GeForce GTX 480 vs GTX 1060 3 GB

Place in the ranking	220	431
Place by popularity	23	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	22.35	1.64
Power efficiency	14.34	2.95
Architecture	Pascal (2016−2021)	Fermi (2010−2014)
GPU code name	GP106	GF100
Market segment	Desktop	Desktop
Release date	18 August 2016 (8 years ago)	26 March 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$199	$499

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 1060 3 GB has 1263% better value for money than GTX 480.

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 cores	1152	480
Core clock speed	1506 MHz	700 MHz
Boost clock speed	1708 MHz	no data
Number of transistors	4,400 million	3,100 million
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	40 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	120 Watt	250 Watt
Maximum GPU temperature	no data	105 °C
Texture fill rate	123.0	42.06
Floating-point processing power	3.935 TFLOPS	1.345 TFLOPS
ROPs	48	48
TMUs	72	60

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).

Bus support	no data	16x PCI-E 2.0
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 2.0 x16
Length	250 mm	267 mm
Height	no data	4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm)
Width	2-slot	2-slot
Supplementary power connectors	1x 6-pin	1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
SLI options	-	+

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 type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount	3 GB	1536 MB
Memory bus width	192 Bit	384 Bit
Memory clock speed	2002 MHz	1848 MHz (3696 data rate)
Memory bandwidth	192.2 GB/s	177.4 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 Connectors	1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort	Two Dual Link DVI, Mini HDMI
Multi monitor support	no data	+
HDMI	+	+
HDCP	-	+
Maximum VGA resolution	no data	2048x1536
Audio input for HDMI	no data	Internal

API compatibility

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

DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 (11_0)
Shader Model	6.4	5.1
OpenGL	4.6	4.2
OpenCL	1.2	1.1
Vulkan	+	N/A
CUDA	6.1	+

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
+133%

GTX 480 10.70

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
+133%

GTX 480 4113

Gaming performance

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

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2	20−22 +0%	20−22 +0%
Cyberpunk 2077	21−24 +0%	21−24 +0%
Elden Ring	30−35 +0%	30−35 +0%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5	35−40 +0%	35−40 +0%
Counter-Strike 2	20−22 +0%	20−22 +0%
Cyberpunk 2077	21−24 +0%	21−24 +0%
Forza Horizon 4	40−45 +0%	40−45 +0%
Metro Exodus	27−30 +0%	27−30 +0%
Red Dead Redemption 2	27−30 +0%	27−30 +0%
Valorant	40−45 +0%	40−45 +0%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5	35−40 +0%	35−40 +0%
Counter-Strike 2	20−22 +0%	20−22 +0%
Cyberpunk 2077	21−24 +0%	21−24 +0%
Dota 2	35−40 +0%	35−40 +0%
Elden Ring	30−35 +0%	30−35 +0%
Far Cry 5	40−45 +0%	40−45 +0%
Fortnite	60−65 +0%	60−65 +0%
Forza Horizon 4	40−45 +0%	40−45 +0%
Grand Theft Auto V	35−40 +0%	35−40 +0%
Metro Exodus	27−30 +0%	27−30 +0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	80−85 +0%	80−85 +0%
Red Dead Redemption 2	27−30 +0%	27−30 +0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	30−35 +0%	30−35 +0%
Valorant	40−45 +0%	40−45 +0%
World of Tanks	150−160 +0%	150−160 +0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	35−40 +0%	35−40 +0%
Counter-Strike 2	20−22 +0%	20−22 +0%
Cyberpunk 2077	21−24 +0%	21−24 +0%
Dota 2	35−40 +0%	35−40 +0%
Far Cry 5	40−45 +0%	40−45 +0%
Forza Horizon 4	40−45 +0%	40−45 +0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	80−85 +0%	80−85 +0%
Valorant	40−45 +0%	40−45 +0%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2	14−16 +0%	14−16 +0%
Elden Ring	14−16 +0%	14−16 +0%
Grand Theft Auto V	14−16 +0%	14−16 +0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	50−55 +0%	50−55 +0%
Red Dead Redemption 2	9−10 +0%	9−10 +0%
World of Tanks	75−80 +0%	75−80 +0%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	21−24 +0%	21−24 +0%
Counter-Strike 2	10−12 +0%	10−12 +0%
Cyberpunk 2077	8−9 +0%	8−9 +0%
Far Cry 5	24−27 +0%	24−27 +0%
Forza Horizon 4	24−27 +0%	24−27 +0%
Metro Exodus	21−24 +0%	21−24 +0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	12−14 +0%	12−14 +0%
Valorant	24−27 +0%	24−27 +0%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2	5−6 +0%	5−6 +0%
Dota 2	21−24 +0%	21−24 +0%
Elden Ring	7−8 +0%	7−8 +0%
Grand Theft Auto V	21−24 +0%	21−24 +0%
Metro Exodus	6−7 +0%	6−7 +0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	30−35 +0%	30−35 +0%
Red Dead Redemption 2	7−8 +0%	7−8 +0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	21−24 +0%	21−24 +0%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	9−10 +0%	9−10 +0%
Counter-Strike 2	5−6 +0%	5−6 +0%
Cyberpunk 2077	3−4 +0%	3−4 +0%
Dota 2	21−24 +0%	21−24 +0%
Far Cry 5	12−14 +0%	12−14 +0%
Fortnite	10−12 +0%	10−12 +0%
Forza Horizon 4	14−16 +0%	14−16 +0%
Valorant	10−12 +0%	10−12 +0%

All in all, in popular games:

there's a draw in 63 tests (100%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	24.94	10.70
Recency	18 August 2016	26 March 2010
Maximum RAM amount	3 GB	1536 MB
Chip lithography	16 nm	40 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	120 Watt	250 Watt

GTX 1060 3 GB has a 133.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 6 years, a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount, a 150% more advanced lithography process, and 108.3% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 480 in performance tests.

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