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

✅Costs $650 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $899 MSRP).
✅Delivers 143.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 16.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $899 MSRP).
✅Measures 173mm instead of 241mm, a 68mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Quadro RTX 4000 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.

Quadro RTX 4000

2018

Why buy it

✅17.2% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Turing (2018−2022) on 12nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
261% HIGHER MSRP
$899 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 16.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($899 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌39.3% longer card at 241mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Quadro RTX 4000

2018

Why buy it

✅Costs $650 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $899 MSRP).
✅Delivers 143.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 16.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $899 MSRP).
✅Measures 173mm instead of 241mm, a 68mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅17.2% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Turing (2018−2022) on 12nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Quadro RTX 4000 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.

Trade-offs

❌
261% HIGHER MSRP
$899 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 16.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($899 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌39.3% longer card at 241mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is Quadro RTX 4000 better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. Quadro RTX 4000 is clearly the better overall GPU here. Quadro RTX 4000 averages 17.2% more FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 14,925 vs 10,064 in G3D Mark. On top of that, Quadro RTX 4000 is a 2018 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce GTX 1060 is a 2016 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?

Quadro RTX 4000 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2018 generation instead of 2016, 48.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. 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?

Quadro RTX 4000 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. Quadro RTX 4000 is about 261.0% more expensive on MSRP at $899 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 17.2% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 48.3% 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 RTX 4000 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro RTX 4000
1080p
low	117 FPS	129 FPS
medium	105 FPS	111 FPS
high	91 FPS	92 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	63 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	105 FPS
medium	87 FPS	87 FPS
high	76 FPS	67 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	46 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	46 FPS
medium	49 FPS	40 FPS
high	41 FPS	28 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	24 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro RTX 4000

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro RTX 4000
1080p
low	216 FPS	270 FPS
medium	181 FPS	225 FPS
high	148 FPS	185 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	156 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	203 FPS
medium	107 FPS	168 FPS
high	87 FPS	136 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	109 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	117 FPS
medium	51 FPS	100 FPS
high	49 FPS	80 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	58 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro RTX 4000

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro RTX 4000
1080p
low	453 FPS	672 FPS
medium	362 FPS	537 FPS
high	302 FPS	448 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	336 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	504 FPS
medium	272 FPS	403 FPS
high	226 FPS	336 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	252 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	336 FPS
medium	181 FPS	269 FPS
high	151 FPS	224 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	168 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro RTX 4000

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro RTX 4000
1080p
low	358 FPS	248 FPS
medium	302 FPS	215 FPS
high	260 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	145 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	190 FPS
medium	254 FPS	168 FPS
high	208 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	108 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	113 FPS
medium	133 FPS	95 FPS
high	123 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	58 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Quadro RTX 4000

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and Quadro RTX 4000

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 RTX 4000

The Quadro RTX 4000 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 13 2018. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1005 MHz to 1545 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 36 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 14,925 points. Launch price was $899.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Quadro RTX 4000's 14,925 — the Quadro RTX 4000 leads by 48.3%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Quadro RTX 4000 uses Turing, both on 16 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 2,304 (Quadro RTX 4000). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 7.119 TFLOPS (Quadro RTX 4000). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1545 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro RTX 4000
G3D Mark Score	10,064	14,925+48%
Architecture	Pascal	Turing
Process Node	16 nm	12 nm
Shading Units	2560+11%	2304
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS+25%	7.119 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+12%	1545 MHz
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	160+11%	144
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	2.3 MB+145%
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Quadro RTX 4000 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce GTX 1060 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The Quadro RTX 4000 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro RTX 4000
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Quadro RTX 4000 has 8 GB. The Quadro RTX 4000 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 448 GB/s (Quadro RTX 4000) — a 133.3% advantage for the Quadro RTX 4000. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 4 MB (Quadro RTX 4000) — the Quadro RTX 4000 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro RTX 4000
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	448 GB/s+133%
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12.2 (Quadro RTX 4000). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro RTX 4000
DirectX	12	12.2+2%
Vulkan	1.3+18%	1.1
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs NVENC 7.0 (Quadro RTX 4000). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs PureVideo HD VP10. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Quadro RTX 4000).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro RTX 4000
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	NVENC 7.0
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	PureVideo HD VP10
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Quadro RTX 4000's 160W — a 11.8% difference. The Quadro RTX 4000 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 500W (Quadro RTX 4000). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 173mm vs 241mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Quadro RTX 4000
TDP	180W	160W-11%
Recommended PSU	400W-20%	500W
Power Connector	6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	173mm	241mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	80°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	93.3+67%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the Quadro RTX 4000 launched at $899. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 72.3% less ($650 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 16.6 (Quadro RTX 4000) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 143.4% better value. The Quadro RTX 4000 is the newer GPU (2018 vs 2016).