Radeon R9 290X vs GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile

VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile with Radeon R9 290X, including specs and performance data.

GTX 1060 Mobile
2016
6 GB GDDR5, 80 Watt
19.73
+2.2%

GTX 1060 Mobile outperforms R9 290X by a minimal 2% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking285292
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation27.594.86
Power efficiency17.024.59
ArchitecturePascal (2016−2021)GCN 2.0 (2013−2017)
GPU code nameGP106Hawaii
Market segmentLaptopDesktop
Designno datareference
Release date15 August 2016 (8 years ago)24 October 2013 (11 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$237.11 $549

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 1060 Mobile has 468% better value for money than R9 290X.

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 cores12802816
Core clock speed1506 MHzno data
Boost clock speed1708 MHz947 MHz
Number of transistors4,400 million6,200 million
Manufacturing process technology16 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)80 Watt250 Watt
Maximum GPU temperature94 °Cno data
Texture fill rate133.6176.0
Floating-point processing power4.275 TFLOPS5.632 TFLOPS
ROPs4864
TMUs80176

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 sizelargeno data
Bus supportPCIe 3.0PCIe 3.0
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
Lengthno data275 mm
Widthno data2-slot
Supplementary power connectorsno data1 x 6-pin + 1 x 8-pin

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 amount6 GB4 GB
Memory bus width192 Bit512 Bit
Memory clock speed2002 MHz1250 MHz
Memory bandwidth192 GB/s320 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 ConnectorsDP 1.43, HDMI 2.0b, Dual Link-DVI2x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPort
Multi monitor support+no data
Eyefinity-+
HDMI-+
HDCP2.2-
DisplayPort support-+
G-SYNC support+-

Supported technologies

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

AppAcceleration-+
CrossFire-+
FreeSync-+
HD3D-+
LiquidVR-+
TressFX-+
TrueAudio-+
UVD-+
DDMA audiono data+
GameStream+-
GPU Boost3.0no data
VR Ready+no data
Ansel+-

API compatibility

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

DirectX12 (12_1)DirectX® 12
Shader Model6.46.3
OpenGL4.54.6
OpenCL1.22.0
Vulkan1.2.131+
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
+2.2%
R9 290X 19.31

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
R9 290X 16168
+10%

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
R9 290X 37284
+9.3%

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
R9 290X 11717
+1.4%

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
+0.8%
R9 290X 73987

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
R9 290X 332042
+11.3%

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 HD68
−25%
85
+25%
1440p44
+10%
40−45
−10%
4K30
−73.3%
52
+73.3%

Cost per frame, $

1080p3.49
+85.2%
6.46
−85.2%
1440p5.39
+155%
13.73
−155%
4K7.90
+33.6%
10.56
−33.6%
  • GTX 1060 Mobile has 85% lower cost per frame in 1080p
  • GTX 1060 Mobile has 155% lower cost per frame in 1440p
  • GTX 1060 Mobile has 34% lower cost per frame in 4K

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 40
+17.6%
30−35
−17.6%
Cyberpunk 2077 37
−2.7%
35−40
+2.7%
Elden Ring 53
−15.1%
60−65
+15.1%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 63
+3.3%
60−65
−3.3%
Counter-Strike 2 32
−6.3%
30−35
+6.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 32
−18.8%
35−40
+18.8%
Forza Horizon 4 106
+30.9%
80−85
−30.9%
Metro Exodus 69
+32.7%
50−55
−32.7%
Red Dead Redemption 2 74
+64.4%
45−50
−64.4%
Valorant 86
+10.3%
75−80
−10.3%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 73
+19.7%
60−65
−19.7%
Counter-Strike 2 27
−25.9%
30−35
+25.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 26
−46.2%
35−40
+46.2%
Dota 2 49
+8.9%
45
−8.9%
Elden Ring 65
+6.6%
60−65
−6.6%
Far Cry 5 70
+7.7%
65−70
−7.7%
Fortnite 94
−9.6%
100−110
+9.6%
Forza Horizon 4 80
−1.3%
80−85
+1.3%
Grand Theft Auto V 74
+10.4%
67
−10.4%
Metro Exodus 49
−6.1%
50−55
+6.1%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 204
+55.7%
130−140
−55.7%
Red Dead Redemption 2 27
−66.7%
45−50
+66.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 75
+25%
60−65
−25%
Valorant 53
−47.2%
75−80
+47.2%
World of Tanks 222
−26.1%
280
+26.1%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 57
−7%
60−65
+7%
Counter-Strike 2 35−40
+2.9%
30−35
−2.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 23
−65.2%
35−40
+65.2%
Dota 2 118
−15.3%
136
+15.3%
Far Cry 5 65−70
+1.5%
65−70
−1.5%
Forza Horizon 4 68
−19.1%
80−85
+19.1%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 55
−138%
130−140
+138%
Valorant 72
−8.3%
75−80
+8.3%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 30−35
+3.3%
30−33
−3.3%
Elden Ring 30−35
+3.1%
30−35
−3.1%
Grand Theft Auto V 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 170−180
+0.6%
160−170
−0.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2 17
+0%
16−18
+0%
World of Tanks 130−140
+1.5%
130−140
−1.5%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 42
+7.7%
35−40
−7.7%
Counter-Strike 2 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
+6.7%
14−16
−6.7%
Far Cry 5 50−55
+3.9%
50−55
−3.9%
Forza Horizon 4 50−55
+4.1%
45−50
−4.1%
Metro Exodus 45
+2.3%
40−45
−2.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 27−30
+3.8%
24−27
−3.8%
Valorant 46
−8.7%
50−55
+8.7%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Dota 2 30−35
−52.9%
52
+52.9%
Elden Ring 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
Grand Theft Auto V 30−35
−57.6%
52
+57.6%
Metro Exodus 14
+0%
14−16
+0%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 64
+10.3%
55−60
−10.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2 11
−9.1%
12−14
+9.1%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 30−35
−57.6%
52
+57.6%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 22
+15.8%
18−20
−15.8%
Counter-Strike 2 16−18
+0%
16−18
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 6−7
+0%
6−7
+0%
Dota 2 30−35
−147%
84
+147%
Far Cry 5 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Fortnite 26
+13%
21−24
−13%
Forza Horizon 4 27−30
+3.6%
27−30
−3.6%
Valorant 23
+0%
21−24
+0%

This is how GTX 1060 Mobile and R9 290X compete in popular games:

  • R9 290X is 25% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 1060 Mobile is 10% faster in 1440p
  • R9 290X is 73% faster in 4K

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

  • in Red Dead Redemption 2, with 1080p resolution and the Medium Preset, the GTX 1060 Mobile is 64% faster.
  • in Dota 2, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the R9 290X is 147% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 1060 Mobile is ahead in 29 tests (46%)
  • R9 290X is ahead in 24 tests (38%)
  • there's a draw in 10 tests (16%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 19.73 19.31
Recency 15 August 2016 24 October 2013
Maximum RAM amount 6 GB 4 GB
Chip lithography 16 nm 28 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 80 Watt 250 Watt

GTX 1060 Mobile has a 2.2% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 2 years, a 50% higher maximum VRAM amount, a 75% more advanced lithography process, and 212.5% lower power consumption.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile and Radeon R9 290X.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile is a notebook card while Radeon R9 290X is a desktop 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 Mobile
GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile
AMD Radeon R9 290X
Radeon R9 290X

Other comparisons

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

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


4 592 votes

Rate GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
4.1 455 votes

Rate Radeon R9 290X on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

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