GeForce GTX 1060 vs Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

CPU

GPU

GeForce GTX 1060

2016Core: 1607 MHzBoost: 1733 MHz

Popular choices:

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Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

2015Core: 954 MHzBoost: 993 MHz

Popular choices:

•••••••••

Performance Spectrum - GPU

GeForce GTX 1060

6 GB 180

10,064

+187.5%

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

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

2 GB 30

3,500

0.0%

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

Radeon RX 6850M

Radeon RX 5700 XT 50th Anniversary

GeForce RTX 5060

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

✅+187.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 73.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 23.3 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5): it remains the more sensible modern option while Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) 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.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $99 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 180W, a 150W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,500 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 23.3 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

2015

Why buy it

✅+187.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 73.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 23.3 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5): it remains the more sensible modern option while Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is already obsolete for modern gaming.

Why buy it

✅Costs $99 less on MSRP ($150 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 30W instead of 180W, a 150W reduction.

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 (3,500 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 23.3 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1060 better than Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 10,064 vs 3,500 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce GTX 1060 is a 2016 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is a 2015 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 a newer 2016 generation instead of 2015, 187.5% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 6 GB instead of 2 GB, and a 16nm process instead of 28nm. 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 66.0% more expensive on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $150 MSRP, and you are getting 187.5% higher G3D Mark. Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is 2015 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM, 3,500 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

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

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
1080p
low	117 FPS	77 FPS
medium	105 FPS	65 FPS
high	91 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	28 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	61 FPS
medium	87 FPS	51 FPS
high	76 FPS	31 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	19 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	22 FPS
medium	49 FPS	21 FPS
high	41 FPS	13 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	11 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
1080p
low	216 FPS	97 FPS
medium	181 FPS	68 FPS
high	148 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	31 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	53 FPS
medium	107 FPS	31 FPS
high	87 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	15 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	18 FPS
medium	51 FPS	11 FPS
high	49 FPS	9 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	7 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
1080p
low	453 FPS	158 FPS
medium	362 FPS	126 FPS
high	302 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	79 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	118 FPS
medium	272 FPS	94 FPS
high	226 FPS	79 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	59 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	79 FPS
medium	181 FPS	63 FPS
high	151 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	39 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
1080p
low	358 FPS	157 FPS
medium	302 FPS	126 FPS
high	260 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	79 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	110 FPS
medium	254 FPS	88 FPS
high	208 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	59 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	64 FPS
medium	133 FPS	50 FPS
high	123 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	30 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

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.

Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)

The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is manufactured by an unknown manufacturer. It was released in October 1 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 954 MHz to 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,500 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)'s 3,500 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 187.5%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) uses Maxwell, both on 16 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 384 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 993 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
G3D Mark Score	10,064+188%	3,500
Architecture	Pascal	Maxwell
Process Node	16 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2560+567%	384
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+75%	993 MHz

✨

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 Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
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 Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) has 2 GB. The GeForce GTX 1060 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+200%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	Unknown
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12 (11_0) (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.5. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
DirectX	12	12 (11_0)
Vulkan	1.3+18%	1.1
OpenGL	4.5	4.5
Max Displays	4+100%	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs NVDEC 1st Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	—
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	NVDEC 1st Gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)'s 30W — a 142.9% difference. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 350W (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
TDP	180W	30W-83%
Recommended PSU	400W	350W-13%
Power Connector	6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	173mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	—	75
Perf/Watt	55.9	116.7+109%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) launched at $150. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) costs 39.8% less ($99 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 23.3 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 73.4% better value. The GeForce GTX 1060 is the newer GPU (2016 vs 2015).