965M SLI vs 1060 Mobile

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Combined performance score

GTX 1060 Mobile
21.06
+22.2%

1060 Mobile outperforms 965M SLI by 22% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

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

Place in performance ranking239291
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Value for money32.2930.15
ArchitecturePascal (2016−2021)Maxwell (2014−2018)
GPU code nameN17E-G1no data
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
Release date18 August 2016 (7 years old)5 January 2015 (9 years old)
Launch price (MSRP)$237.11 no data
Current price$240 (1x MSRP)$149
Value for money

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 1060 Mobile has 7% better value for money than GTX 965M SLI.

Technical specs

General performance parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. These parameters indirectly speak of performance, but for precise assessment you have to consider their benchmark and gaming test results. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores12802048
CUDA cores1280no data
Core clock speed1506 MHz924 MHz
Boost clock speed1708 MHz950 MHz
Number of transistors4,400 million2x 5200 Million
Manufacturing process technology16 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)80 Wattno data
Maximum GPU temperature94 °Cno data
Texture fill rate133.6no data
Floating-point performance4,275 gflopsno data

Size and compatibility

Information on GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile and GeForce GTX 965M SLI compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For notebook video cards it's notebook size, connection slot and bus, if the video card is inserted into a slot instead of being soldered to the notebook motherboard.

Laptop sizelargelarge
Bus supportPCIe 3.0no data
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16no data
SLI options-+

Memory

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 amount6 GB2x 4 GB
Memory bus width192 Bit128 Bit
Memory clock speed8000 MHz5000 MHz
Memory bandwidth192 GB/sno data
Shared memory--

Video outputs and ports

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 ConnectorsDP 1.43, HDMI 2.0b, Dual Link-DVIno data
Multi monitor support+no data
HDCP2.2no data
G-SYNC support+no data

Technologies

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

GameStream+no data
GPU Boost3.0no data
Optimusno data+
VR Ready+no data
Ansel+no data

API support

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

DirectX12 (12_1)12_1
Shader Model6.4no data
OpenGL4.5no data
OpenCL1.2no data
Vulkan1.2.131no data
CUDA++

Synthetic benchmark performance

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


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance 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 21.06
+22.2%
GTX 965M SLI 17.24

1060 Mobile outperforms 965M SLI by 22% in our combined benchmark results.


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.

Benchmark coverage: 17%

GTX 1060 Mobile 14693
+1.8%
GTX 965M SLI 14428

1060 Mobile outperforms 965M SLI by 2% in 3DMark 11 Performance GPU.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

GTX 1060 Mobile 11558
+13.2%
GTX 965M SLI 10207

1060 Mobile outperforms 965M SLI by 13% in 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

GTX 1060 Mobile 74605
+45.8%
GTX 965M SLI 51182

1060 Mobile outperforms 965M SLI by 46% in 3DMark Cloud Gate GPU.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 8%

GTX 1060 Mobile 298378
+19.2%
GTX 965M SLI 250259

1060 Mobile outperforms 965M SLI by 19% in 3DMark Ice Storm GPU.

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 HD69
−4.3%
72
+4.3%
1440p45
+28.6%
35−40
−28.6%
4K29
+38.1%
21−24
−38.1%

Performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 37
+37%
27−30
−37%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 62
+72.2%
35−40
−72.2%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 53
+76.7%
30−33
−76.7%
Battlefield 5 96
+65.5%
55−60
−65.5%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 73
+65.9%
40−45
−65.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 30
+11.1%
27−30
−11.1%
Far Cry 5 75
+66.7%
45−50
−66.7%
Far Cry New Dawn 69
+46.8%
45−50
−46.8%
Forza Horizon 4 102
+70%
60−65
−70%
Hitman 3 76
+55.1%
45−50
−55.1%
Horizon Zero Dawn 62
+72.2%
35−40
−72.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2 52
+79.3%
27−30
−79.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 60
+66.7%
35−40
−66.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion 55
+66.7%
30−35
−66.7%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 54
+50%
35−40
−50%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 45
+50%
30−33
−50%
Battlefield 5 81
+39.7%
55−60
−39.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 62
+40.9%
40−45
−40.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 25
−8%
27−30
+8%
Far Cry 5 68
+51.1%
45−50
−51.1%
Far Cry New Dawn 66
+40.4%
45−50
−40.4%
Forza Horizon 4 91
+51.7%
60−65
−51.7%
Hitman 3 64
+30.6%
45−50
−30.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn 45
+25%
35−40
−25%
Metro Exodus 40
+48.1%
27−30
−48.1%
Red Dead Redemption 2 27
−7.4%
27−30
+7.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 51
+41.7%
35−40
−41.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 69
+86.5%
35−40
−86.5%
Watch Dogs: Legion 48
+45.5%
30−35
−45.5%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 37
+2.8%
35−40
−2.8%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 38
+26.7%
30−33
−26.7%
Battlefield 5 71
+22.4%
55−60
−22.4%
Cyberpunk 2077 23
−17.4%
27−30
+17.4%
Far Cry 5 64
+42.2%
45−50
−42.2%
Far Cry New Dawn 60
+27.7%
45−50
−27.7%
Forza Horizon 4 71
+18.3%
60−65
−18.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 39
+5.4%
35−40
−5.4%
Watch Dogs: Legion 28
−17.9%
30−35
+17.9%

1440p
High Preset

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 37
+48%
24−27
−48%
Hitman 3 30−35
+25.9%
27−30
−25.9%
Horizon Zero Dawn 29
+26.1%
21−24
−26.1%
Metro Exodus 23
+43.8%
16−18
−43.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2 17
+30.8%
12−14
−30.8%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 32
+45.5%
21−24
−45.5%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 27
+50%
18−20
−50%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 27
+80%
14−16
−80%
Battlefield 5 53
+43.2%
35−40
−43.2%
Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+30%
10−11
−30%
Far Cry 5 43
+48.3%
27−30
−48.3%
Far Cry New Dawn 45
+40.6%
30−35
−40.6%
Forza Horizon 4 57
+67.6%
30−35
−67.6%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 24−27
+33.3%
18−20
−33.3%
Watch Dogs: Legion 19
+72.7%
10−12
−72.7%

4K
High Preset

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 20
+66.7%
12−14
−66.7%
Hitman 3 20−22
+25%
16−18
−25%
Horizon Zero Dawn 8
−37.5%
10−12
+37.5%
Metro Exodus 14
+55.6%
9−10
−55.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2 11
+22.2%
9−10
−22.2%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 16
+45.5%
10−12
−45.5%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 26
+52.9%
16−18
−52.9%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 18
+80%
10−11
−80%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 10
+11.1%
9−10
−11.1%
Battlefield 5 28
+47.4%
18−20
−47.4%
Cyberpunk 2077 4−5
+33.3%
3−4
−33.3%
Far Cry 5 21
+50%
14−16
−50%
Far Cry New Dawn 23
+35.3%
16−18
−35.3%
Forza Horizon 4 35
+45.8%
24−27
−45.8%
Watch Dogs: Legion 9−10
+28.6%
7−8
−28.6%

This is how GTX 1060 Mobile and GTX 965M SLI compete in popular games:

1080p resolution:

  • GTX 965M SLI is 4.3% faster than GTX 1060 Mobile

1440p resolution:

  • GTX 1060 Mobile is 28.6% faster than GTX 965M SLI

4K resolution:

  • GTX 1060 Mobile is 38.1% faster than GTX 965M SLI

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

  • in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 1060 Mobile is 86.5% faster than the GTX 965M SLI.
  • in Horizon Zero Dawn, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 965M SLI is 37.5% faster than the GTX 1060 Mobile.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 1060 Mobile is ahead in 63 tests (93%)
  • GTX 965M SLI is ahead in 5 tests (7%)

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 21.06 17.24
Recency 18 August 2016 5 January 2015
Chip lithography 16 nm 28 nm

The GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 965M SLI in performance tests.


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

User ratings

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 965M SLI
GeForce GTX 965M SLI

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