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 $1,350 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 110.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 19.2 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 425W, a 245W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 304mm, a 131mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4090 D across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 24 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.

GeForce RTX 4090 D

2023

Why buy it

✅155.3% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌
542.2% HIGHER MSRP
$1,599 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 19.2 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,599 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌136.1% higher power demand at 425W vs 180W.
❌75.7% longer card at 304mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

GeForce RTX 4090 D

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $1,350 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).
✅Delivers 110.3% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 19.2 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $1,599 MSRP).
✅Draws 180W instead of 425W, a 245W reduction.
✅Measures 173mm instead of 304mm, a 131mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅155.3% more average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅300% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (24 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4090 D across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 24 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.

Trade-offs

❌
542.2% HIGHER MSRP
$1,599 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 19.2 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($1,599 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌136.1% higher power demand at 425W vs 180W.
❌75.7% longer card at 304mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4090 D better than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4090 D is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4090 D averages 155.3% more FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 30,725 vs 10,064 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4090 D is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, 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 4090 D is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2016, 205.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 24 GB instead of 6 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) 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 4090 D is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 4090 D is about 542.2% more expensive on MSRP at $1,599 MSRP versus $249 MSRP, and you are getting 155.3% more estimated average FPS across 47 tracked games in our benchmark data and 205.3% 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 4090 D Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 4090 D
1080p
low	117 FPS	284 FPS
medium	105 FPS	263 FPS
high	91 FPS	225 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	197 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	262 FPS
medium	87 FPS	217 FPS
high	76 FPS	173 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	156 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	180 FPS
medium	49 FPS	150 FPS
high	41 FPS	114 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	102 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 4090 D

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 4090 D
1080p
low	216 FPS	841 FPS
medium	181 FPS	657 FPS
high	148 FPS	516 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	449 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	673 FPS
medium	107 FPS	548 FPS
high	87 FPS	443 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	364 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	375 FPS
medium	51 FPS	314 FPS
high	49 FPS	286 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	240 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 4090 D

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 4090 D
1080p
low	453 FPS	944 FPS
medium	362 FPS	772 FPS
high	302 FPS	699 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	604 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	731 FPS
medium	272 FPS	598 FPS
high	226 FPS	529 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	452 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	506 FPS
medium	181 FPS	419 FPS
high	151 FPS	377 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	317 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 4090 D

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 4090 D
1080p
low	358 FPS	999 FPS
medium	302 FPS	971 FPS
high	260 FPS	855 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	691 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	830 FPS
medium	254 FPS	728 FPS
high	208 FPS	641 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	518 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	606 FPS
medium	133 FPS	538 FPS
high	123 FPS	461 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	346 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open GeForce RTX 4090 D

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce RTX 4090 D

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 4090 D

The GeForce RTX 4090 D is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in December 28 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2280 MHz to 2520 MHz. It has 14592 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 425W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 114 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 30,725 points. Launch price was $1,599.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the GeForce RTX 4090 D's 30,725 — the GeForce RTX 4090 D leads by 205.3%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 4090 D uses Ada Lovelace, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 14,592 (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 73.54 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 2520 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 4090 D
G3D Mark Score	10,064	30,725+205%
Architecture	Pascal	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	16 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2560	14592+470%
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS	73.54 TFLOPS+729%
Boost Clock	1733 MHz	2520 MHz+45%
ROPs	64	176+175%
TMUs	160	456+185%
L1 Cache	0.94 MB	14.3 MB+1421%
L2 Cache	2 MB	72 MB+3500%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4090 D is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce GTX 1060 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4090 D supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 4090 D
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4090 D has 24 GB. The GeForce RTX 4090 D 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 4090 D) — a 425% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4090 D. Bus width: 192-bit vs 384-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 72 MB (GeForce RTX 4090 D) — the GeForce RTX 4090 D has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 4090 D
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	72 MB+3500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 4090 D
DirectX	12	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.4+8%
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 2x NVENC (8th Gen) (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4090 D).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 4090 D
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	2x NVENC (8th Gen)
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	NVDEC (5th Gen)
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the GeForce RTX 4090 D's 425W — a 81% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 850W (GeForce RTX 4090 D). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 16-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	GeForce RTX 4090 D
TDP	180W-58%	425W
Recommended PSU	400W-53%	850W
Power Connector	6-pin	16-pin
Length	173mm	304mm
Height	111mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	—	78°C
Perf/Watt	55.9	72.3+29%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4090 D launched at $1599. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 84.4% less ($1350 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 19.2 (GeForce RTX 4090 D) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 110.4% better value. The GeForce RTX 4090 D is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2016).