GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce MX450

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

✅+170.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 171.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 14.9 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌620% higher power demand at 180W vs 25W.

GeForce MX450

2020

Why buy it

✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 1060: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 1060 is already legacy-tier future-proofing.
✅Draws 25W instead of 180W, a 155W reduction.
✅More future proof: Turing (2018−2022) on 12nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,720 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 2 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
0.4% HIGHER MSRP
$250 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 14.9 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($250 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

GeForce MX450

2020

Why buy it

✅+170.5% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $1 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅Delivers 171.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 14.9 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (6 GB vs 2 GB).

Why buy it

✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 1060: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 1060 is already legacy-tier future-proofing.
✅Draws 25W instead of 180W, a 155W reduction.
✅More future proof: Turing (2018−2022) on 12nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌620% higher power demand at 180W vs 25W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,720 vs 10,064).
❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 6 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 2 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
0.4% HIGHER MSRP
$250 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 14.9 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($250 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1060 better than GeForce MX450?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 10,064 vs 3,720 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce GTX 1060 is a 2016 card with no meaningful modern upscaling stack, while GeForce MX450 is a 2020 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

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

GeForce MX450 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2020 generation instead of 2016 and a 12nm process instead of 16nm. That makes it the safer long-run choice 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 about $1 cheaper on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and you are getting 170.5% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 171.6%. GeForce MX450 is the newer 2020 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture, lower power draw (25W vs 180W), and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce MX450 make more sense than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. GeForce MX450 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 newer architecture, lower power draw (25W vs 180W), future-proofing, and staying closer to $250 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 1060. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 1060 currently gives you 170.5% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 171.6%.

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 MX450 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce MX450
1080p
low	117 FPS	90 FPS
medium	105 FPS	80 FPS
high	91 FPS	63 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	53 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	80 FPS
medium	87 FPS	68 FPS
high	76 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	44 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	39 FPS
medium	49 FPS	37 FPS
high	41 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	22 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce MX450

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce MX450
1080p
low	216 FPS	125 FPS
medium	181 FPS	92 FPS
high	148 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	42 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	82 FPS
medium	107 FPS	56 FPS
high	87 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	29 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	36 FPS
medium	51 FPS	27 FPS
high	49 FPS	21 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	15 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce MX450

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce MX450
1080p
low	453 FPS	167 FPS
medium	362 FPS	134 FPS
high	302 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	84 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	126 FPS
medium	272 FPS	100 FPS
high	226 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	63 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	84 FPS
medium	181 FPS	67 FPS
high	151 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	42 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce MX450

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce MX450
1080p
low	358 FPS	167 FPS
medium	302 FPS	134 FPS
high	260 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	84 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	126 FPS
medium	254 FPS	100 FPS
high	208 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	63 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	84 FPS
medium	133 FPS	67 FPS
high	123 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	42 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce MX450

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce MX450

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 MX450

The GeForce MX450 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 1 2020. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1395 MHz to 1575 MHz. It has 896 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,720 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce MX450's 3,720 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 170.5%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce MX450 uses Turing, both on 16 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 896 (GeForce MX450). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 3.226 TFLOPS (GeForce MX450). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1575 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce MX450
G3D Mark Score	10,064+171%	3,720
Architecture	Pascal	Turing
Process Node	16 nm	12 nm
Shading Units	2560+186%	896
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS+175%	3.226 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+10%	1575 MHz
ROPs	64+100%	32
TMUs	160+150%	64

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce MX450
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 MX450 has 2 GB. The GeForce GTX 1060 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 80 GB/s (GeForce MX450) — a 140% advantage for the GeForce GTX 1060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 64-bit.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce MX450
VRAM Capacity	6 GB+200%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s+140%	80 GB/s
Bus Width	192-bit+200%	64-bit

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce MX450's 25W — a 151.2% difference. The GeForce MX450 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 350W (GeForce MX450). Power connectors: 6-pin vs Mobile.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce MX450
TDP	180W	25W-86%
Recommended PSU	400W	350W-13%
Power Connector	6-pin	Mobile
Length	173mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	—
Perf/Watt	55.9	148.8+166%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce MX450 launched at $250. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 0.4% less ($1 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 14.9 (GeForce MX450) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 171.1% better value. The GeForce MX450 is the newer GPU (2020 vs 2016).