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 $300 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 250W, a 70W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 245mm, a 72mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5070 across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 40.4 vs 52.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 5070

2025

Why buy it

✅95.7% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 30% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 52.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($549 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌38.9% higher power demand at 250W vs 180W.
❌41.6% longer card at 245mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

GeForce RTX 5070

2025

Why buy it

✅Costs $300 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 250W, a 70W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 245mm, a 72mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅95.7% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 30% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 52.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($549 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5070 across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 40.4 vs 52.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌38.9% higher power demand at 250W vs 180W.
❌41.6% longer card at 245mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 5070 better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 5070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 5070 averages 95.7% more FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 28,854 vs 10,064 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 5070 is a 2025 card with DLSS 4 + Multi Frame Gen, 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 5070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2025 generation instead of 2016, 186.7% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 6 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack and better frame-generation support with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025) 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 5070 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 5070 is about 120.5% more expensive on MSRP at $549 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 95.7% more estimated average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data and 186.7% 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 5070 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5070
1080p
low	117 FPS	188 FPS
medium	105 FPS	171 FPS
high	91 FPS	155 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	135 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	151 FPS
medium	87 FPS	125 FPS
high	76 FPS	111 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	102 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	92 FPS
medium	49 FPS	79 FPS
high	41 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	59 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 5070

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5070
1080p
low	216 FPS	615 FPS
medium	181 FPS	514 FPS
high	148 FPS	389 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	336 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	406 FPS
medium	107 FPS	325 FPS
high	87 FPS	254 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	223 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	180 FPS
medium	51 FPS	149 FPS
high	49 FPS	129 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	105 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 5070

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5070
1080p
low	453 FPS	921 FPS
medium	362 FPS	742 FPS
high	302 FPS	652 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	569 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	720 FPS
medium	272 FPS	578 FPS
high	226 FPS	497 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	427 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	496 FPS
medium	181 FPS	399 FPS
high	151 FPS	349 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	293 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 5070

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5070
1080p
low	358 FPS	799 FPS
medium	302 FPS	663 FPS
high	260 FPS	594 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	532 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	646 FPS
medium	254 FPS	535 FPS
high	208 FPS	475 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	420 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	412 FPS
medium	133 FPS	357 FPS
high	123 FPS	328 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	289 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 5070

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce RTX 5070

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 5070

The GeForce RTX 5070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 4 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2325 MHz to 2512 MHz. It has 6144 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 48 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 28,854 points. Launch price was $549.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce RTX 5070's 28,854 — the GeForce RTX 5070 leads by 186.7%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 5070 uses Blackwell 2.0, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 6,144 (GeForce RTX 5070). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 30.87 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5070). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 2512 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5070
G3D Mark Score	10,064	28,854+187%
Architecture	Pascal	Blackwell 2.0
Process Node	16 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2560	6144+140%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	30.87 TFLOPS+248%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz	2512 MHz+45%
ROPs	64	80+25%
TMUs	160	192+20%
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	6 MB+538%
L2 Cache	2 MB	48 MB+2300%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 5070 is support for DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce GTX 1060 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 5070 supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5070
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 4)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 5070 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 5070 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 672 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5070) — a 250% advantage for the GeForce RTX 5070. Bus width: 192-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 48 MB (GeForce RTX 5070) — the GeForce RTX 5070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5070
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	12 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR7
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	672 GB/s+250%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	48 MB+2300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 5070). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5070
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 (9th Gen) (GeForce RTX 5070). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs NVDEC (6th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs AV1,H.264,H.265,VP9 (GeForce RTX 5070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5070
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	NVENC (9th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	NVDEC (6th Gen)
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	AV1,H.264,H.265,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce RTX 5070's 250W — a 32.6% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 5070). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 16-pin (12VHPWR). Card length: 173mm vs 245mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5070
TDP	180W-28%	250W
Recommended PSU	400W-38%	650W
Power Connector	6-pin	16-pin (12VHPWR)
Length	173mm	245mm
Height	111mm	115mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	72°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	115.4+106%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 5070 launched at $549. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 54.6% less ($300 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 52.6 (GeForce RTX 5070) — the GeForce RTX 5070 offers 30.2% better value. The GeForce RTX 5070 is the newer GPU (2025 vs 2016).