RX 560 vs GTX 1060 3GB
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | RX 560 | GTX 1060 3GB | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 913 | 1,379 | -33.8% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 26 | 29 | -10.3% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 13 | 15 | -13.3% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 7 | 8 | -12.5% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 2.6 | 3.9 | -33.8% |
| VRAM | 4 GB GDDR5 | 3 GB GDDR5 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 112 | 168 | -33.3% |
| TDP (W) | 80 | 120 | — |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $99 | $199 | -50.3% |
- GTX 1060 3GB averages 15 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 13% faster.
- RX 560 draws less power (80W vs 120W).
Verdict: RX 560 or GTX 1060 3GB?
RX 560 advantages
- Video memory (+25%)
- Power efficiency (+33%)
- Affordability (+50%)
GTX 1060 3GB advantages
- 1440p gaming (+13%)
- 4K gaming (+13%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+34%)
- Memory bandwidth (+33%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the RX 560 if you play the latest titles at high textures or do GPU-accelerated work.
- Choose the GTX 1060 3GB if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the RX 560 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
Value for money
RX 560 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
RX 560 vs GTX 1060 3GB: which should you choose?
RX 560 — AMD desktop graphics card (2017, Polaris) with 4 GB of GDDR5, averaging 13 fps at 1440p; launched at $99.
GTX 1060 3GB — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2016, Pascal) with 3 GB of GDDR5, averaging 15 fps at 1440p; launched at $199.
RX 560 vs GTX 1060 3GB: GTX 1060 3GB is faster for gaming. GTX 1060 3GB averages 15 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 13% faster. RX 560 draws less power (80W vs 120W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the GTX 1060 3GB averages 15 fps against 13. At 4K (7 vs 8 fps) VRAM (4GB vs 3GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
Power and value
Board power is 80 W versus 120 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $99 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 560 better than the GTX 1060 3GB?
These two are closely matched — the right pick comes down to which specific strengths you value and the price you actually pay. GTX 1060 3GB averages 15 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 13% faster.
What is the main difference between the RX 560 and the GTX 1060 3GB?
GTX 1060 3GB averages 15 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 13% faster. RX 560 draws less power (80W vs 120W).
Which is better value?
RX 560 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the RX 560 if you play the latest titles at high textures or do GPU-accelerated work. 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.