GPU Comparison

Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.

Market Value Leader

Only verified data for GeForce GTX 970 is available. Benchmarks for other models are currently being processed.

Quick Verdict

The GeForce GTX 1060 is dramatically faster than the GeForce GTX 970, leading by roughly 40% in our performance index.

Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)

VS
NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 1060
Price
Awaiting Data
Performance
7/100✓
VRAM
6 GB GDDR5✓
Key Specs Advantage
+45% Boost Clock (1,708 MHz vs 1,178 MHz)
NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 970
Price
€339✓
Performance
5/100
VRAM
4 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+33% Memory Bus (256-bit vs 192-bit)
+30% CUDA Cores (1,664 vs 1,280)
+17% Bandwidth (224.3 GB/s vs 192 GB/s)
Skip to Spec Sheets ↓

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?

The GeForce GTX 1060 is dramatically faster, roughly 40% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1060 or the GeForce GTX 970?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at entry-level 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Does the GeForce GTX 1060 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 6GB (vs 4GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 970
ArchitecturePascalMaxwell
Process NodeTSMC 16nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)1,2801,664✓

Clock Speeds

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 970
Base Clock1,506 MHz✓1,050 MHz
Boost Clock1,708 MHz✓1,178 MHz

Memory

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 970
VRAM Capacity6 GB✓4 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus192-bit256-bit✓
Memory Speed8 Gbps✓7 Gbps
Bandwidth192 GB/s224.3 GB/s✓

Connectivity & Power

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 970
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP120 W✓145 W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin2x 6-pin
ReleasedJul 2016Sep 2014
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