GeForce GTX 960 vs GTX 1060 Mobile

Place in the ranking	284	342
Place by popularity	not in top-100	53
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	27.58	9.16
Power efficiency	17.02	9.11
Architecture	Pascal (2016−2021)	Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)
GPU code name	GP106	GM206
Market segment	Laptop	Desktop
Release date	15 August 2016 (8 years ago)	22 January 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$237.11	$199

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 1060 Mobile has 201% better value for money than GTX 960.

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	1280	1024
Core clock speed	1506 MHz	1127 MHz
Boost clock speed	1708 MHz	1178 MHz
Number of transistors	4,400 million	2,940 million
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	80 Watt	120 Watt
Maximum GPU temperature	94 °C	no data
Texture fill rate	133.6	75.39
Floating-point processing power	4.275 TFLOPS	2.413 TFLOPS
ROPs	48	32
TMUs	80	64

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 size	large	no data
Bus support	PCIe 3.0	PCI Express 3.0
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 3.0 x16
Length	no data	241 mm
Height	no data	4.376" (11.1 cm)
Width	no data	2-slot
Recommended system power (PSU)	no data	400 Watt
Supplementary power connectors	no data	1x 6-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	6 GB	4 GB
Memory bus width	192 Bit	128 Bit
Memory clock speed	2002 MHz	7.0 GB/s
Memory bandwidth	192 GB/s	112 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	DP 1.43, HDMI 2.0b, Dual Link-DVI	Dual Link DVI-I, HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.2
Multi monitor support	+	4 displays
HDMI	-	+
HDCP	2.2	+
Maximum VGA resolution	no data	2048x1536
G-SYNC support	+	+
Audio input for HDMI	no data	Internal

Supported technologies

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

GameStream	+	+
GeForce ShadowPlay	-	+
GPU Boost	3.0	2.0
GameWorks	-	+
VR Ready	+	no data
Ansel	+	no data

API compatibility

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

DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 (12_1)
Shader Model	6.4	6.4
OpenGL	4.5	4.4
OpenCL	1.2	1.2
Vulkan	1.2.131	+
CUDA	+	+

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 Mobile 19.73
+24.5%

GTX 960 15.85

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 1060 Mobile 14693
+36.5%

GTX 960 10768

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GTX 1060 Mobile 34127
+11%

GTX 960 30751

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 1060 Mobile 11558
+46%

GTX 960 7916

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1060 Mobile 74605
+49.5%

GTX 960 49918

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1060 Mobile 298378

GTX 960 310860
+4.2%

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 HD	68 +9.7%	62 −9.7%
1440p	44 +25.7%	35−40 −25.7%
4K	30 +0%	30 +0%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	3.49 −8.6%	3.21 +8.6%
1440p	5.39 +5.5%	5.69 −5.5%
4K	7.90 −19.2%	6.63 +19.2%

GTX 960 has 9% lower cost per frame in 1080p
GTX 1060 Mobile has 6% lower cost per frame in 1440p
GTX 960 has 19% lower cost per frame in 4K

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2	40 +42.9%	27−30 −42.9%
Cyberpunk 2077	37 +19.4%	30−35 −19.4%
Elden Ring	53 +8.2%	45−50 −8.2%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5	63 +23.5%	50−55 −23.5%
Counter-Strike 2	32 +14.3%	27−30 −14.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	32 +3.2%	30−35 −3.2%
Forza Horizon 4	106 +63.1%	65−70 −63.1%
Metro Exodus	69 +60.5%	40−45 −60.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2	74 +94.7%	35−40 −94.7%
Valorant	86 +34.4%	60−65 −34.4%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5	73 +43.1%	50−55 −43.1%
Counter-Strike 2	27 −3.7%	27−30 +3.7%
Cyberpunk 2077	26 −19.2%	30−35 +19.2%
Dota 2	49 +48.5%	33 −48.5%
Elden Ring	65 +32.7%	45−50 −32.7%
Far Cry 5	70 +22.8%	55−60 −22.8%
Fortnite	94 +6.8%	85−90 −6.8%
Forza Horizon 4	80 +23.1%	65−70 −23.1%
Grand Theft Auto V	74 +51%	49 −51%
Metro Exodus	49 +14%	40−45 −14%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	204 +80.5%	110−120 −80.5%
Red Dead Redemption 2	27 −40.7%	35−40 +40.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	75 +53.1%	49 −53.1%
Valorant	53 −20.8%	60−65 +20.8%
World of Tanks	222 +10.4%	200−210 −10.4%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	57 +11.8%	50−55 −11.8%
Counter-Strike 2	35−40 +25%	27−30 −25%
Cyberpunk 2077	23 −34.8%	30−35 +34.8%
Dota 2	118 +107%	55−60 −107%
Far Cry 5	65−70 +15.8%	55−60 −15.8%
Forza Horizon 4	68 +4.6%	65−70 −4.6%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	55 −105%	110−120 +105%
Valorant	72 +12.5%	60−65 −12.5%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2	30−35 +34.8%	21−24 −34.8%
Elden Ring	30−35 +32%	24−27 −32%
Grand Theft Auto V	30−35 +29.2%	24−27 −29.2%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	170−180 +16.4%	140−150 −16.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2	17 +21.4%	14−16 −21.4%
World of Tanks	130−140 +21.8%	110−120 −21.8%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	42 +31.3%	30−35 −31.3%
Counter-Strike 2	16−18 +14.3%	14−16 −14.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	16−18 +33.3%	12−14 −33.3%
Far Cry 5	50−55 +35.9%	35−40 −35.9%
Forza Horizon 4	50−55 +30.8%	35−40 −30.8%
Metro Exodus	45 +28.6%	35−40 −28.6%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	27−30 +35%	20−22 −35%
Valorant	46 +15%	40−45 −15%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2	16−18 +45.5%	10−12 −45.5%
Dota 2	30−35 +22.2%	27−30 −22.2%
Elden Ring	14−16 +27.3%	10−12 −27.3%
Grand Theft Auto V	30−35 +22.2%	27−30 −22.2%
Metro Exodus	14 +27.3%	10−12 −27.3%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	64 +36.2%	45−50 −36.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2	11 +10%	10−11 −10%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	30−35 +22.2%	27−30 −22.2%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	22 +46.7%	14−16 −46.7%
Counter-Strike 2	16−18 +45.5%	10−12 −45.5%
Cyberpunk 2077	6−7 +50%	4−5 −50%
Dota 2	30−35 +22.2%	27−30 −22.2%
Far Cry 5	24−27 +25%	20−22 −25%
Fortnite	26 +44.4%	18−20 −44.4%
Forza Horizon 4	27−30 +31.8%	21−24 −31.8%
Valorant	23 +27.8%	18−20 −27.8%

This is how GTX 1060 Mobile and GTX 960 compete in popular games:

GTX 1060 Mobile is 10% faster in 1080p
GTX 1060 Mobile is 26% faster in 1440p
A tie in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Dota 2, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 1060 Mobile is 107% faster.
in PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 960 is 105% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

GTX 1060 Mobile is ahead in 57 tests (90%)
GTX 960 is ahead in 6 tests (10%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	19.73	15.85
Recency	15 August 2016	22 January 2015
Maximum RAM amount	6 GB	4 GB
Chip lithography	16 nm	28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	80 Watt	120 Watt

GTX 1060 Mobile has a 24.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 1 year, a 50% higher maximum VRAM amount, a 75% more advanced lithography process, and 50% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 960 in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile is a notebook card while GeForce GTX 960 is a desktop one.

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