GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB vs GTX 1060 3 GB

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GTX 1050 Mobile GTX 1050 3 GB Max-Q GTX 1050 Max-Q GTX 1050 Mobile 3 GB GTX 1050 Ti Mobile GTX 1050 Ti Max-Q GTX 1060 Mobile GTX 1060 Max-Q 3 GB GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB GTX 1070 Mobile GTX 1070 Max-Q GTX 1070 SLI Mobile GTX 1080 Mobile GTX 1080 Max-Q GTX 1080 SLI Mobile

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB with GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB, including specs and performance data.

GTX 1060 3 GB
2016
3 GB GDDR5, 120 Watt
24.94
+62.7%

GTX 1060 3 GB outperforms GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB by an impressive 63% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Contents

GTX 1060 3 GB GTX 1060 3 GB
GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking221349
Place by popularity23not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation22.68no data
Power efficiency14.3313.21
ArchitecturePascal (2016−2021)Pascal (2016−2021)
GPU code nameGP106GP106
Market segmentDesktopLaptop
Release date18 August 2016 (8 years ago)27 June 2017 (7 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$199 no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores11521280
Core clock speed1506 MHz1063 MHz
Boost clock speed1708 MHz1480 MHz
Number of transistors4,400 million4,400 million
Manufacturing process technology16 nm16 nm
Power consumption (TDP)120 Watt80 Watt
Texture fill rate123.0118.4
Floating-point processing power3.935 TFLOPS3.789 TFLOPS
ROPs4848
TMUs7280

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop sizeno datalarge
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
Length250 mmno data
Width2-slotno data
Supplementary power connectors1x 6-pinNone

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount3 GB6 GB
Memory bus width192 Bit192 Bit
Memory clock speed2002 MHz2002 MHz
Memory bandwidth192.2 GB/s192.2 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPortNo outputs
HDMI+-
G-SYNC support-+

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

VR Readyno data+

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (12_1)12 (12_1)
Shader Model6.46.4
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL1.21.2
Vulkan+1.2.131
CUDA6.16.1

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 1060 3 GB 24.94
+62.7%
GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB 15.33

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GTX 1060 3 GB 9588
+62.8%
GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB 5891

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD130−140
+62.5%
80
−62.5%
1440p24−27
+60%
15
−60%
4K45−50
+50%
30
−50%

Cost per frame, $

1080p1.53no data
1440p8.29no data
4K4.42no data

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%
Elden Ring 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Metro Exodus 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Valorant 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%
Dota 2 56
+0%
56
+0%
Elden Ring 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Far Cry 5 55−60
+0%
55−60
+0%
Fortnite 92
+0%
92
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 84
+0%
84
+0%
Metro Exodus 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 175
+0%
175
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Valorant 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
World of Tanks 190−200
+0%
190−200
+0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%
Dota 2 55−60
+0%
55−60
+0%
Far Cry 5 55−60
+0%
55−60
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 48
+0%
48
+0%
Valorant 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Elden Ring 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 130−140
+0%
130−140
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 12−14
+0%
12−14
+0%
World of Tanks 100−110
+0%
100−110
+0%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+0%
12−14
+0%
Far Cry 5 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%
Metro Exodus 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Valorant 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Dota 2 54
+0%
54
+0%
Elden Ring 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 54
+0%
54
+0%
Metro Exodus 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 57
+0%
57
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 10−11
+0%
10−11
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 54
+0%
54
+0%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 10−12
+0%
10−12
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 4−5
+0%
4−5
+0%
Dota 2 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
Far Cry 5 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Fortnite 24
+0%
24
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%
Valorant 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%

This is how GTX 1060 3 GB and GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB compete in popular games:

  • GTX 1060 3 GB is 63% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 1060 3 GB is 60% faster in 1440p
  • GTX 1060 3 GB is 50% faster in 4K

All in all, in popular games:

  • there's a draw in 63 tests (100%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score 24.94 15.33
Recency 18 August 2016 27 June 2017
Maximum RAM amount 3 GB 6 GB
Power consumption (TDP) 120 Watt 80 Watt

GTX 1060 3 GB has a 62.7% higher aggregate performance score.

GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB, on the other hand, has an age advantage of 10 months, a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount, and 50% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is a desktop card while GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB is a notebook one.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB
GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB
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Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.

4.1 9013 votes

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4.1 200 votes

Rate GeForce GTX 1060 Max-Q 6 GB on a scale of 1 to 5:

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Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about this comparison, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.