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

✅+962.7% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $1,750 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 8431.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0.5 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Quadro CX: it remains the more sensible modern option while Quadro CX 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.
❌20% higher power demand at 180W vs 150W.

Quadro CX

2008

Why buy it

✅Draws 150W instead of 180W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (947 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2008-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌
702.8% HIGHER MSRP
$1,999 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.5 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Quadro CX

2008

Why buy it

✅+962.7% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $1,750 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 8431.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0.5 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).
✅Less risky long-term buy than Quadro CX: it remains the more sensible modern option while Quadro CX is already obsolete for modern gaming.

Why buy it

✅Draws 150W instead of 180W, a 30W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌20% higher power demand at 180W vs 150W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (947 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2008-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌
702.8% HIGHER MSRP
$1,999 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.5 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1060 better than Quadro CX?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 10,064 vs 947 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce GTX 1060 is a 2016 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while Quadro CX is a 2008 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 2008, 962.7% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 6 GB instead of 4 GB, and a 16nm process instead of 55nm. 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 $1,750 cheaper on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $1,999 MSRP, and you are getting 962.7% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 8431.7%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is Quadro CX still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. Quadro CX 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 $1,999 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 CX Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro CX
1080p
low	117 FPS	13 FPS
medium	105 FPS	9 FPS
high	91 FPS	6 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	3 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	9 FPS
medium	87 FPS	5 FPS
high	76 FPS	2 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	1 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	4 FPS
medium	49 FPS	2 FPS
high	41 FPS	1 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	1 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro CX

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro CX
1080p
low	216 FPS	30 FPS
medium	181 FPS	14 FPS
high	148 FPS	10 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	7 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	16 FPS
medium	107 FPS	7 FPS
high	87 FPS	5 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	4 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	5 FPS
medium	51 FPS	3 FPS
high	49 FPS	2 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	2 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro CX

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro CX
1080p
low	453 FPS	43 FPS
medium	362 FPS	34 FPS
high	302 FPS	28 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	21 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	32 FPS
medium	272 FPS	26 FPS
high	226 FPS	21 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	16 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	21 FPS
medium	181 FPS	17 FPS
high	151 FPS	14 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	11 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro CX

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro CX
1080p
low	358 FPS	43 FPS
medium	302 FPS	34 FPS
high	260 FPS	28 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	21 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	8 FPS
medium	254 FPS	6 FPS
high	208 FPS	5 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	4 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	5 FPS
medium	133 FPS	4 FPS
high	123 FPS	3 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	3 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro CX

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 CX

The Quadro CX is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 11 2008. It features the Tesla 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 602 MHz. It has 192 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 55 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 947 points. Launch price was $1,999.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Quadro CX's 947 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 962.7%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Quadro CX uses Tesla 2.0, both on 16 nm vs 55 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 192 (Quadro CX). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 0.4623 TFLOPS (Quadro CX).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro CX
G3D Mark Score	10,064+963%	947
Architecture	Pascal	Tesla 2.0
Process Node	16 nm	55 nm
Shading Units	2560+1233%	192
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS+1819%	0.4623 TFLOPS
ROPs	64+167%	24
TMUs	160+150%	64
L2 Cache	2 MB+953%	0.19 MB

✨

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

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro CX
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 CX has 4 GB. The GeForce GTX 1060 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 64-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 0.19 MB (Quadro CX) — the GeForce GTX 1060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro CX
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+50%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	192-bit+200%	64-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB+953%	0.19 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 11.1 (10_0) (Quadro CX). Vulkan: 1.3 vs N/A. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 3.3. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro CX
DirectX	12+8%	11.1 (10_0)
Vulkan	1.3	N/A
OpenGL	4.5+36%	3.3
Max Displays	4+100%	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs None (Quadro CX). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs PureVideo HD. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (Quadro CX).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro CX
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	None
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	PureVideo HD
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Quadro CX's 150W — a 18.2% difference. The Quadro CX is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 350W (Quadro CX). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 173mm vs 267mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro CX
TDP	180W	150W-17%
Recommended PSU	400W	350W-13%
Power Connector	6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	173mm	267mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	80
Perf/Watt	55.9+787%	6.3

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the Quadro CX launched at $1999. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 87.5% less ($1750 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 0.5 (Quadro CX) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 7980% better value. The GeForce GTX 1060 is the newer GPU (2016 vs 2008).