GeForce GTX 1060 vs Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1060

2016Core: 1607 MHzBoost: 1733 MHz

Popular choices:

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VS
Intel

Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)

2023Core: 300 MHzBoost: 1950 MHz

Popular choices:

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Performance Spectrum - GPU

About G3D Mark

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

  • βœ…+83% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • βœ…Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • βœ…50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).

Trade-offs

  • ❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
  • ❌1100% higher power demand at 180W vs 15W.

Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)

2023

Why buy it

  • βœ…More future proof: Xe LPG (2023) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
  • βœ…Draws 15W instead of 180W, a 165W reduction.
  • βœ…More future proof: Xe LPG (2023) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • ❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,500 vs 10,064).
  • ❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • ❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1060 better than Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)?
Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 10,064 vs 5,500 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce GTX 1060 is a 2016 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) is a 2023 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?
Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2016 and a 5nm process instead of 16nm. That makes it the safer long-run choice for modern games.
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?
GeForce GTX 1060 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce GTX 1060 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $249 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 83.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) is the newer 2023 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture, lower power draw (15W vs 180W), and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.
When does Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) make more sense than GeForce GTX 1060?
Yes. Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (15W vs 180W), future-proofing, and staying closer to an unclear MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 1060. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 1060 currently gives you 83.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%.

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.

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

PresetGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
1080p
low117 FPS88 FPS
medium105 FPS76 FPS
high91 FPS56 FPS
ultra77 FPS36 FPS
1440p
low103 FPS70 FPS
medium87 FPS61 FPS
high76 FPS41 FPS
ultra67 FPS25 FPS
4K
low55 FPS27 FPS
medium49 FPS25 FPS
high41 FPS16 FPS
ultra37 FPS14 FPS
Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

PresetGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
1080p
low216 FPS119 FPS
medium181 FPS93 FPS
high148 FPS72 FPS
ultra113 FPS54 FPS
1440p
low134 FPS86 FPS
medium107 FPS65 FPS
high87 FPS53 FPS
ultra68 FPS41 FPS
4K
low62 FPS52 FPS
medium51 FPS39 FPS
high49 FPS31 FPS
ultra41 FPS23 FPS
League of Legends

League of Legends

PresetGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
1080p
low453 FPS248 FPS
medium362 FPS198 FPS
high302 FPS165 FPS
ultra226 FPS124 FPS
1440p
low340 FPS186 FPS
medium272 FPS148 FPS
high226 FPS124 FPS
ultra170 FPS93 FPS
4K
low226 FPS124 FPS
medium181 FPS99 FPS
high151 FPS81 FPS
ultra113 FPS59 FPS
Valorant

Valorant

PresetGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
1080p
low358 FPS153 FPS
medium302 FPS119 FPS
high260 FPS96 FPS
ultra226 FPS77 FPS
1440p
low299 FPS112 FPS
medium254 FPS88 FPS
high208 FPS70 FPS
ultra170 FPS56 FPS
4K
low170 FPS69 FPS
medium133 FPS52 FPS
high123 FPS42 FPS
ultra102 FPS31 FPS

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)

NVIDIA

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.

Intel

Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)

The Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) is manufactured by Intel. It was released in December 14 2023. It features the Xe LPG architecture. The core clock ranges from 300 MHz to 1950 MHz. It has 4 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,500 points.

⚑

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)'s 5,500 β€” the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 83%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) uses Xe LPG, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 4 (Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1950 MHz.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
G3D Mark Score
10,064+83%
5,500
Architecture
Pascal
Xe LPG
Process Node
16 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
2560+63900%
4
Boost Clock
1733 MHz
1950 MHz+13%
L1 Cache
960 KB+25%
768 KB
✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 1060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
Upscaling support
Frame Generation
Not Supported
Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction
No
No
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
Standard
πŸ’Ύ

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) has 4 GB. The GeForce GTX 1060 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs System.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
VRAM Capacity
6 GB+50%
4 GB
Memory Type
GDDR5
Shared
Memory Bandwidth
192 GB/s
System
Bus Width
192-bit
System
πŸ–₯️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12_2 (Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
DirectX
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 QuickSync (Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs QuickSync. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs MPEG2,AVC,VP9,HEVC,AV1 (Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
Encoder
NVENC (Pascal)
QuickSync
Decoder
NVDEC (Pascal)
QuickSync
Codecs
H.264,H.265/HEVC
MPEG2,AVC,VP9,HEVC,AV1
πŸ”Œ

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)'s 15W β€” a 169.2% difference. The Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 350W (Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 173mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
TDP
180W
15W-92%
Recommended PSU
400W
350W-13%
Power Connector
6-pin
PCIe-powered
Length
173mm
0mm
Height
111mm
β€”
Slots
2
0-100%
Perf/Watt
55.9
366.7+556%
πŸ’°

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) launched at $0. The Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) costs 100+% less ($249 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs Infinity (Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)) β€” the Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) offers Infinity% better value. The Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc) is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2016).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Graphics 4-Core iGPU (Arc)
MSRP
$249
$0-100%
Performance per Dollar
40.4
Infinity
Codename
GP104
Meteor Lake iGPU
Release
May 27 2016
December 14 2023
Ranking
#137
#495