GeForce GTX 1060 vs Radeon R5 M230

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 Radeon R5 M230 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 Radeon R5 M230: 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

✅1015.9% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 660.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 5.3 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $80 MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).
✅Radeon R5 M230 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.
❌140% higher power demand at 180W vs 75W.

Radeon R5 M230

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $169 less on MSRP ($80 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 75W instead of 180W, a 105W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2015 hardware with 4 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 5.3 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($80 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 1015.9% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 2268% in PassMark G3D (10,064 vs 425), 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 4 GB of VRAM, a 16nm process instead of 28nm, and a newer 2016 generation instead of 2015. 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 $169 more expensive on MSRP at $249 vs $80, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 660.8% (40.4 vs 5.3), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 1060 vs Radeon R5 M230 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.

Radeon R5 M230

The Radeon R5 M230 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in June 9 2015. It features the GCN architecture. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 425 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Radeon R5 M230's 425 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 2268%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Radeon R5 M230 uses GCN, both on 16 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 1,024 (Radeon R5 M230).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon R5 M230
G3D Mark Score	10,064+2268%	425
Architecture	Pascal	GCN
Process Node	16 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	2560+150%	1024

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 1060 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon R5 M230 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon R5 M230
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 has 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon R5 M230 carries 4 GB. GeForce GTX 1060 gives you 50% 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 128-bit on the Radeon R5 M230.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon R5 M230
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+50%	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	Unknown
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Radeon R5 M230's 75W — a 82.4% difference. The Radeon R5 M230 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 350W (Radeon R5 M230). Power connectors: 6-pin vs Mobile.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon R5 M230
TDP	180W	75W-58%
Recommended PSU	400W	350W-13%
Power Connector	6-pin	Mobile
Length	173mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Perf/Watt	55.9+881%	5.7

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Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 1060 came in at $249, while the Radeon R5 M230 launched at $80. On MSRP, Radeon R5 M230 was 67.9% cheaper ($169 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 5.3 (Radeon R5 M230) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 662.3% better value. The newer card here is GeForce GTX 1060 (2016 vs 2015).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon R5 M230
MSRP	$249	$80-68%
Performance per Dollar	40.4+662%	5.3
Codename	GP104	Pitcairn
Release	May 27 2016	June 9 2015
Ranking	#137	#522

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