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

✅4.5% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $951 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,200 MSRP).
✅Delivers 367.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 8.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,200 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌80% higher power demand at 180W vs 100W.
❌64.8% longer card at 173mm vs 105mm.

Quadro P4200

2018

Why buy it

✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 1060: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 1060 is already legacy-tier future-proofing.
✅Draws 100W instead of 180W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 105mm instead of 173mm, a 68mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 8 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
381.9% HIGHER MSRP
$1,200 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 8.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,200 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Quadro P4200

2018

Why buy it

✅4.5% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $951 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,200 MSRP).
✅Delivers 367.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 8.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,200 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 1060: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 1060 is already legacy-tier future-proofing.
✅Draws 100W instead of 180W, a 80W reduction.
✅Measures 105mm instead of 173mm, a 68mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌80% higher power demand at 180W vs 100W.
❌64.8% longer card at 173mm vs 105mm.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 8 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
381.9% HIGHER MSRP
$1,200 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 8.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,200 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Quadro P4200 better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. GeForce GTX 1060 averages 4.5% more FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 10,064 vs 10,376 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer Quadro P4200 is the overall package: you are getting a newer generation, no meaningful modern upscaling stack, plus much lower power draw (100W vs 180W).

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Quadro P4200 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2018 generation instead of 2016 and more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

Quadro P4200 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. Quadro P4200 is about 381.9% more expensive on MSRP at $1,200 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting lower estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 3.1% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 1060 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is GeForce GTX 1060 still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 1060 is 2016 hardware with 6 GB of VRAM, 10,064 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

Quadro P4200 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro P4200
1080p
low	117 FPS	127 FPS
medium	105 FPS	108 FPS
high	91 FPS	93 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	64 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	103 FPS
medium	87 FPS	85 FPS
high	76 FPS	67 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	47 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	44 FPS
medium	49 FPS	38 FPS
high	41 FPS	28 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	24 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro P4200

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro P4200
1080p
low	216 FPS	230 FPS
medium	181 FPS	196 FPS
high	148 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	121 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	165 FPS
medium	107 FPS	139 FPS
high	87 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	89 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	97 FPS
medium	51 FPS	80 FPS
high	49 FPS	67 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	51 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro P4200

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro P4200
1080p
low	453 FPS	467 FPS
medium	362 FPS	374 FPS
high	302 FPS	311 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	233 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	350 FPS
medium	272 FPS	280 FPS
high	226 FPS	233 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	175 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	233 FPS
medium	181 FPS	187 FPS
high	151 FPS	156 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	117 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro P4200

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro P4200
1080p
low	358 FPS	257 FPS
medium	302 FPS	226 FPS
high	260 FPS	182 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	152 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	193 FPS
medium	254 FPS	169 FPS
high	208 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	108 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	105 FPS
medium	133 FPS	87 FPS
high	123 FPS	69 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	55 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro P4200

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and Quadro P4200

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 P4200

The Quadro P4200 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in February 21 2018. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1227 MHz to 1647 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 10,376 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 and the Quadro P4200 reaches 10,376 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Quadro P4200 uses Pascal, both on a 16 nm process. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 2,304 (Quadro P4200). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 7.589 TFLOPS (Quadro P4200). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1647 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro P4200
G3D Mark Score	10,064	10,376+3%
Architecture	Pascal	Pascal
Process Node	16 nm	16 nm
Shading Units	2560+11%	2304
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS+17%	7.589 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+5%	1647 MHz
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	160+11%	144
L1 Cache	960 KB+11%	864 KB
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 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 P4200 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro P4200
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 P4200 has 8 GB. The Quadro P4200 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro P4200
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12 (Quadro P4200). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro P4200
DirectX	12	12
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs NVENC 6th Gen (Quadro P4200). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs NVDEC 3rd Gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.265,H.264,VP9 (Quadro P4200).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro P4200
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	NVENC 6th Gen
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	NVDEC 3rd Gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.265,H.264,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Quadro P4200's 100W — a 57.1% difference. The Quadro P4200 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 500W (Quadro P4200). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 173mm vs 105mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro P4200
TDP	180W	100W-44%
Recommended PSU	400W-20%	500W
Power Connector	6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	173mm	105mm
Height	111mm	82mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	—	80
Perf/Watt	55.9	103.8+86%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the Quadro P4200 launched at $1200. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 79.3% less ($951 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 8.6 (Quadro P4200) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 369.8% better value. The Quadro P4200 is the newer GPU (2018 vs 2016).