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

✅+8% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Delivers 21.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 33.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Measures 173mm instead of 241mm, a 68mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2016-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.

Radeon RX 590

2018

Why buy it

✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅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.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (9,315 vs 10,064).
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 8 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
12% HIGHER MSRP
$279 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 33.4 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌39.3% longer card at 241mm vs 173mm.

GeForce GTX 1060

2016

Radeon RX 590

2018

Why buy it

✅+8% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Costs $30 less on MSRP ($249 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Delivers 21.1% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 40.4 vs 33.4 G3D/$ ($249 MSRP vs $279 MSRP).
✅Measures 173mm instead of 241mm, a 68mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅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.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR 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

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (9,315 vs 10,064).
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 8 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.
❌
12% HIGHER MSRP
$279 MSRPvs$249 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 33.4 vs 40.4 G3D/$ ($279 MSRP vs $249 MSRP).
❌39.3% longer card at 241mm vs 173mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 1060 better than Radeon RX 590?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 8% higher PassMark G3D performance. It also comes from 2016 instead of 2018, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

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

Radeon RX 590 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2018 generation instead of 2016, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB, better upscaling support with FSR Upscaling / FSR 4 (2025) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack and better frame-generation support with FSR Frame Generation (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack, and a 12nm process instead of 16nm. That extra memory headroom makes it the safer pick for newer games, heavier textures, and higher settings over time.

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 $30 cheaper on MSRP at $249 MSRP versus $279 MSRP, and you are getting 8.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 21.1%. Radeon RX 590 is the newer 2018 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture and future-proofing than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does Radeon RX 590 make more sense than GeForce GTX 1060?

Yes. Radeon RX 590 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, future-proofing, and staying closer to $279 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 1060. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 1060 currently gives you 8.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 21.1%.

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

Radeon RX 590 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 590
1080p
low	117 FPS	175 FPS
medium	105 FPS	159 FPS
high	91 FPS	138 FPS
ultra	77 FPS	107 FPS
1440p
low	103 FPS	153 FPS
medium	87 FPS	126 FPS
high	76 FPS	104 FPS
ultra	67 FPS	85 FPS
4K
low	55 FPS	76 FPS
medium	49 FPS	64 FPS
high	41 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	43 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon RX 590

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 590
1080p
low	216 FPS	170 FPS
medium	181 FPS	145 FPS
high	148 FPS	126 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	98 FPS
1440p
low	134 FPS	96 FPS
medium	107 FPS	75 FPS
high	87 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	68 FPS	49 FPS
4K
low	62 FPS	46 FPS
medium	51 FPS	36 FPS
high	49 FPS	31 FPS
ultra	41 FPS	26 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon RX 590

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 590
1080p
low	453 FPS	419 FPS
medium	362 FPS	335 FPS
high	302 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	210 FPS
1440p
low	340 FPS	314 FPS
medium	272 FPS	252 FPS
high	226 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	157 FPS
4K
low	226 FPS	210 FPS
medium	181 FPS	168 FPS
high	151 FPS	140 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	105 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon RX 590

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 590
1080p
low	358 FPS	419 FPS
medium	302 FPS	335 FPS
high	260 FPS	279 FPS
ultra	226 FPS	210 FPS
1440p
low	299 FPS	314 FPS
medium	254 FPS	252 FPS
high	208 FPS	210 FPS
ultra	170 FPS	157 FPS
4K
low	170 FPS	190 FPS
medium	133 FPS	149 FPS
high	123 FPS	131 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	105 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 Open Radeon RX 590

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 and Radeon RX 590

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.

Radeon RX 590

The Radeon RX 590 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in November 15 2018. It features the GCN 4.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1469 MHz to 1545 MHz. It has 2304 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 175W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,315 points. Launch price was $279.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 scores 10,064 versus the Radeon RX 590's 9,315 — the GeForce GTX 1060 leads by 8%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is built on Pascal while the Radeon RX 590 uses GCN 4.0, both on 16 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 2,560 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 2,304 (Radeon RX 590). Raw compute: 8.873 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 7.119 TFLOPS (Radeon RX 590). Boost clocks: 1733 MHz vs 1545 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 590
G3D Mark Score	10,064+8%	9,315
Architecture	Pascal	GCN 4.0
Process Node	16 nm	12 nm
Shading Units	2560+11%	2304
Compute (TFLOPS)	8.873 TFLOPS+25%	7.119 TFLOPS
Boost Clock	1733 MHz+12%	1545 MHz
ROPs	64+100%	32
TMUs	160+11%	144
L1 Cache	960 KB+67%	576 KB
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 590 is support for FSR 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 GTX 1060 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 590 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 590
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR Upscaling / FSR 4
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 1060 comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the Radeon RX 590 has 8 GB. The Radeon RX 590 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 256 GB/s (Radeon RX 590) — a 33.3% advantage for the Radeon RX 590. Bus width: 192-bit vs 256-bit.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 590
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	256 GB/s+33%
Bus Width	192-bit	256-bit+33%
L2 Cache	2 MB	2 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 12.0 (Radeon RX 590). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 590
DirectX	12	12.0
Vulkan	1.3+8%	1.2
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Pascal) (GeForce GTX 1060) vs VCE 3.4 (Radeon RX 590). Decoder: NVDEC (Pascal) vs UVD 6.3. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (Radeon RX 590).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 590
Encoder	NVENC (Pascal)	VCE 3.4
Decoder	NVDEC (Pascal)	UVD 6.3
Codecs	H.264,H.265/HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 draws 180W versus the Radeon RX 590's 175W — a 2.8% difference. The Radeon RX 590 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 500W (Radeon RX 590). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 173mm vs 241mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060	Radeon RX 590
TDP	180W	175W-3%
Recommended PSU	400W-20%	500W
Power Connector	6-pin	8-pin
Length	173mm	241mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	—	80°C
Perf/Watt	55.9+5%	53.2

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 launched at $249 MSRP, while the Radeon RX 590 launched at $279. The GeForce GTX 1060 costs 10.8% less ($30 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 40.4 (GeForce GTX 1060) vs 33.4 (Radeon RX 590) — the GeForce GTX 1060 offers 21% better value. The Radeon RX 590 is the newer GPU (2018 vs 2016).