NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop) vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop)
► remove from comparison
The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 is a graphics card for desktops and high end laptops (upcoming, see our article for the mobile GTX 1060 for benchmarks and specs). It is based on the Pascal architecture and manufactured in 16 nm FinFET at TSMC. The GPU is be based on the smaller GP106 chip. In laptops it has the codename N17E-G1 and will be the successor to the old GTX 970M (predecessor). The laptop version should be launched in August 2016. The desktop version is already out.
The performance of the 6 GB version is on par with an older GeForce GTX 980 (desktop and laptop). Therefore, 1080p gaming at highest detail is currently the best use case for the card. A comprehensive review of the desktop GeForce GTX 1060 Founders Edition with 6 GB GDDR5 can be found here. Beware, the upcoming 3 GB desktop variant should feature 128 shader less but clocked slightly higher. Still the performance should be definately slower than the 6 GB version.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q
► remove from comparisonThe Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 with the Max-Q design is a mobile high-end GPU from the Pascal series. It is designed for thin and light laptops and about 10-15% slower than a regular GTX 1080 for laptops based on the cooling capabilities. The base frequency (1101-1290 MHz) is also much lower than on the regular GTX 1080 (1566 MHz, at least -18%) and the Boost (1278-1458 MHz) is also much lower compared to 1733 MHz (at least -16%) for the regular GTX 1080. The memory clock, however, is identical.
The clock is not the only difference compared to the regular GTX 1080 though. The drivers for the Max-Q version were optimized for efficiency (and not performance; only for Max-Q models), there are optimized voltage converters for 1V operation, high-end cooling methods, and a 40 dB limit for the fan noise (with clock adjustments to ensure this at all times).
The performance is nearer to the normal (Max-P) GeForce GTX 1070 than to then GTX 1080 (at least in the Asus Zephyrus). Therefore, most demanding games should be playable in full HD and maximum detail settings (see game benchmarks below).
Features
The GP104 chip is manufactured in 16nm FinFET process at TSMC and offers a range of new features. DisplayPort 1.4 (ready), HDMI 2.0b, HDR, Simultaneous Multi-Projection (SMP), improved H.265 video en- and decoders (for PlayReady 3.0) are only some of the improvements. See our detailed Pascal architecture article for more details.
The power consumption of the Max-Q design is notably lower than the normal GTX 1080 for laptops and ranges between 90 and 110 Watt (TGP) according to Nvidia.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop) | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
GeForce GTX 1000 Series |
