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 3GB

2016

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 across 37 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 8 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 3 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 49.3 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅103.4% more average FPS across 37 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 32.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 49.3 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 3 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

2016

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $100 less on MSRP ($199 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Why buy it

✅103.4% more average FPS across 37 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 32.6% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 49.3 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅166.7% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 3 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 4060 across 37 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 8 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 3 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 49.3 vs 65.4 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 better than GeForce GTX 1060 3GB?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4060 averages 103.4% more FPS across 37 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 19,548 vs 9,815 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 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 4060 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2016, 99.2% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 3 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 4060 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 4060 is about 50.3% more expensive on MSRP at $299 MSRP versus $199 MSRP, and you are getting 103.4% more estimated average FPS across 37 tracked games in our benchmark data and 99.2% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 1060 3GB really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

Is GeForce GTX 1060 3GB still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is 2016 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM, 9,815 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 3GB Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	95 FPS	167 FPS
medium	83 FPS	152 FPS
high	70 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	58 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	84 FPS	137 FPS
medium	70 FPS	114 FPS
high	58 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	49 FPS	90 FPS
4K
low	41 FPS	86 FPS
medium	38 FPS	74 FPS
high	27 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	24 FPS	55 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	191 FPS	392 FPS
medium	161 FPS	334 FPS
high	132 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	211 FPS
1440p
low	127 FPS	240 FPS
medium	101 FPS	209 FPS
high	80 FPS	169 FPS
ultra	61 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	54 FPS	119 FPS
medium	45 FPS	98 FPS
high	43 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	63 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	379 FPS	812 FPS
medium	332 FPS	642 FPS
high	246 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	204 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	308 FPS	535 FPS
medium	265 FPS	443 FPS
high	207 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	166 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	187 FPS	365 FPS
medium	160 FPS	297 FPS
high	108 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	76 FPS	186 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	257 FPS	746 FPS
medium	206 FPS	613 FPS
high	186 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	162 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	196 FPS	594 FPS
medium	154 FPS	486 FPS
high	136 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	113 FPS	330 FPS
4K
low	97 FPS	358 FPS
medium	73 FPS	308 FPS
high	65 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	51 FPS	220 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Open GeForce RTX 4060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 3GB and GeForce RTX 4060

GeForce GTX 1060 3GB

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 18 2016. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1506 MHz to 1708 MHz. It has 1152 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 120W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,815 points. Launch price was $199.

GeForce RTX 4060

The GeForce RTX 4060 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1830 MHz to 2460 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 115W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 24 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 19,548 points. Launch price was $299.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB scores 9,815 versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 19,548 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 99.2%. The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 4060 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,152 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060). Raw compute: 3.935 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 15.11 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060). Boost clocks: 1708 MHz vs 2460 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4060
G3D Mark Score	9,815	19,548+99%
Architecture	Pascal	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	16 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1152	3072+167%
Compute (TFLOPS)	3.935 TFLOPS	15.11 TFLOPS+284%
Boost Clock	1708 MHz	2460 MHz+44%
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	72	96+33%
L1 Cache	0.42 MB	3 MB+614%
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	24 MB+1500%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 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 3GB lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4060
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 3GB comes with 3 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 offers 166.7% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 192 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) — a 41.7% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 24 MB (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4060
VRAM Capacity	3 GB	8 GB+167%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	192 GB/s	272 GB/s+42%
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	24 MB+1500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4060
DirectX	12.1	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.1	1.3+18%
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 4.0 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4060
Encoder	NVENC 4.0	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP6	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB draws 120W versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 115W — a 4.3% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 400W (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060). Power connectors: 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 250mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 75°C vs 73°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	GeForce RTX 4060
TDP	120W	115W-4%
Recommended PSU	400W-27%	550W
Power Connector	6-pin	8-pin
Length	250mm	240mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	75°C	73°C-3%
Perf/Watt	81.8	170.0+108%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB launched at $199 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4060 launched at $299. The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB costs 33.4% less ($100 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 49.3 (GeForce GTX 1060 3GB) vs 65.4 (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 offers 32.7% better value. The GeForce RTX 4060 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2016).