GeForce GTX 1060 vs Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 1060

2016Core: 1607 MHzBoost: 1733 MHz
GTX family
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VS

Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU

2018
Similar parts
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GeForce GTX 1060 vs Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

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 Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU: 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

  • +1032.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • 100+% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs Unknown).
  • Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU 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.
  • 2471.4% higher power demand at 180W vs 7W.
  • 17200% longer card at 173mm vs 1mm.

Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU

2018

Why buy it

  • Draws 7W instead of 180W, a 173W reduction.
  • Measures 1mm instead of 173mm, a 172mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.
  • More future proof: Unknown architecture on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • Lower PassMark G3D performance (889 vs 10,064).
  • Less VRAM, with Unknown vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • 2018 hardware with Unknown 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 0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce GTX 1060 is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 1032.1% in PassMark G3D (10,064 vs 889), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.
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 Unknown of VRAM. 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 today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce GTX 1060 vs Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

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.

Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU

The Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU is manufactured by Qualcomm. It was released in December 6 2018. The thermal design power (TDP) is 7W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 889 points.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU's 889 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 1032.1%.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU
G3D Mark Score
10,064+1032%
889
Process Node
16 nm
7 nm

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 1060 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU
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 has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU carries 0 MB. GeForce GTX 1060 gives you 100+% 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 System on the Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU
VRAM Capacity
6 GB
Shared System RAM
Memory Type
GDDR5
Shared
Memory Bandwidth
192 GB/s
Unknown
Bus Width
192-bit
System
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12_0 (Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 3.2. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 0.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU
DirectX
12
12_0
Vulkan
1.3
1.3
OpenGL
4.5+41%
3.2
Max Displays
4
0
🎬

Media & Encoding

Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU
Encoder
NVENC (Pascal)
Decoder
NVDEC (Pascal)
Codecs
H.264,H.265/HEVC
H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU's 7W — a 185% difference. The Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 1W (Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU). Power connectors: 6-pin vs Integrated. Card length: 173mm vs 1mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU
TDP
180W
7W-96%
Recommended PSU
400W
1W-100%
Power Connector
6-pin
Integrated
Length
173mm
1mm
Height
111mm
Slots
2
0-100%
Perf/Watt
55.9
127.0+127%
💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 1060 came in at $249, while the Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU launched at $0. On MSRP, Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU was 100+% cheaper ($249 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs Infinity (Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU) — the Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU offers Infinity% better value. The newer card here is Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU (2018 vs 2016).

FeatureGeForce GTX 1060Qualcomm Adreno 685 GPU
MSRP
$249
$0-100%
Performance per Dollar
40.4
Infinity
Codename
GP104
Release
May 27 2016
December 6 2018
Ranking
#137
#916

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