GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB vs GeForce GTX 970
When comparing GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970, we look primarily at benchmarks and game tests. But it is not only about the numbers. Often you can find third-party models with higher clock speeds, better cooling, or a customizable RGB lighting. Not all of them will have all the features you need. Another thing to consider is the port selection. Most graphics cards have at least one DisplayPort and HDMI interface, but some monitors require DVI. Before you buy, check the TDP of the graphics card - this characteristic will help you estimate the consumption of the graphics card. You may even have to upgrade your PSU to meet its requirements. An important factor when choosing between GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 is the price. Does the additional cost justify the performance hit? Our comparison should help you make the right decision.
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB
Main Specs
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB
GeForce GTX 970
Power consumption (TDP)
120 Watt
148 Watt
Interface
PCIe 3.0 x16
PCIe 3.0 x16
Supplementary power connectors
1x 6-pin
2x 6-pins
Memory type
GDDR5
GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount
3 GB
4 GB
Display Connectors
1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort
1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort
Recommended system power (PSU)
500 Watt
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GeForce GTX 970 has 23% more power consumption, than GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB.
Both video cards are using PCIe 3.0 x16 interface connection to a motherboard.
GeForce GTX 970 has 1 GB more memory, than GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB.
Both cards are used in Desktops.
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is build with Pascal architecture, and GeForce GTX 970 - with Maxwell.
Core clock speed of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is 456 MHz higher, than GeForce GTX 970.
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is manufactured by 16 nm process technology, and GeForce GTX 970 - by 28 nm process technology.
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is 240 mm longer, than GeForce GTX 970.
Memory clock speed of GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB is 8001 MHz higher, than GeForce GTX 970.
Game benchmarks
Assassin's Creed Odyssey
Battlefield 5
Call of Duty: Warzone
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive
Cyberpunk 2077
Dota 2
Far Cry 5
Fortnite
Forza Horizon 4
Grand Theft Auto V
Metro Exodus
Minecraft
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS
Red Dead Redemption 2
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt
World of Tanks
high / 1080p
50−55
50−55
ultra / 1080p
30−35
30−35
QHD / 1440p
24−27
27−30
4K / 2160p
14−16
14−16
low / 720p
75−80
75−80
medium / 1080p
60−65
60−65
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Assassin's Creed Odyssey.
high / 1080p
75−80
75−80
ultra / 1080p
70−75
70−75
QHD / 1440p
50−55
50−55
4K / 2160p
27−30
27−30
low / 720p
130−140
130−140
medium / 1080p
85−90
85−90
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Battlefield 5.
low / 768p
45−50
45−50
QHD / 1440p
45−50
45−50
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Call of Duty: Warzone.
low / 768p
250−260
250−260
medium / 768p
230−240
230−240
QHD / 1440p
150−160
150−160
4K / 2160p
100−110
100−110
high / 768p
220−230
220−230
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Counter-Strike: Global Offensive.
low / 768p
70−75
70−75
medium / 1080p
50−55
50−55
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Cyberpunk 2077.
low / 768p
120−130
120−130
medium / 768p
110−120
110−120
ultra / 1080p
110−120
110−120
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Dota 2.
high / 1080p
60−65
60−65
ultra / 1080p
60−65
60−65
QHD / 1440p
40−45
40−45
4K / 2160p
21−24
21−24
low / 720p
100−110
100−110
medium / 1080p
65−70
65−70
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Far Cry 5.
high / 1080p
90−95
90−95
ultra / 1080p
70−75
70−75
QHD / 1440p
45−50
45−50
4K / 2160p
21−24
21−24
low / 720p
220−230
220−230
medium / 1080p
140−150
140−150
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Fortnite.
high / 1080p
85−90
85−90
ultra / 1080p
65−70
65−70
QHD / 1440p
45−50
45−50
4K / 2160p
30−35
30−35
low / 720p
130−140
130−140
medium / 1080p
90−95
90−95
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Forza Horizon 4.
low / 768p
160−170
160−170
medium / 768p
150−160
150−160
high / 1080p
95−100
95−100
ultra / 1080p
45−50
45−50
QHD / 1440p
40−45
40−45
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Grand Theft Auto V.
high / 1080p
35−40
35−40
ultra / 1080p
30−35
30−35
QHD / 1440p
24−27
24−27
4K / 2160p
14−16
14−16
low / 720p
90−95
95−100
medium / 1080p
50−55
50−55
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 970 in Metro Exodus is 2% more, than GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB.
low / 768p
120−130
120−130
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in Minecraft.
high / 1080p
75−80
75−80
ultra / 1080p
55−60
55−60
4K / 2160p
18−20
18−20
low / 720p
120−130
120−130
medium / 1080p
85−90
85−90
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS.
high / 1080p
35−40
35−40
ultra / 1080p
21−24
24−27
QHD / 1440p
16−18
16−18
4K / 2160p
10−11
10−12
low / 720p
90−95
90−95
medium / 1080p
55−60
55−60
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 970 in Red Dead Redemption 2 is 2% more, than GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB.
low / 768p
180−190
180−190
medium / 768p
120−130
120−130
high / 1080p
70−75
70−75
ultra / 1080p
40−45
40−45
4K / 2160p
24−27
24−27
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt.
low / 768p
120−130
120−130
ultra / 1080p
65−70
65−70
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB and GeForce GTX 970 have the same average FPS in World of Tanks.
Full Specs
GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB
GeForce GTX 970
Architecture
Pascal
Maxwell
Code name
GP106
GM204
Type
Desktop
Desktop
Release date
18 August 2016
19 September 2014
Pipelines
1152
1664
Core clock speed
1506 MHz
1050 MHz
Boost Clock
1708 MHz
1178 MHz
Transistor count
4,400 million
5,200 million
Manufacturing process technology
16 nm
28 nm
Texture fill rate
123.0
109 billion/sec
Floating-point performance
3,935 gflops
3,920 gflops
Length
250 mm
10.5" (26.7 cm)
Memory bus width
192 Bit
256 Bit
Memory clock speed
8008 MHz
7.0 GB/s
Memory bandwidth
192.2 GB/s
224 GB/s
Shared memory
-
G-SYNC support
+
DirectX
12 (12_1)
12 (12_1)
Shader Model
6.4
6.4
OpenGL
4.6
4.4
OpenCL
1.2
1.2
Vulkan
+
1.1.126
CUDA
6.1
+
Monero / XMR (CryptoNight)
0.48 kh/s
CUDA cores
1664
Bus support
PCI Express 3.0
Height
4.376" (11.1 cm)
SLI options
+
Multi monitor support
4 displays
HDCP
+
Maximum VGA resolution
2048x1536
Audio input for HDMI
Internal
Bitcoin / BTC (SHA256)
478 Mh/s
Decred / DCR (Decred)
1.51 Gh/s
Ethereum / ETH (DaggerHashimoto)
19 Mh/s
22.21 Mh/s
Zcash / ZEC (Equihash)
291.61 Sol/s
GameStream
+
GeForce ShadowPlay
+
GPU Boost
2.0
GameWorks
+
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