Radeon R9 M290X vs GeForce GTX 1060

Performance Spectrum - GPU

Radeon R9 M290X

100

3,218

0.0%

Radeon R7 M465X

Radeon RX Vega 11 Ryzen 5 3400G

Radeon RX Vega 11 Ryzen 5 3350GE

10,064

+212.7%

GeForce GTX 680

GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE

GeForce RTX 2050 Mobile

GeForce GTX TITAN Z

GeForce GTX 980 Ti

GeForce RTX 5060 Mobile

GeForce RTX 2080 Ti

GeForce RTX 4080 Mobile

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. The Radeon R9 M290X is positioned at rank #399 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar Radeon R9 M290X

#388

Radeon RX 550X (móvel)

MSRP: $35|Avg: $35

1349%

#390

GeForce GTX 1070 with Max-Q Design

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $150

1223%

#391

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $100

1219%

#395

GeForce GTX 1050 (Mobile)

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $50

1109%

#396

Radeon RX 6300

MSRP: $60|Avg: $40

1101%

#399

Radeon R9 M290X

MSRP: $400|Avg: $60

100%

#400

Radeon HD 7670

MSRP: $100|Avg: $25

100%

#401

Radeon HD 8550G + 8750M Dual

MSRP: $100|Avg: $100

99%

#402

Mobility Radeon HD 5000

MSRP: $99|Avg: $20

97%

#403

Iris Pro Graphics 5200

MSRP: $150|Avg: $40

97%

#405

Radeon RX Vega 10 Ryzen 7 3700C

MSRP: $150|Avg: $50

97%

#406

Radeon HD 8650G + 7700M Dual

MSRP: $150|Avg: $30

93%

#407

Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire

MSRP: $800|Avg: $200

93%

#408

GeForce GTX 285M SLI

MSRP: N/A|Avg: $40

91%

#409

Radeon R7 M260X

MSRP: $139|Avg: $35

91%

#410

Radeon HD 8570D + HD 6570 Dual

MSRP: $120|Avg: $25

90%

#411

Intel UHD Graphics 615

MSRP: $100|Avg: $50

89%

#412

Radeon R7 A365

MSRP: $109|Avg: $55

89%

#413

Radeon 3015e

MSRP: $49|Avg: $49

89%

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

Performance Comparison

About G3D Mark

🏆 Chipversus Verdict

🚀 Performance Leadership

The GeForce GTX 1060 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 212.7% 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 M290X.

Insight	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 1060
Performance	❌Lower raw frame rates (-212.7%)	✅Leading raw performance (+212.7%)
Longevity	🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 1.0 (2012−2020))	🛑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	—	📏 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 $60 (vs $60), it costs 0% less, resulting in a 212.7% higher cost efficiency score.

Insight	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 1060
Cost Efficiency	❌Lower cost efficiency	✅Better overall value (+212.7%)
Upfront Cost	Equivalent pricing	Equivalent pricing

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.

Radeon R9 M290X Benchmark Check

GeForce GTX 1060 Benchmark Check

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of Radeon R9 M290X and GeForce GTX 1060

Radeon R9 M290X

The Radeon R9 M290X is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 9 2014. It features the GCN 1.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 850 MHz to 900 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,218 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 Radeon R9 M290X scores 3,218 versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 10,064 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 212.7%. The Radeon R9 M290X is built on GCN 1.0 while the GeForce GTX 1060 uses Pascal, both on 28 nm vs 16 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060). Raw compute: 2.304 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060). Boost clocks: 900 MHz vs 1733 MHz.

Feature	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 1060
G3D Mark Score	3,218	10,064+213%
Architecture	GCN 1.0	Pascal
Process Node	28 nm	16 nm
Shading Units	1280	2560+100%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.304 TFLOPS	8.873 TFLOPS+285%
Boost Clock	900 MHz	1733 MHz+93%
ROPs	32	64+100%
TMUs	80	160+100%
L1 Cache	320 KB	960 KB+200%
L2 Cache	0.5 MB	2 MB+300%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	Radeon R9 M290X	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 M290X 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. Bus width: 128-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 1060
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	6 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	Unknown	192 GB/s
Bus Width	128-bit	192-bit+50%
L2 Cache	0.5 MB	2 MB+300%

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The Radeon R9 M290X draws 100W versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 180W — a 57.1% difference. The Radeon R9 M290X is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 400W (GeForce GTX 1060). Power connectors: Mobile vs 6-pin.

Feature	Radeon R9 M290X	GeForce GTX 1060
TDP	100W-44%	180W
Recommended PSU	350W-13%	400W
Power Connector	Mobile	6-pin
Length	—	173mm
Height	—	111mm
Slots	—	2
Perf/Watt	32.2	55.9+74%

💰

Value Analysis

The Radeon R9 M290X launched at $400 MSRP and currently averages $60, while the GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 and now averages $60. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 53.6 (Radeon R9 M290X) vs 167.7 (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 212.9% better value. The GeForce GTX 1060 is the newer GPU (2016 vs 2014).