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

✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 350W, a 170W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 242mm, a 69mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 12GB across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 40.4 vs 51.0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅68.9% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 26.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌94.4% higher power demand at 350W vs 180W.
❌39.9% longer card at 242mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $80 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 350W, a 170W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 242mm, a 69mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅68.9% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 26.2% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 51.0 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($329 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3060 12GB across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 40.4 vs 51.0 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $329 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌94.4% higher power demand at 350W vs 180W.
❌39.9% longer card at 242mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3060 12GB better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB averages 68.9% more FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 16,777 vs 10,064 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is a 2022 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while GeForce GTX 1060 is a 2016 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 RTX 3060 12GB is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2016, 66.7% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 6 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

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

GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is about 32.1% more expensive on MSRP at $329 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 68.9% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 66.7% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 1060 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

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

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 1060 is 2016 hardware with 6 GB of VRAM, 10,064 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 RTX 3060 12GB Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
1080p
low	117 FPS	166 FPS
medium	105 FPS	151 FPS
high	91 FPS	133 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	113 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	139 FPS
medium	87 FPS	116 FPS
high	76 FPS	98 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	80 FPS
medium	49 FPS	67 FPS
high	41 FPS	51 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	45 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
1080p
low	216 FPS	494 FPS
medium	181 FPS	425 FPS
high	148 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	323 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	372 FPS
medium	107 FPS	310 FPS
high	87 FPS	258 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	219 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	193 FPS
medium	51 FPS	167 FPS
high	49 FPS	144 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	120 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
1080p
low	453 FPS	755 FPS
medium	362 FPS	604 FPS
high	302 FPS	503 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	377 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	566 FPS
medium	272 FPS	453 FPS
high	226 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	283 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	377 FPS
medium	181 FPS	302 FPS
high	151 FPS	252 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	189 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
1080p
low	358 FPS	445 FPS
medium	302 FPS	396 FPS
high	260 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	288 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	366 FPS
medium	254 FPS	328 FPS
high	208 FPS	271 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	231 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	237 FPS
medium	133 FPS	217 FPS
high	123 FPS	186 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	160 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce RTX 3060 12GB

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 RTX 3060 12GB

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 11 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1260 MHz to 1710 MHz. It has 8960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 350W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 70 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 16,777 points. Launch price was $799.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's 16,777 — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB leads by 66.7%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB uses Ampere, both on 16 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 8,960 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 30.64 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1710 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
G3D Mark Score	10,064	16,777+67%
Architecture	Pascal	Ampere
Process Node	16 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2560	8960+250%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	30.64 TFLOPS+245%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+1%	1710 MHz
ROPs	64	96+50%
TMUs	160	280+75%
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	8.8 MB+836%
L2 Cache	2 MB	6 MB+200%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
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 RTX 3060 12GB has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 360 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) — a 87.5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB. Bus width: 192-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	12 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	360 GB/s+88%
Bus Width	192-bit	192-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	6 MB+200%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
DirectX	12	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB's 350W — a 64.2% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 242mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3060 12GB
TDP	180W-49%	350W
Recommended PSU	400W-27%	550W
Power Connector	6-pin	8-pin
Length	173mm	242mm
Height	111mm	112mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	75°C
Perf/Watt	55.9+17%	47.9

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB launched at $329. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 24.3% less ($80 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 51.0 (GeForce RTX 3060 12GB) — the GeForce RTX 3060 12GB offers 26.2% better value. The GeForce RTX 3060 12GB is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2016).