GeForce GTX 1060 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1060

2016Core: 1607 MHzBoost: 1733 MHz
GTX family
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VS
Intel

Iris Xe Graphics G7

2020
Similar parts
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GeForce GTX 1060 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7 Performance Spectrum

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.

GeForce GTX 1060 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7: 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

  • +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).
  • Iris Xe Graphics G7 is already obsolete for modern gaming, so GeForce GTX 1060 is the less risky modern option long term.

Trade-offs

  • 2016 hardware with 6 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory 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.
  • 2020 hardware with Unknown of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 16.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($200 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce GTX 1060 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 204% in PassMark G3D (10,064 vs 3,311), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce GTX 1060 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 6 GB vs Unknown of VRAM. 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 $49 more expensive on MSRP at $249 vs $200, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 144.1% (40.4 vs 16.6), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 1060 vs Iris Xe Graphics G7 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

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

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).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Iris 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 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Iris Xe Graphics G7 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Iris 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 has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 carries 0 MB. GeForce GTX 1060 gives you 100+% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce GTX 1060 and System on the Iris Xe Graphics G7.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Iris 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.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Iris 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).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Iris 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.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Iris 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

At launch, the GeForce GTX 1060 came in at $249, while the Iris Xe Graphics G7 launched at $200. On MSRP, Iris Xe Graphics G7 was 19.7% cheaper ($49 less). 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 newer card here is Iris Xe Graphics G7 (2020 vs 2016).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Iris Xe Graphics G7
MSRP
$249
$200-20%
Performance per Dollar
40.4+143%
16.6
Codename
GP104
Tiger Lake Xe
Release
May 27 2016
August 15 2020
Ranking
#137
#493

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