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 $1,750 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 174.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 14.7 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 450W, a 270W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 336mm, a 163mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 3090 Ti across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 24 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.

GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

2022

Why buy it

✅129.3% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
702.8% HIGHER MSRP
$1,999 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 14.7 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌150% higher power demand at 450W vs 180W.
❌94.2% longer card at 336mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

2022

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,750 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 174.9% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 14.7 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,999 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 450W, a 270W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 336mm, a 163mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅129.3% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 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 3090 Ti across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 24 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.

Trade-offs

❌
702.8% HIGHER MSRP
$1,999 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 14.7 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,999 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌150% higher power demand at 450W vs 180W.
❌94.2% longer card at 336mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3090 Ti better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 3090 Ti averages 129.3% more FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 29,395 vs 10,064 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3090 Ti 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 3090 Ti is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2022 generation instead of 2016, 192.1% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 24 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 3090 Ti is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is about 702.8% more expensive on MSRP at $1,999 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 129.3% more estimated average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data and 192.1% 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 3090 Ti Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
1080p
low	117 FPS	271 FPS
medium	105 FPS	251 FPS
high	91 FPS	212 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	186 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	257 FPS
medium	87 FPS	215 FPS
high	76 FPS	169 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	152 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	177 FPS
medium	49 FPS	147 FPS
high	41 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	98 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
1080p
low	216 FPS	745 FPS
medium	181 FPS	608 FPS
high	148 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	423 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	571 FPS
medium	107 FPS	478 FPS
high	87 FPS	390 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	317 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	307 FPS
medium	51 FPS	265 FPS
high	49 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	204 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
1080p
low	453 FPS	929 FPS
medium	362 FPS	760 FPS
high	302 FPS	677 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	586 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	719 FPS
medium	272 FPS	589 FPS
high	226 FPS	512 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	438 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	499 FPS
medium	181 FPS	414 FPS
high	151 FPS	360 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	299 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
1080p
low	358 FPS	878 FPS
medium	302 FPS	807 FPS
high	260 FPS	710 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	647 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	700 FPS
medium	254 FPS	640 FPS
high	208 FPS	560 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	493 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	505 FPS
medium	133 FPS	466 FPS
high	123 FPS	417 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	331 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce RTX 3090 Ti

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 3090 Ti

The GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 27 2022. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1560 MHz to 1860 MHz. It has 10752 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 450W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 84 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 29,395 points. Launch price was $1,999.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti's 29,395 — the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti leads by 192.1%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti uses Ampere, both on 16 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 10,752 (GeForce RTX 3090 Ti). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 40 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 3090 Ti). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1860 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
G3D Mark Score	10,064	29,395+192%
Architecture	Pascal	Ampere
Process Node	16 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	2560	10752+320%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	40 TFLOPS+351%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz	1860 MHz+7%
ROPs	64	112+75%
TMUs	160	336+110%
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	10.5 MB+1017%
L2 Cache	2 MB	6 MB+200%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3090 Ti supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
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 3090 Ti has 24 GB. The GeForce RTX 3090 Ti offers 300% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 1008 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3090 Ti) — a 425% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti. Bus width: 192-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 6 MB (GeForce RTX 3090 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	24 GB+300%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	1008 GB/s+425%
Bus Width	192-bit	384-bit+100%
L2 Cache	2 MB	6 MB+200%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 3090 Ti). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
DirectX	12	12.2+2%
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 7th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 3090 Ti). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (GeForce RTX 3090 Ti).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	7th Gen NVENC
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode)

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti's 450W — a 85.7% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 850W (GeForce RTX 3090 Ti). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 16-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 336mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 3090 Ti
TDP	180W-60%	450W
Recommended PSU	400W-53%	850W
Power Connector	6-pin	16-pin
Length	173mm	336mm
Height	111mm	140mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	—	85°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	65.3+17%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 3090 Ti launched at $1999. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 87.5% less ($1750 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 14.7 (GeForce RTX 3090 Ti) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 174.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 3090 Ti is the newer GPU (2022 vs 2016).