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 5090 D 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 5090 D: 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

✅Costs $1,750 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 96.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 20.5 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 575W, a 395W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 304mm, a 131mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 5090 D across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 32 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌2016 hardware with 6 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.

GeForce RTX 5090 D

2025

Why buy it

✅152.8% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅433.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (32 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Blackwell 2.0 (2025−2026) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
702.8% HIGHER MSRP
$1,999 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 20.5 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌219.4% higher power demand at 575W vs 180W.
❌75.7% longer card at 304mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 5090 D is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 152.8% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 308% in PassMark G3D (41,059 vs 10,064), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 5090 D is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 32 GB vs 6 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 4 Super Resolution (2025) and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025), while GeForce GTX 1060 is limited to no meaningful modern upscaling stack and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 16nm, and 170 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 to buy today. It is $1,750 cheaper on MSRP at $249 vs $1,999, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 96.8% (40.4 vs 20.5), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce GTX 1060 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1440p and 4K headroom, GeForce RTX 5090 D has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce RTX 5090 D 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 5090 D

The GeForce RTX 5090 D is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 30 2025. It features the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2017 MHz to 2407 MHz. It has 21760 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 575W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 170 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 41,059 points. Launch price was $2,299.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce RTX 5090 D's 41,059 — the GeForce RTX 5090 D leads by 308%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 5090 D uses Blackwell 2.0, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 21,760 (GeForce RTX 5090 D). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 104.8 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 5090 D). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 2407 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5090 D
G3D Mark Score	10,064	41,059+308%
Architecture	Pascal	Blackwell 2.0
Process Node	16 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2560	21760+750%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	104.8 TFLOPS+1081%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz	2407 MHz+39%
ROPs	64	176+175%
TMUs	160	680+325%
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	21.3 MB+2166%
L2 Cache	2 MB	96 MB+4700%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 5090 D is support for DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce GTX 1060 does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 5090 D supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5090 D
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 has 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 5090 D carries 32 GB. GeForce RTX 5090 D gives you 433.3% 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 1792 GB/s (GeForce RTX 5090 D) — a 833.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 5090 D. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce GTX 1060 and 512-bit on the GeForce RTX 5090 D. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 96 MB (GeForce RTX 5090 D) — the GeForce RTX 5090 D has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5090 D
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	32 GB+433%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR7
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	1792 GB/s+833%
Bus Width	192-bit	512-bit+167%
L2 Cache	2 MB	96 MB+4700%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 5090 D). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5090 D
DirectX	12	12 Ultimate
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 9th Gen (GeForce RTX 5090 D). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs NVDEC 8th Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,H.265,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 5090 D).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5090 D
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	NVENC 9th Gen
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	NVDEC 8th Gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,H.265,AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce RTX 5090 D's 575W — a 104.6% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 1000W (GeForce RTX 5090 D). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 16-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5090 D
TDP	180W-69%	575W
Recommended PSU	400W-60%	1000W
Power Connector	6-pin	16-pin
Length	173mm	304mm
Height	111mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	—	85
Perf/Watt	55.9	71.4+28%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 1060 came in at $249, while the GeForce RTX 5090 D launched at $1999. On MSRP, GeForce GTX 1060 was 87.5% cheaper ($1750 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 20.5 (GeForce RTX 5090 D) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 97.1% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 5090 D (2025 vs 2016).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 5090 D
MSRP	$249-88%	$1999
Performance per Dollar	40.4+97%	20.5
Codename	GP104	GB202
Release	May 27 2016	January 30 2025
Ranking	#137	#1

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