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 $350 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 82.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 22.2 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon RX 6800M across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌24.1% higher power demand at 180W vs 145W.

Radeon RX 6800M

2021

Why buy it

✅35.6% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: RDNA 2.0 (2020−2025) on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 145W instead of 180W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌
140.6% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 22.2 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Radeon RX 6800M

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $350 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 82.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 22.2 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅35.6% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: RDNA 2.0 (2020−2025) on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 145W instead of 180W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon RX 6800M across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌24.1% higher power demand at 180W vs 145W.

Trade-offs

❌
140.6% HIGHER MSRP
$599 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 22.2 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is Radeon RX 6800M better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. Radeon RX 6800M is clearly the better overall GPU here. Radeon RX 6800M averages 35.6% more FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 13,295 vs 10,064 in G3D Mark. On top of that, Radeon RX 6800M is a 2021 card with FSR 3 + AFMF, 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?

Radeon RX 6800M is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2021 generation instead of 2016, 32.1% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 6 GB, and better upscaling support with FSR 3 (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack and better frame-generation support with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (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?

Radeon RX 6800M is the smarter buy by a wide margin. Radeon RX 6800M is about 140.6% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 35.6% more estimated average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data and 32.1% 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

Radeon RX 6800M Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 6800M
1080p
low	117 FPS	175 FPS
medium	105 FPS	155 FPS
high	91 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	120 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	144 FPS
medium	87 FPS	117 FPS
high	76 FPS	107 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	97 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	87 FPS
medium	49 FPS	73 FPS
high	41 FPS	59 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	52 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon RX 6800M

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 6800M
1080p
low	216 FPS	421 FPS
medium	181 FPS	353 FPS
high	148 FPS	290 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	245 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	272 FPS
medium	107 FPS	227 FPS
high	87 FPS	192 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	161 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	127 FPS
medium	51 FPS	109 FPS
high	49 FPS	89 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	69 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon RX 6800M

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 6800M
1080p
low	453 FPS	598 FPS
medium	362 FPS	479 FPS
high	302 FPS	399 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	299 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	449 FPS
medium	272 FPS	359 FPS
high	226 FPS	299 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	224 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	299 FPS
medium	181 FPS	239 FPS
high	151 FPS	199 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	150 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon RX 6800M

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 6800M
1080p
low	358 FPS	598 FPS
medium	302 FPS	479 FPS
high	260 FPS	399 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	299 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	449 FPS
medium	254 FPS	359 FPS
high	208 FPS	299 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	224 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	299 FPS
medium	133 FPS	239 FPS
high	123 FPS	199 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	150 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon RX 6800M

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and Radeon RX 6800M

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 RX 6800M

The Radeon RX 6800M is manufactured by AMD. It was released in May 31 2021. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 2116 MHz to 2390 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 145W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. It features 40 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 13,295 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Radeon RX 6800M's 13,295 — the Radeon RX 6800M leads by 32.1%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Radeon RX 6800M uses RDNA 2.0, both on 16 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 2,560 (Radeon RX 6800M). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12.24 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 6800M). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 2390 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 6800M
G3D Mark Score	10,064	13,295+32%
Architecture	Pascal	RDNA 2.0
Process Node	16 nm	7 nm
Shading Units	2560	2560
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	12.24 TFLOPS+38%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz	2390 MHz+38%
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	160	160
L1 Cache	960 KB+88%	512 KB
L2 Cache	2 MB	3 MB+50%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 6800M is support for FSR Frame Generation + AFMF. 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 GeForce GTX 1060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 6800M relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 6800M
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR 3
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation + AFMF
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 6800M has 12 GB. The Radeon RX 6800M offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 384 GB/s (Radeon RX 6800M) — a 100% advantage for the Radeon RX 6800M. Bus width: 192-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 3 MB (Radeon RX 6800M) — the Radeon RX 6800M has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 6800M
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	12 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	384 GB/s+100%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	3 MB+50%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12 Ultimate (Radeon RX 6800M). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 6800M
DirectX	12	12 Ultimate
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 VCN 3.0 (Radeon RX 6800M). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs VCN 3.0. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Radeon RX 6800M).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 6800M
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	VCN 3.0
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	VCN 3.0
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Radeon RX 6800M's 145W — a 21.5% difference. The Radeon RX 6800M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 500W (Radeon RX 6800M). Power connectors: 6-pin vs Mobile.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 6800M
TDP	180W	145W-19%
Recommended PSU	400W-20%	500W
Power Connector	6-pin	Mobile
Length	173mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	—	75°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	91.7+64%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 6800M launched at $599. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 58.4% less ($350 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 22.2 (Radeon RX 6800M) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 82% better value. The Radeon RX 6800M is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2016).