GeForce GT 1030 vs GeForce GTX 1060
The GeForce GTX 1060 is dramatically faster than the GeForce GT 1030, leading by roughly 600% in our performance index. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
Market Value Leader
GeForce GTX 1060 is the clear winner, offering 890.4% better value than GeForce GT 1030.
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Comparable or lower specs
GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GT 1030: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GT 1030
The GeForce GTX 1060 is dramatically faster, around 600% ahead of the GeForce GT 1030. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 1060 packs 1,280 CUDA cores versus 384 on the GeForce GT 1030.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 1060 starts at $61 EUR against $87 EUR for the GeForce GT 1030. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1060 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 890%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is trading below its $299 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GT 1030 pulls less power (30W vs 120W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce GTX 1060 draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 6GB against 2GB, the GeForce GTX 1060 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GT 1030's 2GB can fall short. The GeForce GTX 1060's memory is also faster — 192 GB/s versus 48 GB/s (192-bit vs 64-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce GT 1030 or GeForce GTX 1060?
The GeForce GTX 1060 is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce GT 1030 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1060 better than the GeForce GT 1030?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GT 1030 or the GeForce GTX 1060?
Is the GeForce GT 1030 worth the extra $25 EUR over the GeForce GTX 1060?
Does the GeForce GTX 1060 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GT 1030 or GeForce GTX 1060?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GT 1030 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Pascal |
| Process Node | Samsung 14nm | TSMC 16nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 384 | 1,280✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GT 1030 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,227 MHz | 1,506 MHz✓ |
| Boost Clock | 1,468 MHz | 1,708 MHz✓ |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GT 1030 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 6 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 64-bit | 192-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 6 Gbps | 8 Gbps✓ |
| Bandwidth | 48 GB/s | 192 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GT 1030 | GeForce GTX 1060 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 30 W✓ | 120 W |
| Power Connectors | None | 1x 6-pin |
| Released | May 2017 | Jul 2016 |