GeForce GTX 850A vs GeForce GTX 1060

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 850A vs GeForce GTX 1060 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 850A vs GeForce GTX 1060: 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 850A

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $99 less on MSRP ($150 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 512 MB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2015 hardware with 512 MB 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 5.1 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($150 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Why buy it

✅725.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 690.4% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 5.1 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $150 MSRP).
✅1100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 512 MB).
✅GeForce GTX 850A 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.

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 725.0% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 1212.1% in PassMark G3D (10,064 vs 767), 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 512 MB 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 $99 more expensive on MSRP at $249 vs $150, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 690.4% (40.4 vs 5.1), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 850A vs GeForce GTX 1060 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce GTX 850A

The GeForce GTX 850A is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 13 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 993 MHz to 1124 MHz. It has 640 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 767 points.

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.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 850A scores 767 versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 10,064 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 1212.1%. The GeForce GTX 850A is built on Maxwell while the GeForce GTX 1060 uses Pascal, both on 28 nm vs 16 nm. Shader units: 640 (GeForce GTX 850A) vs 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060). Raw compute: 1.439 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 850A) vs 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060). Boost clocks: 1124 MHz vs 1733 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 850A	GeForce GTX 1060
G3D Mark Score	767	10,064+1212%
Architecture	Maxwell	Pascal
Process Node	28 nm	16 nm
Shading Units	640	2560+300%
Compute (TFLOPS)	1.439 TFLOPS	8.873 TFLOPS+517%
Boost Clock	1124 MHz	1733 MHz+54%
ROPs	16	64+300%
TMUs	40	160+300%
L1 Cache	320 KB	960 KB+200%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 850A	GeForce GTX 1060
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 850A has 512 MB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 1060 carries 6 GB. 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 128-bit on the GeForce GTX 850A and 192-bit on the GeForce GTX 1060.

Feature	GeForce GTX 850A	GeForce GTX 1060
VRAM Capacity	0.5 GB	6 GB+1100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	192 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 850A draws 75W versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 180W — a 82.4% difference. The GeForce GTX 850A is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 850A) vs 400W (GeForce GTX 1060). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 6-pin.

Feature	GeForce GTX 850A	GeForce GTX 1060
TDP	75W-58%	180W
Recommended PSU	350W-13%	400W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	6-pin
Length	—	173mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	—	2
Perf/Watt	10.2	55.9+448%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 850A came in at $150, while the GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249. On MSRP, GeForce GTX 850A was 39.8% cheaper ($99 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 5.1 (GeForce GTX 850A) vs 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 692.2% better value. The newer card here is GeForce GTX 1060 (2016 vs 2015).

Feature	GeForce GTX 850A	GeForce GTX 1060
MSRP	$150-40%	$249
Performance per Dollar	5.1	40.4+692%
Codename	GM107	GP104
Release	March 13 2015	May 27 2016
Ranking	#621	#137

Search GeForce GTX 850A on Amazon

Search GeForce GTX 1060 on Amazon

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.