GeForce GTX 1060 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7

CPU

GPU

GeForce GTX 1060

2016Core: 1607 MHzBoost: 1733 MHz

Popular choices:

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Iris Xe Graphics G7

2020

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce GTX 1060

6 GB 180

10,064

+204.0%

GeForce GTX 680

GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE

GeForce RTX 2050 Mobile

GeForce GTX TITAN Z

GeForce GTX 980 Ti

GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile

Iris Xe Graphics G7

Shared System RAM 30

3,311

0.0%

Arc A530M

Arc A580

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

✅+204% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 144.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 16.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs Unknown).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Iris Xe Graphics G7: it remains the more sensible modern option while Iris Xe Graphics G7 is already obsolete for modern gaming.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌500% higher power demand at 180W vs 30W.

Iris Xe Graphics G7

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 180W, a 150W reduction.
✅More future proof: Gen. 11 Ice Lake (2019−2022) on 10nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,311 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2020-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 16.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Iris Xe Graphics G7

2020

Why buy it

✅+204% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 144.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 16.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
✅100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs Unknown).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Iris Xe Graphics G7: it remains the more sensible modern option while Iris Xe Graphics G7 is already obsolete for modern gaming.

Why buy it

✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 180W, a 150W reduction.
✅More future proof: Gen. 11 Ice Lake (2019−2022) on 10nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌500% higher power demand at 180W vs 30W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,311 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2020-era hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 16.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1060 better than Iris Xe Graphics G7?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 10,064 vs 3,311 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce GTX 1060 is a 2016 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while Iris Xe Graphics G7 is a 2020 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 GTX 1060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting 204.0% more raw performance headroom and more VRAM at 6 GB instead of Unknown. 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 GTX 1060 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce GTX 1060 is about 24.5% more expensive on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $200 MSRP, and you are getting 204.0% higher G3D Mark. Iris Xe Graphics G7 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

When does Iris Xe Graphics G7 make more sense than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. Iris Xe Graphics G7 is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still fine for 1080p, but 1440p and especially 4K require more compromise. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (30W vs 180W), and staying closer to $200 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 1060. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 1060 currently gives you 204.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 144.1%.

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

Iris Xe Graphics G7 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Iris Xe Graphics G7
1080p
low	117 FPS	80 FPS
medium	105 FPS	70 FPS
high	91 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	32 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	66 FPS
medium	87 FPS	58 FPS
high	76 FPS	37 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	23 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	24 FPS
medium	49 FPS	23 FPS
high	41 FPS	14 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	12 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Iris Xe Graphics G7

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Iris Xe Graphics G7
1080p
low	216 FPS	122 FPS
medium	181 FPS	85 FPS
high	148 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	39 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	80 FPS
medium	107 FPS	48 FPS
high	87 FPS	35 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	26 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	38 FPS
medium	51 FPS	25 FPS
high	49 FPS	20 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	14 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Iris Xe Graphics G7

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Iris Xe Graphics G7
1080p
low	453 FPS	149 FPS
medium	362 FPS	119 FPS
high	302 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	74 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	112 FPS
medium	272 FPS	89 FPS
high	226 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	56 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	74 FPS
medium	181 FPS	60 FPS
high	151 FPS	50 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	37 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Iris Xe Graphics G7

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Iris Xe Graphics G7
1080p
low	358 FPS	139 FPS
medium	302 FPS	109 FPS
high	260 FPS	88 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	71 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	104 FPS
medium	254 FPS	82 FPS
high	208 FPS	64 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	52 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	63 FPS
medium	133 FPS	49 FPS
high	123 FPS	40 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	30 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Iris Xe Graphics G7

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and Iris Xe Graphics G7

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.

Iris Xe Graphics G7

The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is manufactured by Intel. It was released in August 15 2020. It features the Gen. 11 Ice Lake architecture. It has 96 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 10 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,311 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Iris Xe Graphics G7's 3,311 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 204%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 uses Gen. 11 Ice Lake, both on 16 nm vs 10 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 96 (Iris Xe Graphics G7).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Iris Xe Graphics G7
G3D Mark Score	10,064+204%	3,311
Architecture	Pascal	Gen. 11 Ice Lake
Process Node	16 nm	10 nm
Shading Units	2560+2567%	96

✨

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 Iris Xe Graphics G7 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Iris Xe Graphics G7
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 has 0 MB. The GeForce GTX 1060 offers 100+% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs System.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Iris Xe Graphics G7
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	Shared System RAM
Memory Type	GDDR5	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	System
Bus Width	192-bit	System

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12.1 (Iris Xe Graphics G7). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Iris Xe Graphics G7
DirectX	12	12.1
Vulkan	1.3+8%	1.2
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs QuickSync (Iris Xe Graphics G7). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs QuickSync. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1 (Iris Xe Graphics G7).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Iris Xe Graphics G7
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	QuickSync
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	QuickSync
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Iris Xe Graphics G7's 30W — a 142.9% difference. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 1W (Iris Xe Graphics G7). Power connectors: 6-pin vs Integrated.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Iris Xe Graphics G7
TDP	180W	30W-83%
Recommended PSU	400W	1W-100%
Power Connector	6-pin	Integrated
Length	173mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Temp (Load)	—	85°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	110.4+97%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 launched at $200. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 costs 19.7% less ($49 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 16.6 (Iris Xe Graphics G7) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 143.4% better value. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2016).