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Codename | GP106 | N17E-G3 Max-Q | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Architecture | Pascal | Pascal | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Pipelines | 1280 - unified | 2560 - unified | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Core Speed | 1506 - 1708 (Boost) MHz | 1101 - 1290 - 1278 - 1468 (Boost) MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Speed | 8000 MHz | 10000 MHz | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Bus Width | 192 Bit | 256 Bit | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5X | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Max. Amount of Memory | 6.144 MB | 8 GB | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Shared Memory | no | no | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
API | DirectX 12_1, OpenGL 4.5 | DirectX 12_1, OpenGL 4.5 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Power Consumption | 120 Watt | 90 - 110 Watt | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Transistors | 4.4 Billion | 7.2 Billion | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
technology | 16 nm | 16 nm | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Features | Multi-Projection, VR Ready, G-SYNC, Vulkan, Multi Monitor | Multi-Projection, VR Ready, G-SYNC, Vulkan, Multi Monitor | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Date of Announcement | 19.07.2016 | 30.05.2017 | ||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Link to Manufacturer Page | www.nvidia.de | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
Notebook Size | large |
Benchmarks
3DM Vant. Perf. total + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop)
specvp12 sw-03 + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop)
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop)
GFXBench T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 + NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q
Average Benchmarks NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop) → 100% n=30
Average Benchmarks NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q → 117% n=30

* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance
1 This benchmark is not used for the average calculation
Game Benchmarks
The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

God of War
2022
Days Gone
2021
Cyberpunk 2077 1.0
2020
Dirt 5
2020
Watch Dogs Legion
2020
Serious Sam 4
2020
Horizon Zero Dawn
2020
Death Stranding
2020
F1 2020
2020
Valorant
2020
Gears Tactics
2020
Doom Eternal
2020
Hunt Showdown
2020
Hearthstone
2020
Fall Guys
2020
Need for Speed Heat
2019
GRID 2019
2019
FIFA 20
2019
Borderlands 3
2019
Control
2019
F1 2019
2019
League of Legends
2019
Rage 2
2019
Anno 1800
2019
The Division 2
2019
Dirt Rally 2.0
2019
Anthem
2019
Far Cry New Dawn
2019
Metro Exodus
2019
Apex Legends
2019
Just Cause 4
2018
Darksiders III
2018
Battlefield V
2018
Farming Simulator 19
2018
Fallout 76
2018
Hitman 2
2018
Forza Horizon 4
2018
FIFA 19
2018
F1 2018
2018
Monster Hunter World
2018
The Crew 2
2018
Far Cry 5
2018
X-Plane 11.11
2018
Fortnite
2018
Call of Duty WWII
2017
Destiny 2
2017
ELEX
2017
The Evil Within 2
2017
FIFA 18
2017
Ark Survival Evolved
2017
F1 2017
2017
Team Fortress 2
2017
Dirt 4
2017
Rocket League
2017
Prey
2017
