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 $200 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
✅Delivers 32.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 30.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than RTX A2000 12GB across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 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.
❌157.1% higher power demand at 180W vs 70W.

RTX A2000 12GB

2021

Why buy it

✅0.6% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 70W instead of 180W, a 110W reduction.
✅Measures 167mm instead of 173mm, a 6mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌
80.3% HIGHER MSRP
$449 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 30.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($449 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

RTX A2000 12GB

2021

Why buy it

✅Costs $200 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).
✅Delivers 32.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 30.6 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $449 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅0.6% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 70W instead of 180W, a 110W reduction.
✅Measures 167mm instead of 173mm, a 6mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than RTX A2000 12GB across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 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.
❌157.1% higher power demand at 180W vs 70W.

Trade-offs

❌
80.3% HIGHER MSRP
$449 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 30.6 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($449 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is RTX A2000 12GB better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. RTX A2000 12GB is clearly the better overall GPU here. RTX A2000 12GB averages 0.6% more FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 13,721 vs 10,064 in G3D Mark. On top of that, RTX A2000 12GB is a 2021 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, 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?

RTX A2000 12GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2021 generation instead of 2016, 36.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB, and 100.0% more ray-tracing hardware. 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?

RTX A2000 12GB is the smarter buy by a wide margin. RTX A2000 12GB is about 80.3% more expensive on MSRP at $449 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 0.6% more estimated average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data and 36.3% 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

RTX A2000 12GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	RTX A2000 12GB
1080p
low	117 FPS	108 FPS
medium	105 FPS	92 FPS
high	91 FPS	76 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	51 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	92 FPS
medium	87 FPS	78 FPS
high	76 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	38 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	38 FPS
medium	49 FPS	35 FPS
high	41 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	18 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open RTX A2000 12GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	RTX A2000 12GB
1080p
low	216 FPS	164 FPS
medium	181 FPS	132 FPS
high	148 FPS	106 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	82 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	118 FPS
medium	107 FPS	95 FPS
high	87 FPS	78 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	60 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	70 FPS
medium	51 FPS	55 FPS
high	49 FPS	47 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	34 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open RTX A2000 12GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	RTX A2000 12GB
1080p
low	453 FPS	617 FPS
medium	362 FPS	494 FPS
high	302 FPS	412 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	309 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	428 FPS
medium	272 FPS	361 FPS
high	226 FPS	306 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	232 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	309 FPS
medium	181 FPS	247 FPS
high	151 FPS	190 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	147 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open RTX A2000 12GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	RTX A2000 12GB
1080p
low	358 FPS	245 FPS
medium	302 FPS	212 FPS
high	260 FPS	172 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	144 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	187 FPS
medium	254 FPS	166 FPS
high	208 FPS	130 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	106 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	106 FPS
medium	133 FPS	88 FPS
high	123 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	56 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open RTX A2000 12GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and RTX A2000 12GB

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.

RTX A2000 12GB

The RTX A2000 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in November 23 2021. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 562 MHz to 1200 MHz. It has 3328 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 70W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 26 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 13,721 points. Launch price was $449.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the RTX A2000 12GB's 13,721 — the RTX A2000 12GB leads by 36.3%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the RTX A2000 12GB uses Ampere, both on 16 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 3,328 (RTX A2000 12GB). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 7.987 TFLOPS (RTX A2000 12GB). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1200 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	RTX A2000 12GB
G3D Mark Score	10,064	13,721+36%
Architecture	Pascal	Ampere
Process Node	16 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2560	3328+30%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS+11%	7.987 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+44%	1200 MHz
ROPs	64+33%	48
TMUs	160+54%	104
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	3.3 MB+251%
L2 Cache	2 MB	3 MB+50%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	RTX A2000 12GB
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the RTX A2000 12GB has 8 GB. The RTX A2000 12GB offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 3 MB (RTX A2000 12GB) — the RTX A2000 12GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	RTX A2000 12GB
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	3 MB+50%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12.2 (RTX A2000 12GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	RTX A2000 12GB
DirectX	12	12.2+2%
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 7th Gen NVENC (RTX A2000 12GB). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (RTX A2000 12GB).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	RTX A2000 12GB
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	7th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the RTX A2000 12GB's 70W — a 88% difference. The RTX A2000 12GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 500W (RTX A2000 12GB). Power connectors: 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 173mm vs 167mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	RTX A2000 12GB
TDP	180W	70W-61%
Recommended PSU	400W-20%	500W
Power Connector	6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	173mm	167mm
Height	111mm	68mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	75°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	196.0+251%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the RTX A2000 12GB launched at $449. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 44.5% less ($200 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 30.6 (RTX A2000 12GB) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 32% better value. The RTX A2000 12GB is the newer GPU (2021 vs 2016).