GeForce GTX 1060 vs Quadro M520

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 Quadro M520 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce GTX 1060 vs Quadro M520: 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

✅456.2% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 322.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 9.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $200 MSRP).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Quadro M520 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.
❌620% higher power demand at 180W vs 25W.

Quadro M520

2017

Why buy it

✅Costs $49 less on MSRP ($200 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 25W instead of 180W, a 155W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2017 hardware with 2 GB 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 9.6 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. In our data, it leads by 456.2% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 426.1% in PassMark G3D (10,064 vs 1,913), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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 2 GB of VRAM and a 16nm process instead of 28nm. 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 322.6% (40.4 vs 9.6), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 1060 vs Quadro M520 Technical Specifications

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

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 M520

The Quadro M520 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2017. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1041 MHz to 1019 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 1,913 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Quadro M520's 1,913 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 426.1%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Quadro M520 uses Maxwell, both on 16 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 384 (Quadro M520). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 0.7995 TFLOPS (Quadro M520). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1019 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro M520
G3D Mark Score	10,064+426%	1,913
Architecture	Pascal	Maxwell
Process Node	16 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2560+567%	384
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS+1010%	0.7995 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+70%	1019 MHz
ROPs	64+700%	8
TMUs	160+900%	16
L1 Cache	960 KB+650%	128 KB
L2 Cache	2 MB+100%	1 MB

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 1060 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Quadro M520 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro M520
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Quadro M520 carries 2 GB. GeForce GTX 1060 gives you 200% 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 64-bit on the Quadro M520. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 1 MB (Quadro M520) — the GeForce GTX 1060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro M520
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+200%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	192-bit+200%	64-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB+100%	1 MB

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Quadro M520's 25W — a 151.2% difference. The Quadro M520 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 350W (Quadro M520). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro M520
TDP	180W	25W-86%
Recommended PSU	400W	350W-13%
Power Connector	6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	173mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Perf/Watt	55.9	76.5+37%

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Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 1060 came in at $249, while the Quadro M520 launched at $200. On MSRP, Quadro M520 was 19.7% cheaper ($49 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 9.6 (Quadro M520) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 320.8% better value. The newer card here is Quadro M520 (2017 vs 2016).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro M520
MSRP	$249	$200-20%
Performance per Dollar	40.4+321%	9.6
Codename	GP104	GM108
Release	May 27 2016	January 11 2017
Ranking	#137	#695

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