For Honor
2017
Resident Evil 7
2017
Watch Dogs 2
2016
Dishonored 2
2016
Titanfall 2
2016
Farming Simulator 17
2016
Battlefield 1
2016
Civilization VI
2016
Mafia 3
2016
FIFA 17
2016
No Man's Sky
2016
Overwatch
2016
Doom
2016
Need for Speed 2016
2016
Hitman 2016
2016
The Division
2016
Far Cry Primal
2016
XCOM 2
2016
Rainbow Six Siege
2015
Just Cause 3
2015
Fallout 4
2015
Anno 2205
2015
FIFA 16
2015
Mad Max
2015
Dota 2 Reborn
2015
The Witcher 3
2015
Dirt Rally
2015
GTA V
2015
Alien: Isolation
2014
Sims 4
2014
GRID: Autosport
2014
Watch Dogs
2014
BioShock Infinite
2013
Tomb Raider
2013Average Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop) → 100%
Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 100%
Average Gaming NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Max-Q → 127%
Average Gaming 30-70 fps → 137%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop) | low | med. | high | ultra | QHD | 4K |
---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
Red Dead Redemption 2 | 114 | 55.7 | 36.4 | 22.7 | 18.8 | 12.1 |
Star Wars Jedi Fallen Order | 100 | 81.6 | 68.6 | 45.7 | 21.9 | |
Need for Speed Heat | 121 | 76.2 | 69.1 | 54.9 | 38.8 | 20.8 |
Call of Duty Modern Warfare 2019 | 126 | 77.9 | 70.6 | 57.9 | 40.8 | 22 |
GRID 2019 | 194 | 89.6 | 74.2 | 50.1 | 39.3 | 24.5 |
Ghost Recon Breakpoint | 113 | 66 | 60 | 43 | 30 | 14 |
FIFA 20 | 282 | 246 | 232 | 196 | 160 | 104 |
Borderlands 3 | 139 | 77.7 | 51.1 | 39 | 26.7 | 14 |
Control | 152 | 51.6 | 37.8 | 23.6 | 11.3 | |
F1 2019 | 244 | 126 | 113 | 74 | 56 | 31 |
Rage 2 | 141 | 66.1 | 57.2 | 55.9 | 34.6 | 16.4 |
Anno 1800 | 114 | 95.1 | 62.4 | 28.7 | 20.8 | 12.1 |
The Division 2 | 181 | 86 | 68 | 53 | 36 | 19 |
Dirt Rally 2.0 | 228 | 105 | 84.6 | 50.7 | 38.2 | 22.5 |
Anthem | 87.1 | 71 | 60 | 56.4 | 37.6 | 19.9 |
Far Cry New Dawn | 129 | 81 | 75 | 69 | 50 | 26 |
Metro Exodus | 110 | 54.1 | 40.2 | 33.3 | 25.5 | 15.7 |
Apex Legends | 144 | 92 | 78.5 | 76.8 | 49.9 | 24.6 |
Just Cause 4 | 126 | 81.8 | 66.1 | 62.4 | 42.8 | 22.1 |
Darksiders III | 229 | 111 | 86.8 | 75.1 | 47 | 23.4 |
Battlefield V | 184 | 106 | 86.3 | 78.3 | 58.3 | 30.7 |
Farming Simulator 19 | 305 | 204 | 132 | 102 | 68 | 36.4 |
Fallout 76 | 60 | 60 | 59.9 | 59.8 | 56.8 | 30 |
Hitman 2 | 85.3 | 75.1 | 69.6 | 66.3 | 46.4 | 24.4 |
Call of Duty Black Ops 4 | 160 | 88.9 | 80.1 | 75.1 | 47.9 | 23.7 |
Assassin´s Creed Odyssey | 100 | 72 | 61 | 38 | 32 | 18 |
Forza Horizon 4 | 161 | 100 | 93 | 73 | 57 | 38 |
FIFA 19 | 327 | 279 | 260 | 251 | 196 | 99.7 |
Shadow of the Tomb Raider | 138 | 68 | 62 | 53 | 34 | 17 |
F1 2018 | 204 | 135 | 106 | 69 | 52 | 32 |
Monster Hunter World | 107 | 70.4 | 60.3 | 46.8 | 29.7 | 14.9 |
The Crew 2 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 60 | 48.6 | 24.4 |
Far Cry 5 | 129 | 82 | 75 | 70 | 47 | 23 |
Kingdom Come: Deliverance | 145 | 82.9 | 63.8 | 50.2 | 31.4 | 14.8 |
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark | 118 | 61.5 | 43.4 | 18.4 | ||
Fortnite | 345 | 246 | 117 | 90.8 | 53.7 | 26.4 |
Star Wars Battlefront 2 | 195 | 108 | 94.4 | 79.9 | 51.1 | 23.4 |
Need for Speed Payback | 163 | 113 | 98.8 | 92 | 60.3 | 30.1 |
