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.

Overview

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 18 2016. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1506 MHz to 1708 MHz. It has 1152 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 120W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,815 points. Launch price was $199.

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.

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

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

FPS Benchmarks

Predicted performance for GeForce GTX 1060 3GB across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Technical Analysis

Detailed breakdown of GeForce GTX 1060 3GB specifications and capabilities.

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Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB scores 9,815 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Mid-Range tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the Pascal (2016−2021) architecture (codename: GP106), manufactured on a 16 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 1152 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 72 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 48 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 3.935 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance. Boost clock reaches 1708 MHz from a base of 1506 MHz.

Specification	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score	9,815
ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation	Pascal (2016−2021)
CodenameInternal GPU die codename	GP106
Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient	16 nm
Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute	1152
TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling	72
ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending	48
Boost ClockMaximum GPU frequency under load	1708 MHz
Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency	1506 MHz
Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance	3.935 TFLOPS
Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second	123.0 GTexel/s
PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation	PCIe 3.0 x16
Transistor Count	4,400 million
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking	#272

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is equipped with 3 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 192-bit memory bus, delivering 192 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.

Specification	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures	3 GB
VRAM TypeMemory technology generation	GDDR5
Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth	192-bit
Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate	8 Gbps
BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM	192 GB/s
L1 Cache	432 kB
L2 Cache	1536 kB

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Advanced Features & APIs

Graphics API support: DirectX 12.1, Vulkan 1.1, OpenGL 4.5— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.

Specification	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
NVIDIA Reflex	❌ Not Supported
DLSS Frame Generation	❌ Not Supported
DLSS Super Resolution	❌ Not Supported
DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version	12.1
VulkanCross-platform graphics API	1.1
OpenGLLegacy graphics API	4.5
Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL)	CUDA 11.0
Multi-GPUSLI/CrossFire/NVLink support	None

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Display & Media

Display outputs: 3x DP, 1x DVI, 1x HDMI — supports up to 4 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: NVENC 4.0, decoder: PureVideo HD VP6— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC.

Specification	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
DP PortsNumber of DP display connectors	3x
DVI PortsNumber of DVI display connectors	1x
HDMI PortsNumber of HDMI display connectors	1x
Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors	4
Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version	NVENC 4.0
Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version	PureVideo HD VP6
CodecsSupported video compression formats	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB draws 120 Watt under load (TDP) — a 400W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 6-pin. Physical size: 250mm long, 111mm tall, occupying 2 expansion slots, weighing 450g— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 35°C at idle, 75°C under load.

Specification	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
TDPPower consumption under load	120 Watt
Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage	400W
Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type	6-pin
Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance	250mm
Card Height	111mm
Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied	2-slot
Weight	450g
Idle TemperatureTypical temperature at desktop idle	35°C
Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load	75°C

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Value Analysis

At an average price of $50 (MSRP: $199), the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB delivers 196 G3D Mark points per dollar. Overall performance ranking position: #272 among all indexed GPUs.

Specification	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price	$199
Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days	$50
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking	#272
Release Date	August 18 2016
Release Year	2016