RX 550 vs GTX 1060 3GB
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | RX 550 | GTX 1060 3GB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 423 | 1,379 | -69.3% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 22 | 29 | -24.1% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 11 | 15 | -26.7% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 6 | 8 | -25.0% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 1.2 | 3.9 | -69.3% |
| VRAM | 2 GB GDDR5 | 3 GB GDDR5 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 112 | 168 | -33.3% |
| TDP (W) | 50 | 120 | — |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $79 | $199 | -60.3% |
- GTX 1060 3GB averages 15 fps at 1440p versus 11 fps — about 27% faster.
- RX 550 draws less power (50W vs 120W).
Verdict: RX 550 or GTX 1060 3GB?
RX 550 advantages
- Power efficiency (+58%)
- Affordability (+60%)
GTX 1060 3GB advantages
- 1440p gaming (+27%)
- 4K gaming (+25%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+69%)
- Video memory (+33%)
- Memory bandwidth (+33%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the RX 550 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the GTX 1060 3GB if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the RX 550 if you want the better price for the performance.
Value for money
GTX 1060 3GB delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
RX 550 vs GTX 1060 3GB: which should you choose?
RX 550 — AMD desktop graphics card (2017, Polaris) with 2 GB of GDDR5, averaging 11 fps at 1440p; launched at $79.
GTX 1060 3GB — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2016, Pascal) with 3 GB of GDDR5, averaging 15 fps at 1440p; launched at $199.
RX 550 vs GTX 1060 3GB: GTX 1060 3GB is faster for gaming. GTX 1060 3GB averages 15 fps at 1440p versus 11 fps — about 27% faster. RX 550 draws less power (50W vs 120W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the GTX 1060 3GB averages 15 fps against 11. At 4K (6 vs 8 fps) VRAM (2GB vs 3GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
Power and value
Board power is 50 W versus 120 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $79 vs $199, 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 RX 550 better than the GTX 1060 3GB?
GTX 1060 3GB takes the overall edge, though RX 550 wins in specific areas worth weighing. GTX 1060 3GB averages 15 fps at 1440p versus 11 fps — about 27% faster.
What is the main difference between the RX 550 and the GTX 1060 3GB?
GTX 1060 3GB averages 15 fps at 1440p versus 11 fps — about 27% faster. RX 550 draws less power (50W vs 120W).
Which is better value?
GTX 1060 3GB delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the RX 550 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise. Choose the GTX 1060 3GB 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.