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 $450 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 73.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 23.3 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 295W, a 115W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 280mm, a 107mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon VII across 33 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 16 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.

Radeon VII

2019

Why buy it

✅45.9% more average FPS across 33 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: GCN 5.1 (2018−2022) on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
180.7% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 23.3 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌63.9% higher power demand at 295W vs 180W.
❌61.8% longer card at 280mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Radeon VII

2019

Why buy it

✅Costs $450 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Delivers 73.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 23.3 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $699 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 295W, a 115W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 280mm, a 107mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅45.9% more average FPS across 33 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (16 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: GCN 5.1 (2018−2022) on 7nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than Radeon VII across 33 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 16 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.

Trade-offs

❌
180.7% HIGHER MSRP
$699 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 23.3 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($699 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌63.9% higher power demand at 295W vs 180W.
❌61.8% longer card at 280mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is Radeon VII better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. Radeon VII is clearly the better overall GPU here. Radeon VII averages 45.9% more FPS across 33 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 16,308 vs 10,064 in G3D Mark. On top of that, Radeon VII is a 2019 card with FSR upscaling, 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 VII is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2019 generation instead of 2016, 62.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 16 GB instead of 6 GB, and better upscaling support with FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) 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 VII is the smarter buy by a wide margin. Radeon VII is about 180.7% more expensive on MSRP at $699 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 45.9% more estimated average FPS across 33 tracked games in our benchmark data and 62.0% 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 VII Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon VII
1080p
low	117 FPS	200 FPS
medium	105 FPS	185 FPS
high	91 FPS	161 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	146 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	184 FPS
medium	87 FPS	154 FPS
high	76 FPS	128 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	119 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	118 FPS
medium	49 FPS	99 FPS
high	41 FPS	75 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	69 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon VII

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon VII
1080p
low	216 FPS	392 FPS
medium	181 FPS	336 FPS
high	148 FPS	262 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	212 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	240 FPS
medium	107 FPS	203 FPS
high	87 FPS	170 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	136 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	108 FPS
medium	51 FPS	89 FPS
high	49 FPS	73 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	56 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon VII

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon VII
1080p
low	453 FPS	734 FPS
medium	362 FPS	587 FPS
high	302 FPS	489 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	367 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	550 FPS
medium	272 FPS	440 FPS
high	226 FPS	367 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	275 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	367 FPS
medium	181 FPS	294 FPS
high	151 FPS	245 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	183 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon VII

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon VII
1080p
low	358 FPS	596 FPS
medium	302 FPS	521 FPS
high	260 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	356 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	465 FPS
medium	254 FPS	413 FPS
high	208 FPS	329 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	267 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	297 FPS
medium	133 FPS	281 FPS
high	123 FPS	239 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	183 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon VII

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and Radeon VII

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 VII

The Radeon VII is manufactured by AMD. It was released in February 7 2019. It features the GCN 5.1 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1400 MHz to 1750 MHz. It has 3840 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 295W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,308 points. Launch price was $699.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Radeon VII's 16,308 — the Radeon VII leads by 62%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Radeon VII uses GCN 5.1, both on 16 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 3,840 (Radeon VII). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 13.44 TFLOPS (Radeon VII). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1750 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon VII
G3D Mark Score	10,064	16,308+62%
Architecture	Pascal	GCN 5.1
Process Node	16 nm	7 nm
Shading Units	2560	3840+50%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	13.44 TFLOPS+51%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz	1750 MHz
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	160	240+50%
L1 Cache	960 KB	960 KB
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

✨

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 Radeon VII relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon VII
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

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon VII has 16 GB. The Radeon VII offers 166.7% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 1024 GB/s (Radeon VII) — a 433.3% advantage for the Radeon VII. Bus width: 192-bit vs 4096-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 4 MB (Radeon VII) — the Radeon VII has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon VII
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	16 GB+167%
Memory Type	GDDR5	HBM2
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	1024 GB/s+433%
Bus Width	192-bit	4096-bit+2033%
L2 Cache	2 MB	4 MB+100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12.1 (Radeon VII). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon VII
DirectX	12	12.1
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 VCE 4.1 (Radeon VII). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs UVD 7.2. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Radeon VII).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon VII
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	VCE 4.1
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	UVD 7.2
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Radeon VII's 295W — a 48.4% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 750W (Radeon VII). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 280mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon VII
TDP	180W-39%	295W
Recommended PSU	400W-47%	750W
Power Connector	6-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	173mm	280mm
Height	111mm	125mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	89°C
Perf/Watt	55.9+1%	55.3

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the Radeon VII launched at $699. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 64.4% less ($450 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 23.3 (Radeon VII) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 73.4% better value. The Radeon VII is the newer GPU (2019 vs 2016).