GPU Comparison

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

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the Radeon RX 6500 XT comes out noticeably faster — about 14% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1060. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.

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

VS
Price
€309
Performance
7%
VRAM
6 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+200% Memory Bus (192-bit vs 64-bit)
+33% Bandwidth (192 GB/s vs 144 GB/s)
+25% CUDA Cores (1,280 vs 1,024)
AMD
Radeon RX 6500 XT
Price
€169
Performance
8%
VRAM
4 GB GDDR6
Key Specs Advantage
+65% Boost Clock (2,815 MHz vs 1,708 MHz)

Radeon RX 6500 XT vs GeForce GTX 1060: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon RX 6500 XT vs GeForce GTX 1060

The Radeon RX 6500 XT is noticeably faster, around 14% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1060. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.

Price & Value

The Radeon RX 6500 XT currently lists from $169 EUR, $140 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 1060 at $309 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the Radeon RX 6500 XT wins on performance-per-dollar by about 109%. The Radeon RX 6500 XT is trading below its $200 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

At 113W against 120W, the Radeon RX 6500 XT is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern RDNA 2 architecture on a TSMC N6 process is part of why it does more with each watt.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The GeForce GTX 1060 carries 6GB versus 4GB on the Radeon RX 6500 XT. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers.

Generation & Longevity

The Radeon RX 6500 XT is roughly 6 years newer than the GeForce GTX 1060 (RDNA 2 vs Pascal), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce GTX 1060 brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon RX 6500 XT offers AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1060 or Radeon RX 6500 XT?

The Radeon RX 6500 XT 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 GTX 1060 if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the Radeon RX 6500 XT better than the GeForce GTX 1060?

The Radeon RX 6500 XT is noticeably faster, roughly 14% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1060 or the Radeon RX 6500 XT?

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.

Is the GeForce GTX 1060 worth the extra $140 EUR over the Radeon RX 6500 XT?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon RX 6500 XT comes out ahead.

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 1060Radeon RX 6500 XT
ArchitecturePascalRDNA 2
Process NodeTSMC 16nmTSMC N6
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors)1,2801,024
Ray Tracing Cores16

Clock Speeds

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060Radeon RX 6500 XT
Base Clock1,506 MHz2,310 MHz
Boost Clock1,708 MHz2,815 MHz

Memory

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060Radeon RX 6500 XT
VRAM Capacity6 GB4 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR6
Memory Bus192-bit64-bit
Memory Speed8 Gbps18 Gbps
Bandwidth192 GB/s144 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060Radeon RX 6500 XT
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 4.0 x4
TDP120 W113 W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin1x 6-pin
ReleasedJul 2016Jan 2022