GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GTX 970
The GeForce GTX 1060 is a massive performance leap — leading the GeForce GTX 970 by roughly 40% in our performance index. The GeForce GTX 970, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $55 GBP cheaper.
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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.
Price & Value
On price, expect to pay $99 GBP for the GeForce GTX 970 versus $154 GBP for the GeForce GTX 1060. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 970 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~11% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 970 is trading below its $329 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 1060 is trading below its $299 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal.
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?
Choose the GeForce GTX 1060 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 970 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
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?
Is the GeForce GTX 1060 worth the extra $55 GBP over the GeForce GTX 970?
Does the GeForce GTX 1060 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1060 or GeForce GTX 970?
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 |