GTX 1060 3GB vs RX 480
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | GTX 1060 3GB | RX 480 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 1,379 | 2,040 | -32.4% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 29 | 33 | -12.1% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 15 | 18 | -16.7% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 8 | 10 | -20.0% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 3.9 | 5.8 | -32.4% |
| VRAM | 3 GB GDDR5 | 8 GB GDDR5 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 168 | 224 | -25.0% |
| TDP (W) | 120 | 150 | — |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $199 | $239 | -16.7% |
- RX 480 averages 18 fps at 1440p versus 15 fps — about 17% faster.
- GTX 1060 3GB draws less power (120W vs 150W).
Verdict: GTX 1060 3GB or RX 480?
GTX 1060 3GB advantages
- Power efficiency (+20%)
- Affordability (+17%)
RX 480 advantages
- 1440p gaming (+17%)
- 4K gaming (+20%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+32%)
- Video memory (+63%)
- Memory bandwidth (+25%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the GTX 1060 3GB if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the RX 480 if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the GTX 1060 3GB if you want the better price for the performance.
Value for money
RX 480 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
GTX 1060 3GB vs RX 480: which should you choose?
GTX 1060 3GB — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2016, Pascal) with 3 GB of GDDR5, averaging 15 fps at 1440p; launched at $199.
RX 480 — AMD desktop graphics card (2016, Polaris) with 8 GB of GDDR5, averaging 18 fps at 1440p; launched at $239.
GTX 1060 3GB vs RX 480: RX 480 is faster for gaming. RX 480 averages 18 fps at 1440p versus 15 fps — about 17% faster. GTX 1060 3GB draws less power (120W vs 150W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the RX 480 averages 18 fps against 15. At 4K (8 vs 10 fps) VRAM (3GB vs 8GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
Power and value
Board power is 120 W versus 150 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $199 vs $239, weigh the frame-rate lead against price and power draw for your target resolution.
The verdict
Both are credible choices in the graphics card comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GTX 1060 3GB better than the RX 480?
RX 480 takes the overall edge, though GTX 1060 3GB wins in specific areas worth weighing. RX 480 averages 18 fps at 1440p versus 15 fps — about 17% faster.
What is the main difference between the GTX 1060 3GB and the RX 480?
RX 480 averages 18 fps at 1440p versus 15 fps — about 17% faster. GTX 1060 3GB draws less power (120W vs 150W).
Which is better value?
RX 480 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the GTX 1060 3GB if you want lower power draw, heat and noise. Choose the RX 480 if you game at 1440p.
Methodology
Graphics cards are compared on 3DMark Time Spy scores, average gaming frame rates at 1080p/1440p/4K, FP32 compute throughput, VRAM capacity and type, memory bandwidth, board power (TDP) and launch MSRP — plus AI workload throughput (Stable Diffusion iterations/s and local LLM tokens/s) where measured. Vintage and server GPUs without modern benchmark results are compared on specifications only, clearly labelled. Frame rates are averages across a game suite at high settings; specific titles vary.