Call of Duty WWII | 247 | 210 | 104 | 79.8 | 60.9 | 35.8 |
Wolfenstein II: The New Colossus | 187 | 107 | 83.9 | 76.7 | 50.3 | 28.4 |
Assassin´s Creed Origins | 103 | 76 | 68 | 57 | 41 | 23 |
Destiny 2 | 160 | 119 | 106 | 86.9 | 43.7 | 21.7 |
ELEX | 122 | 88.2 | 72.6 | 55.5 | 35.8 | 18.5 |
The Evil Within 2 | 89 | 56.6 | 51.4 | 48.6 | 18.6 | |
Middle-earth: Shadow of War | 167 | 102 | 78 | 58 | 22 | |
FIFA 18 | 359 | 333 | 291 | 254 | 117 | |
Ark Survival Evolved | 126 | 54.6 | 39.9 | 27.1 | 9.9 | |
F1 2017 | 229 | 145 | 115 | 74 | 33 | |
Playerunknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) | 121 | 88.6 | 77.6 | 52.9 | 18.5 | |
Dirt 4 | 324 | 171 | 116 | 65 | 37 | |
Rocket League | 250 | 249 | 185 | 67.2 | ||
Prey | 144 | 142 | 129 | 124 | 39.1 | |
Warhammer 40.000: Dawn of War III | 170 | 66.2 | 44.8 | 39.5 | 14.1 | |
Mass Effect Andromeda | 162 | 92.6 | 61.1 | 54.6 | 23.9 | |
Ghost Recon Wildlands | 155 | 76.8 | 71 | 40.2 | 24.4 | |
For Honor | 275 | 116 | 108 | 78.7 | 33.4 | |
Resident Evil 7 | 359 | 189 | 132 | 100 | 32 | |
Watch Dogs 2 | 144 | 129 | 71 | 48 | 25 | |
Dishonored 2 | 98.3 | 96.7 | 66.1 | 57 | 31.6 | |
Call of Duty Infinite Warfare | 122 | 122 | 105 | 93.9 | 44.1 | |
Titanfall 2 | 144 | 144 | 122 | 112 | 32.4 | |
Farming Simulator 17 | 308 | 268 | 248 | 199 | 103 | |
Battlefield 1 | 174 | 167 | 98 | 89 | 36 | |
Civilization VI | 89.7 | 74.1 | 66.5 | 63.8 | 64.4 | |
Mafia 3 | 102 | 71.3 | 36.9 | 15.7 | ||
FIFA 17 | 438 | 397 | 314 | 304 | 127 | |
Deus Ex Mankind Divided | 136 | 104 | 58 | 31 | 19 | |
No Man's Sky | 147 | 131 | 80.1 | 37.6 | 33 | |
Mirror's Edge Catalyst | 197 | 164 | 86.1 | 78.3 | 27.6 | |
Overwatch | 300 | 300 | 190 | 116 | 61.1 | |
Doom | 194 | 178 | 106 | 99.7 | 34.2 | |
Need for Speed 2016 | 130 | 128 | 100 | 77.4 | 33.9 | |
Hitman 2016 | 94.8 | 89.1 | 58.4 | 55 | 26 | |
The Division | 227 | 148 | 75.1 | 59.6 | 28.2 | |
Far Cry Primal | 128 | 95 | 85 | 70 | 28 | |
XCOM 2 | 132 | 89.1 | 65.6 | 30.9 | 17.8 | |
Rise of the Tomb Raider | 214 | 140 | 82 | 67 | 28 | |
Rainbow Six Siege | 327 | 262 | 154 | 130 | 47.7 | |
Just Cause 3 | 164 | 153 | 99.4 | 85.6 | 36.1 | |
Star Wars Battlefront | 200 | 200 | 120 | 102 | 37.9 | |
Assassin's Creed Syndicate | 121 | 117 | 83 | 35.3 | 27.8 | |
Fallout 4 | 194 | 169 | 96 | 77.1 | 32.2 | |
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3 | 190 | 175 | 99.4 | 85.9 | 32.2 | |
Anno 2205 | 146 | 135 | 96.9 | 31.9 | 38.2 | |
FIFA 16 | 391 | 340 | 298 | 127 | ||
Mad Max | 273 | 144 | 132 | 46.8 | ||
Batman: Arkham Knight | 165 | 150 | 97 | 67 | 32 | |
The Witcher 3 | 220 | 147 | 76 | 44 | 29 | |
Dirt Rally | 378 | 207 | 183 | 106 | 87.7 | |
Dragon Age: Inquisition | 212 | 199 | 96.5 | 66.9 | ||
Alien: Isolation | 331 | 310 | 195 | 133 | ||
Sims 4 | 192 | 184 | 164 | 148 | ||
GRID: Autosport | 366 | 215 | 183 | 150 | ||
Watch Dogs | 129 | 112 | 84.7 | 65.5 | ||
BioShock Infinite | 253.9 | 217.6 | 205.1 | 113.5 | ||
< 30 fps < 60 fps < 120 fps ≥ 120 fps | 17 76 | 5 48 41 | 13 62 20 | 3 33 43 12 | 6 31 3 2 | 51 28 8 2 |
For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List