Radeon R9 290 vs GeForce GTX 1060
Radeon R9 290
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GeForce GTX 1060
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GTX 1060 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 23% higher G3D Mark score and 50% more VRAM (6 GB vs 4 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R9 290.
| Insight | Radeon R9 290 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-23%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+23%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2013 / GCN 2.0 (2013−2017)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2016 / Pascal (2016−2021)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+50%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (275mm) | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GTX 1060 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GTX 1060 holds the technical lead. Priced at $50 (vs $60), it costs 17% less, resulting in a 2.5% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R9 290 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+2.5%) |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($50) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($60) |
Performance Check
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 7800X3D 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of Radeon R9 290 and GeForce GTX 1060
Radeon R9 290
The Radeon R9 290 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 5 2013. It features the GCN 2.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 947 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 275W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 8,184 points. Launch price was $399.
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 Radeon R9 290 scores 8,184 versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 10,064 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 23%. The Radeon R9 290 is built on GCN 2.0 while the GeForce GTX 1060 uses Pascal, both on 28 nm vs 16 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (Radeon R9 290) vs 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060). Raw compute: 4.849 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 290) vs 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060).
| Feature | Radeon R9 290 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 8,184 | 10,064+23% |
| Architecture | GCN 2.0 | Pascal |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 16 nm |
| Shading Units | 2560 | 2560 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 4.849 TFLOPS | 8.873 TFLOPS+83% |
| ROPs | 64 | 64 |
| TMUs | 160 | 160 |
| L1 Cache | 640 KB | 960 KB+50% |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 290 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The Radeon R9 290 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 1060 has 6 GB. The GeForce GTX 1060 offers 50% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 320 GB/s (Radeon R9 290) vs 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) — a 66.7% advantage for the Radeon R9 290. Bus width: 512-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 1 MB (Radeon R9 290) vs 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 6 GB+50% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 320 GB/s+67% | 192 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 512-bit+167% | 192-bit |
| L2 Cache | 1 MB | 2 MB+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12.0 (Radeon R9 290) vs 12 (GeForce GTX 1060). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.5. Maximum simultaneous displays: 6 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12.0 | 12 |
| Vulkan | 1.2 | 1.3+8% |
| OpenGL | 4.6+2% | 4.5 |
| Max Displays | 6+50% | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCE 2.0 (Radeon R9 290) vs NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060). Decoder: UVD 4.2 vs NVDEC (Pascal). Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 (Radeon R9 290) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060).
| Feature | Radeon R9 290 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 2.0 | NVENC (Pascal) |
| Decoder | UVD 4.2 | NVDEC (Pascal) |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,VC-1 | H.264,H.265/HEVC |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 290 draws 275W versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 180W — a 41.8% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 750W (Radeon R9 290) vs 400W (GeForce GTX 1060). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 6-pin. Card length: 275mm vs 173mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.
| Feature | Radeon R9 290 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 275W | 180W-35% |
| Recommended PSU | 750W | 400W-47% |
| Power Connector | 6-pin + 8-pin | 6-pin |
| Length | 275mm | 173mm |
| Height | 109mm | 111mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | 95°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 29.8 | 55.9+88% |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 290 launched at $399 MSRP and currently averages $50, while the GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 and now averages $60. The Radeon R9 290 costs 16.7% less ($10 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 163.7 (Radeon R9 290) vs 167.7 (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 2.4% better value. The GeForce GTX 1060 is the newer GPU (2016 vs 2013).
| Feature | Radeon R9 290 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $399 | $249-38% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $50-17% | $60 |
| Performance per Dollar | 163.7 | 167.7+2% |
| Codename | Hawaii | GP104 |
| Release | November 5 2013 | May 27 2016 |
| Ranking | #316 | #137 |
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