GeForce GTX 1060 vs Radeon X1600

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 X1600 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 X1600: 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

✅10724.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 16314.5% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0.2 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅1100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 512 MB).
✅Draws 180W instead of 255W, a 75W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌2016 hardware with 6 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.

Radeon X1600

2020

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅GeForce GTX 1060 is already legacy-tier future-proofing, so Radeon X1600 is the less risky modern option long term.
✅Measures 168mm instead of 173mm, a 5mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 512 MB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Older hardware, 512 MB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in newer AAA releases.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0.2 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌41.7% higher power demand at 255W vs 180W.

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 10724.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 20438.8% in PassMark G3D (10,064 vs 49), so the answer here is pretty clean.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

Radeon X1600 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: the newer upscaling stack, FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, a 7nm process instead of 16nm, and a newer 2020 generation instead of 2016. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 1060 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $50 more expensive on MSRP at $249 vs $199, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 16314.5% (40.4 vs 0.2), so the value case lines up with the gaming result. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GeForce GTX 1060 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, Radeon X1600 has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 1060 vs Radeon X1600 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 X1600

The Radeon X1600 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in October 28 2020. It features the RDNA 2.0 architecture. The boost clock speed is 2105 MHz. It has 4608 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 255W. Manufactured using 7 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 49 points.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Radeon X1600's 49 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 20438.8%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Radeon X1600 uses RDNA 2.0, both on 16 nm vs 7 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 4,608 (Radeon X1600). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 19.4 TFLOPS (Radeon X1600). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 2105 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon X1600
G3D Mark Score	10,064+20439%	49
Architecture	Pascal	RDNA 2.0
Process Node	16 nm	7 nm
Shading Units	2560	4608+80%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	19.4 TFLOPS+119%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz	2105 MHz+21%
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	160	288+80%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 1060 gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The Radeon X1600 leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon X1600
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 X1600 carries 512 MB. GeForce GTX 1060 gives you 1100% 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 64-bit on the Radeon X1600.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon X1600
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+1100%	0.5 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Bus Width	192-bit+200%	64-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 9_0c (Radeon X1600). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon X1600
DirectX	12+33%	9_0c
Max Displays	4+100%	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs Avivo (Radeon X1600). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs Avivo.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon X1600
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	Avivo
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	Avivo
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	—

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Radeon X1600's 255W — a 34.5% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 350W (Radeon X1600). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 173mm vs 168mm, occupying 2 vs 1 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon X1600
TDP	180W-29%	255W
Recommended PSU	400W	350W-13%
Power Connector	6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	173mm	168mm
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	1-50%
Perf/Watt	55.9+27850%	0.2

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Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 1060 came in at $249, while the Radeon X1600 launched at $199. On MSRP, Radeon X1600 was 20.1% cheaper ($50 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 0.2 (Radeon X1600) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 20100% better value. The newer card here is Radeon X1600 (2020 vs 2016).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon X1600
MSRP	$249	$199-20%
Performance per Dollar	40.4+20100%	0.2
Codename	GP104	Navi 21
Release	May 27 2016	October 28 2020
Ranking	#137	#34

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