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GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GTX 960

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the GeForce GTX 1060 comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 133% ahead of the GeForce GTX 960. Best performance and best value in one card here — the clear recommendation if you can afford it.

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

VS
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 1060
Price
$95 USD✓
Performance
7/100✓
VRAM
6 GB GDDR5✓
Key Specs Advantage
+71% Bandwidth (192 GB/s vs 112 GB/s)
+50% Memory Bus (192-bit vs 128-bit)
+45% Boost Clock (1,708 MHz vs 1,178 MHz)
$269 USDUsed - Very Good MSI GeForce GTX 1060 3GB GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 x16 Graphics Card GTX 1060 AERO ITX 3G OC
$95 USDAsus Geforce GTX 1060 3GB Dual Video Graphics Card DUAL-GTX1060-O3G (Renewed)
Used
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 960
Price
$110 USD
Performance
3/100
VRAM
2 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage

Comparable or lower specs

$245 USDZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 2GB GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 HDMI DVI DisplayPort SLI Ready Graphic Card ZT-90301-10M
$110 USDZotac GeForce GTX 960 AMP Edition 2GB GDDR5 128-bit (Renewed)
Used
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GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GTX 960: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GTX 960

The GeForce GTX 1060 is dramatically faster, around 133% ahead of the GeForce GTX 960. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 1060 packs 1,280 CUDA cores versus 1,024 on the GeForce GTX 960.

Price & Value

The GeForce GTX 1060 currently lists from $95 USD, $15 USD less than the GeForce GTX 960 at $110 USD. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1060 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 170%. The GeForce GTX 1060 is trading below its $299 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 960 is trading below its $199 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

VRAM favors the GeForce GTX 1060 at 6GB versus 2GB on the GeForce GTX 960 — that extra 4GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce GTX 1060's memory is also faster — 192 GB/s versus 112 GB/s (192-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1060 or GeForce GTX 960?

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 GTX 960 if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 1060 better than the GeForce GTX 960?

The GeForce GTX 1060 is dramatically faster, roughly 133% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1060 or the GeForce GTX 960?

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 960 worth the extra $15 USD over the GeForce GTX 1060?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce GTX 1060 comes out ahead.

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

Its 6GB (vs 2GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1060 or GeForce GTX 960?

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 GTX 960 if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 960
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 960
ArchitecturePascalMaxwell
Process NodeTSMC 16nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)1,280✓1,024

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 960
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 960
Base Clock1,506 MHz✓1,127 MHz
Boost Clock1,708 MHz✓1,178 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 960
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 960
VRAM Capacity6 GB✓2 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus192-bit✓128-bit
Memory Speed8 Gbps✓7 Gbps
Bandwidth192 GB/s✓112 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 960
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1060GeForce GTX 960
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP120 W120 W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin1x 6-pin
ReleasedJul 2016Jan 2015