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 with Max-Q Design

2017

Why buy it

✅Draws 80W instead of 115W, a 35W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 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: 2017-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 65.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅91.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌43.8% higher power demand at 115W vs 80W.

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

2017

GeForce RTX 4060

2023

Why buy it

✅Draws 80W instead of 115W, a 35W reduction.

Why buy it

✅91.0% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 65.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($299 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 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 4060 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 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: 2017-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 65.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $299 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌43.8% higher power demand at 115W vs 80W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 better than GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4060 averages 91.0% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 19,548 vs 7,853 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design is a 2017 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 2017, 148.9% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 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 4060 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 4060 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $299 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 91.0% more estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 148.9% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around an unclear MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 4060 is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

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 with Max-Q Design Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4060 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	82 FPS	167 FPS
medium	70 FPS	152 FPS
high	59 FPS	134 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	115 FPS
1440p
low	72 FPS	137 FPS
medium	62 FPS	114 FPS
high	46 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	30 FPS	90 FPS
4K
low	26 FPS	86 FPS
medium	25 FPS	74 FPS
high	17 FPS	62 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	55 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design Open GeForce RTX 4060

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	167 FPS	392 FPS
medium	142 FPS	334 FPS
high	118 FPS	268 FPS
ultra	83 FPS	211 FPS
1440p
low	115 FPS	240 FPS
medium	92 FPS	209 FPS
high	73 FPS	169 FPS
ultra	52 FPS	137 FPS
4K
low	50 FPS	119 FPS
medium	41 FPS	98 FPS
high	39 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	30 FPS	63 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design Open GeForce RTX 4060

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	353 FPS	812 FPS
medium	283 FPS	642 FPS
high	236 FPS	551 FPS
ultra	177 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	265 FPS	535 FPS
medium	212 FPS	443 FPS
high	177 FPS	379 FPS
ultra	133 FPS	329 FPS
4K
low	177 FPS	365 FPS
medium	141 FPS	297 FPS
high	118 FPS	234 FPS
ultra	88 FPS	186 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design Open GeForce RTX 4060

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 4060
1080p
low	214 FPS	746 FPS
medium	182 FPS	613 FPS
high	147 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	125 FPS	440 FPS
1440p
low	164 FPS	594 FPS
medium	142 FPS	486 FPS
high	110 FPS	421 FPS
ultra	90 FPS	330 FPS
4K
low	90 FPS	358 FPS
medium	72 FPS	308 FPS
high	56 FPS	285 FPS
ultra	42 FPS	220 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design Open GeForce RTX 4060

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design and GeForce RTX 4060

GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design

The GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 27 2017. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1063 MHz to 1480 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 80W. Manufactured using 16 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,853 points.

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 with Max-Q Design scores 7,853 versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 19,548 — the GeForce RTX 4060 leads by 148.9%. The GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design is built on Pascal while the GeForce RTX 4060 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 16 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,280 (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 3,072 (GeForce RTX 4060). Raw compute: 3.789 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 15.11 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060). Boost clocks: 1480 MHz vs 2460 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 4060
G3D Mark Score	7,853	19,548+149%
Architecture	Pascal	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	16 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	1280	3072+140%
Compute (TFLOPS)	3.789 TFLOPS	15.11 TFLOPS+299%
Boost Clock	1480 MHz	2460 MHz+66%
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	80	96+20%
L1 Cache	0.47 MB	3 MB+538%
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 with Max-Q Design 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 with Max-Q Design is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	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 with Max-Q Design comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 128 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 272 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060) — a 112.5% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060. Bus width: 128-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 24 MB (GeForce RTX 4060) — the GeForce RTX 4060 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 4060
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	128 GB/s	272 GB/s+113%
Bus Width	128-bit	128-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB	24 MB+1500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060). Vulkan: 1.3 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 4060
DirectX	12.1	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.3	1.3
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 6.0 (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs NVENC 8th gen (GeForce RTX 4060). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP8 vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060).

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 4060
Encoder	NVENC 6.0	NVENC 8th gen
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP8	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design draws 80W versus the GeForce RTX 4060's 115W — a 35.9% difference. The GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 8-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 240mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 1060 with Max-Q Design	GeForce RTX 4060
TDP	80W-30%	115W
Recommended PSU	350W-36%	550W
Power Connector	PCIe-powered	8-pin
Length	0mm	240mm
Height	0mm	111mm
Slots	0-100%	2
Temp (Load)	—	73°C
Perf/Watt	98.2	170.0+73%