GeForce GTX 1060 vs Quadro

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

✅317.9% more average FPS across 42 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $751 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 708.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 5.0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,000 MSRP).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Quadro: it remains the more sensible modern option while Quadro is already legacy-tier future-proofing.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌140% higher power demand at 180W vs 75W.

Quadro

1999

Why buy it

✅Draws 75W instead of 180W, a 105W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 42 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 1999-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
301.6% HIGHER MSRP
$1,000 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 5.0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,000 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Quadro

1999

Why buy it

✅317.9% more average FPS across 42 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $751 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,000 MSRP).
✅Delivers 708.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 5.0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,000 MSRP).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Quadro: it remains the more sensible modern option while Quadro is already legacy-tier future-proofing.

Why buy it

✅Draws 75W instead of 180W, a 105W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌140% higher power demand at 180W vs 75W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 42 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 1999-era hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
301.6% HIGHER MSRP
$1,000 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 5.0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,000 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1060 better than Quadro?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce GTX 1060 averages 317.9% more FPS across 42 tracked games in our benchmark data. 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 Quadro is a 1999 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 1999, 101.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 6 GB instead of 2 GB, and a 16nm process instead of 220nm. 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 today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce GTX 1060 is about $751 cheaper on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $1,000 MSRP, and you are getting 317.9% more estimated average FPS across 42 tracked games in our benchmark data and 101.3% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 708.4%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is Quadro still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. Quadro is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $1,000 MSRP, even if GeForce GTX 1060 is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

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

Quadro Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro
1080p
low	117 FPS	19 FPS
medium	105 FPS	12 FPS
high	91 FPS	7 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	4 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	13 FPS
medium	87 FPS	7 FPS
high	76 FPS	3 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	2 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	5 FPS
medium	49 FPS	3 FPS
high	41 FPS	2 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	1 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro
1080p
low	216 FPS	29 FPS
medium	181 FPS	13 FPS
high	148 FPS	9 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	6 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	9 FPS
medium	107 FPS	4 FPS
high	87 FPS	3 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	2 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	3 FPS
medium	51 FPS	1 FPS
high	49 FPS	1 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	1 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro
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	105 FPS
medium	181 FPS	90 FPS
high	151 FPS	69 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	50 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro
1080p
low	358 FPS	138 FPS
medium	302 FPS	109 FPS
high	260 FPS	76 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	48 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	81 FPS
medium	254 FPS	60 FPS
high	208 FPS	46 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	30 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	43 FPS
medium	133 FPS	30 FPS
high	123 FPS	23 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	15 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and Quadro

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.

Quadro

The Quadro is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in 1999. It features the Celsius architecture. The core clock speed is 135 MHz. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 220 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,000 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Quadro's 5,000 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 101.3%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Quadro uses Celsius, both on 16 nm vs 220 nm.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro
G3D Mark Score	10,064+101%	5,000
Architecture	Pascal	Celsius
Process Node	16 nm	220 nm
ROPs	64+1500%	4
TMUs	160+3900%	4

✨

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

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro
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 Quadro has 2 GB. The GeForce GTX 1060 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 64-bit.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+200%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	192-bit+200%	64-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 1.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro
Max Displays	4+300%	1

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs None (Quadro). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs MPEG-2 Acceleration. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs MPEG-2 (Quadro).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	None
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	MPEG-2 Acceleration
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	MPEG-2

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Quadro's 75W — a 82.4% difference. The Quadro is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 350W (Quadro). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro
TDP	180W	75W-58%
Recommended PSU	400W	350W-13%
Power Connector	6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	173mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	1-50%
Perf/Watt	55.9	66.7+19%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the Quadro launched at $1000. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 75.1% less ($751 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 5.0 (Quadro) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 708% better value. The GeForce GTX 1060 is the newer GPU (2016 vs 1999).