GeForce GTX 1060 vs M1 8-Core GPU

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

✅+101.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).

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.

M1 8-Core GPU

2020

Why buy it

✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 30W instead of 180W, a 150W reduction.
✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (5,000 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 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).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

M1 8-Core GPU

2020

Why buy it

✅+101.3% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).

Why buy it

✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 30W instead of 180W, a 150W reduction.
✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on 5nm 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 (5,000 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 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 M1 8-Core GPU?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 10,064 vs 5,000 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce GTX 1060 is a 2016 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while M1 8-Core GPU 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?

M1 8-Core GPU is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2020 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 101.3% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. M1 8-Core GPU is the newer 2020 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture, lower power draw (30W vs 180W), and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does M1 8-Core GPU make more sense than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. M1 8-Core GPU 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 (30W 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 101.3% 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.

GeForce GTX 1060 Benchmark Check

M1 8-Core GPU Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	M1 8-Core GPU
1080p
low	117 FPS	91 FPS
medium	105 FPS	81 FPS
high	91 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	44 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	74 FPS
medium	87 FPS	63 FPS
high	76 FPS	42 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	33 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	35 FPS
medium	49 FPS	33 FPS
high	41 FPS	20 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	18 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open M1 8-Core GPU

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	M1 8-Core GPU
1080p
low	216 FPS	123 FPS
medium	181 FPS	92 FPS
high	148 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	43 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	83 FPS
medium	107 FPS	56 FPS
high	87 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	29 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	37 FPS
medium	51 FPS	27 FPS
high	49 FPS	21 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	15 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open M1 8-Core GPU

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	M1 8-Core GPU
1080p
low	453 FPS	225 FPS
medium	362 FPS	180 FPS
high	302 FPS	150 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	112 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	169 FPS
medium	272 FPS	135 FPS
high	226 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	84 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	112 FPS
medium	181 FPS	90 FPS
high	151 FPS	75 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	56 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open M1 8-Core GPU

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	M1 8-Core GPU
1080p
low	358 FPS	184 FPS
medium	302 FPS	139 FPS
high	260 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	102 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	147 FPS
medium	254 FPS	109 FPS
high	208 FPS	89 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	72 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	78 FPS
medium	133 FPS	58 FPS
high	123 FPS	51 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	40 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open M1 8-Core GPU

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and M1 8-Core GPU

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.

M1 8-Core GPU

The M1 8-Core GPU is manufactured by Apple. It was released in November 10 2020. The core clock speed is 1278 MHz. It has 8 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,000 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the M1 8-Core GPU's 5,000 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 101.3%. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 8 (M1 8-Core GPU).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	M1 8-Core GPU
G3D Mark Score	10,064+101%	5,000
Process Node	16 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2560+31900%	8

✨

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 M1 8-Core GPU relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	M1 8-Core GPU
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 M1 8-Core GPU has 2 GB. The GeForce GTX 1060 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 68 GB/s (M1 8-Core GPU) — a 182.4% advantage for the GeForce GTX 1060. Bus width: 192-bit vs Unified.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	M1 8-Core GPU
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+200%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	Shared
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s+182%	68 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	Unified

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs N/A (M1 8-Core GPU). OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.1 (Rosetta 2). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	M1 8-Core GPU
DirectX	12	N/A
OpenGL	4.5+10%	4.1 (Rosetta 2)
Max Displays	4+100%	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs Apple M1 Video Encoder (M1 8-Core GPU). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs Apple M1 Video Decoder. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,HEVC,ProRes,ProRes RAW (M1 8-Core GPU).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	M1 8-Core GPU
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	Apple M1 Video Encoder
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	Apple M1 Video Decoder
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,HEVC,ProRes,ProRes RAW

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the M1 8-Core GPU's 30W — a 142.9% difference. The M1 8-Core GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 350W (M1 8-Core GPU). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	M1 8-Core GPU
TDP	180W	30W-83%
Recommended PSU	400W	350W-13%
Power Connector	6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	173mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Perf/Watt	55.9	166.7+198%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the M1 8-Core GPU launched at $0. The M1 8-Core GPU costs 100+% less ($249 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs Infinity (M1 8-Core GPU) — the M1 8-Core GPU offers Infinity% better value. The M1 8-Core GPU is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2016).