 with Max-Q Design
MSRP	$249	—
Codename	GP104	TU104B
Release	May 27 2016	January 29 2019
Ranking	#137	#174

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