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

✅47.5% more average FPS across 34 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 3 GB).
✅Measures 173mm instead of 250mm, a 77mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
25.1% HIGHER MSRP
$249 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 40.4 vs 49.3 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌50% higher power demand at 180W vs 120W.

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 49.3 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 180W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 34 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌44.5% longer card at 250mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

2016

Why buy it

✅47.5% more average FPS across 34 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 3 GB).
✅Measures 173mm instead of 250mm, a 77mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Delivers 22% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 49.3 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Draws 120W instead of 180W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
25.1% HIGHER MSRP
$249 MSRPvs$199 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 40.4 vs 49.3 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌50% higher power demand at 180W vs 120W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 1060 across 34 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌44.5% longer card at 250mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1060 better than GeForce GTX 1060 3GB?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 47.5% more average FPS across 34 tracked games in our benchmark data, 2.5% higher PassMark G3D performance, and 6 GB vs 3 GB of VRAM.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce GTX 1060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting more VRAM at 6 GB instead of 3 GB. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce GTX 1060 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce GTX 1060 is about 25.1% more expensive on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and you are getting 47.5% more estimated average FPS across 34 tracked games in our benchmark data and 2.5% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 1060 3GB really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is GeForce GTX 1060 3GB still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is 2016 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM, 9,815 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

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
1080p
low	117 FPS	95 FPS
medium	105 FPS	83 FPS
high	91 FPS	70 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	58 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	84 FPS
medium	87 FPS	70 FPS
high	76 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	49 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	41 FPS
medium	49 FPS	38 FPS
high	41 FPS	27 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	24 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
1080p
low	216 FPS	191 FPS
medium	181 FPS	161 FPS
high	148 FPS	132 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	94 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	127 FPS
medium	107 FPS	101 FPS
high	87 FPS	80 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	61 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	54 FPS
medium	51 FPS	45 FPS
high	49 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	35 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
1080p
low	453 FPS	379 FPS
medium	362 FPS	332 FPS
high	302 FPS	246 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	204 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	308 FPS
medium	272 FPS	265 FPS
high	226 FPS	207 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	166 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	187 FPS
medium	181 FPS	160 FPS
high	151 FPS	108 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	76 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
1080p
low	358 FPS	257 FPS
medium	302 FPS	206 FPS
high	260 FPS	186 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	162 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	196 FPS
medium	254 FPS	154 FPS
high	208 FPS	136 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	113 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	97 FPS
medium	133 FPS	73 FPS
high	123 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	51 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

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.

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

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.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 and the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB reaches 9,815 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB uses Pascal, both on a 16 nm process. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 1,152 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 3.935 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1708 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
G3D Mark Score	10,064+3%	9,815
Architecture	Pascal	Pascal
Process Node	16 nm	16 nm
Shading Units	2560+122%	1152
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS+125%	3.935 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+1%	1708 MHz
ROPs	64+33%	48
TMUs	160+122%	72
L1 Cache	960 KB+122%	432 KB
L2 Cache	2 MB+33%	1.5 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
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 GeForce GTX 1060 3GB has 3 GB. The GeForce GTX 1060 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 192-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) — the GeForce GTX 1060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+100%	3 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	192 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB+33%	1.5 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.5. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
DirectX	12	12.1
Vulkan	1.3+18%	1.1
OpenGL	4.5	4.5
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs NVENC 4.0 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs PureVideo HD VP6. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	NVENC 4.0
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	PureVideo HD VP6
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB's 120W — a 40% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 400W (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 6-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 250mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB
TDP	180W	120W-33%
Recommended PSU	400W	400W
Power Connector	6-pin	6-pin
Length	173mm	250mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	75°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	81.8+46%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB launched at $199. The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB costs 20.1% less ($50 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 49.3 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) — the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB offers 22% better value.