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 $950 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 80.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 22.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 350W, a 170W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 285mm, a 112mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 Ti across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 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 3080 Ti

2021

Why buy it

✅93.7% more average FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
381.5% HIGHER MSRP
$1,199 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 22.4 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,199 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌94.4% higher power demand at 350W vs 180W.
❌64.7% longer card at 285mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $950 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).
✅Delivers 80.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 22.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,199 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 350W, a 170W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 285mm, a 112mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅93.7% more average FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3080 Ti across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 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

❌
381.5% HIGHER MSRP
$1,199 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 22.4 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,199 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌94.4% higher power demand at 350W vs 180W.
❌64.7% longer card at 285mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3080 Ti better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3080 Ti averages 93.7% more FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 26,861 vs 10,064 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is a 2021 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 3080 Ti is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2021 generation instead of 2016, 166.9% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 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 3080 Ti is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is about 381.5% more expensive on MSRP at $1,199 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 93.7% more estimated average FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data and 166.9% 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 RTX 3080 Ti Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
1080p
low	117 FPS	200 FPS
medium	105 FPS	183 FPS
high	91 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	129 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	176 FPS
medium	87 FPS	145 FPS
high	76 FPS	118 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	103 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	108 FPS
medium	49 FPS	91 FPS
high	41 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	56 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
1080p
low	216 FPS	636 FPS
medium	181 FPS	551 FPS
high	148 FPS	438 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	382 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	464 FPS
medium	107 FPS	399 FPS
high	87 FPS	316 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	263 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	222 FPS
medium	51 FPS	188 FPS
high	49 FPS	158 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	133 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
1080p
low	453 FPS	903 FPS
medium	362 FPS	739 FPS
high	302 FPS	659 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	573 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	710 FPS
medium	272 FPS	581 FPS
high	226 FPS	506 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	434 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	489 FPS
medium	181 FPS	404 FPS
high	151 FPS	348 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	289 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
1080p
low	358 FPS	821 FPS
medium	302 FPS	763 FPS
high	260 FPS	673 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	604 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	656 FPS
medium	254 FPS	606 FPS
high	208 FPS	532 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	453 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	475 FPS
medium	133 FPS	441 FPS
high	123 FPS	395 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	302 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3080 Ti

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce RTX 3080 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 RTX 3080 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 31 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1365 MHz to 1665 MHz. It has 10240 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 80 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,861 points. Launch price was $1,199.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's 26,861 — the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti leads by 166.9%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti uses Ampere, both on 16 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 10,240 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 34.1 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1665 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
G3D Mark Score	10,064	26,861+167%
Architecture	Pascal	Ampere
Process Node	16 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2560	10240+300%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	34.1 TFLOPS+284%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+4%	1665 MHz
ROPs	64	112+75%
TMUs	160	320+100%
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	10 MB+964%
L2 Cache	2 MB	6 MB+200%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
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 3080 Ti has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 912 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) — a 375% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti. Bus width: 192-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	12 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	912 GB/s+375%
Bus Width	192-bit	384-bit+100%
L2 Cache	2 MB	6 MB+200%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
DirectX	12	12 Ultimate
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 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti's 350W — a 64.2% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 750W (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 285mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3080 Ti
TDP	180W-49%	350W
Recommended PSU	400W-47%	750W
Power Connector	6-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	173mm	285mm
Height	111mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	85°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	76.7+37%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3080 Ti launched at $1199. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 79.2% less ($950 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 22.4 (GeForce RTX 3080 Ti) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 80.4% better value. The GeForce RTX 3080 Ti is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2016).