GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
Market comparison is currently pending while we verify the latest benchmarks for GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 970.
The GeForce GTX 1060 is dramatically faster than the GeForce GTX 970, leading by roughly 40% in our performance index.
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GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GTX 970: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GTX 970
The GeForce GTX 1060 is dramatically faster, around 40% ahead of the GeForce GTX 970. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 1060 draws just 120W versus 145W for the GeForce GTX 970, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom. Its more modern Pascal architecture on a TSMC 16nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 6GB against 4GB, the GeForce GTX 1060 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 970's 4GB can fall short. The GeForce GTX 970's memory is also faster — 224 GB/s versus 192 GB/s (256-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1060 is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX 970 (Pascal vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1060 or GeForce GTX 970?
The GeForce GTX 1060 is the faster card by about 40%. With live pricing limited for this pair, base your decision on the spec differences above — particularly VRAM and power draw — and check current stock before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1060 better than the GeForce GTX 970?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1060 or the GeForce GTX 970?
Does the GeForce GTX 1060 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,280 | 1,664✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,506 MHz✓ | 1,050 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,708 MHz✓ | 1,178 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB✓ | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 256-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps✓ | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 192 GB/s | 224.3 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 120 W✓ | 145 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | Jul 2016 | Sep 2014 |