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 970XM FORCE

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 81W instead of 180W, a 99W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (6,707 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌54.3% longer card at 267mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Why buy it

✅+50.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).
✅Measures 173mm instead of 267mm, a 94mm 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.
❌122.2% higher power demand at 180W vs 81W.

GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE

2014

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Why buy it

✅Draws 81W instead of 180W, a 99W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+50.1% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 4 GB).
✅Measures 173mm instead of 267mm, a 94mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (6,707 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌54.3% longer card at 267mm vs 173mm.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌122.2% higher power demand at 180W vs 81W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1060 better than GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 50.1% higher PassMark G3D performance and 6 GB vs 4 GB of VRAM. It also comes from 2016 instead of 2014, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is the safer long-term GPU choice because it gives you the stronger overall hardware and feature outlook for modern games.

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

GeForce GTX 1060 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce GTX 1060 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $249 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 50.1% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is the more forward-looking alternative, so it still has a real case if you care more about lower power draw (81W vs 180W) and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE make more sense than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is lower power draw (81W vs 180W), future-proofing, and staying closer to an unclear MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 1060. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 1060 currently gives you 50.1% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%.

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 970XM FORCE Benchmark Check

GeForce GTX 1060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce GTX 1060
1080p
low	100 FPS	117 FPS
medium	85 FPS	105 FPS
high	68 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	77 FPS
1440p
low	87 FPS	103 FPS
medium	75 FPS	87 FPS
high	54 FPS	76 FPS
ultra	31 FPS	67 FPS
4K
low	28 FPS	55 FPS
medium	26 FPS	49 FPS
high	17 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	15 FPS	37 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE Open GeForce GTX 1060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce GTX 1060
1080p
low	166 FPS	216 FPS
medium	135 FPS	181 FPS
high	108 FPS	148 FPS
ultra	74 FPS	113 FPS
1440p
low	113 FPS	134 FPS
medium	86 FPS	107 FPS
high	68 FPS	87 FPS
ultra	46 FPS	68 FPS
4K
low	48 FPS	62 FPS
medium	39 FPS	51 FPS
high	35 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	41 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE Open GeForce GTX 1060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce GTX 1060
1080p
low	302 FPS	453 FPS
medium	241 FPS	362 FPS
high	201 FPS	302 FPS
ultra	151 FPS	226 FPS
1440p
low	226 FPS	340 FPS
medium	181 FPS	272 FPS
high	151 FPS	226 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	170 FPS
4K
low	151 FPS	226 FPS
medium	121 FPS	181 FPS
high	101 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	113 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE Open GeForce GTX 1060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce GTX 1060
1080p
low	167 FPS	358 FPS
medium	137 FPS	302 FPS
high	123 FPS	260 FPS
ultra	96 FPS	226 FPS
1440p
low	117 FPS	299 FPS
medium	98 FPS	254 FPS
high	88 FPS	208 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	170 FPS
4K
low	69 FPS	170 FPS
medium	54 FPS	133 FPS
high	44 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	31 FPS	102 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE Open GeForce GTX 1060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE and GeForce GTX 1060

GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE

The GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 7 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 924 MHz to 1038 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 81W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,707 points. Launch price was $2,560.89.

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 970XM FORCE scores 6,707 versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 10,064 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 50.1%. The GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce GTX 1060 uses Pascal, both on 28 nm vs 16 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060). Raw compute: 2.657 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060). Boost clocks: 1038 MHz vs 1733 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce GTX 1060
G3D Mark Score	6,707	10,064+50%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Pascal
Process Node	28 nm	16 nm
Shading Units	1280	2560+100%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.657 TFLOPS	8.873 TFLOPS+234%
Boost Clock	1038 MHz	1733 MHz+67%
ROPs	48	64+33%
TMUs	80	160+100%
L1 Cache	480 KB	960 KB+100%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	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 970XM FORCE 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: 120 GB/s (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) — a 60% advantage for the GeForce GTX 1060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) — the GeForce GTX 1060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce GTX 1060
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	6 GB+50%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	120 GB/s	192 GB/s+60%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	2 MB+33%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 12 (GeForce GTX 1060). Vulkan: 1.4 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.5. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce GTX 1060
DirectX	12 (12_1)	12
Vulkan	1.4+8%	1.3
OpenGL	4.6+2%	4.5
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: 5th Gen NVENC (Maxwell) (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060). Decoder: 1st Gen NVDEC vs NVDEC (Pascal). Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE	GeForce GTX 1060
Encoder	5th Gen NVENC (Maxwell)	NVENC (Pascal)
Decoder	1st Gen NVDEC	NVDEC (Pascal)
Codecs	H.264,HEVC,VC-1,MPEG-2	H.264,H.265/HEVC

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE draws 81W versus the GeForce GTX 1060's 180W — a 75.9% difference. The GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 970XM FORCE) vs 400W (GeForce GTX 1060). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 6-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 173mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.