Best GTX 1060 Graphics Card of 2018 – Buyer’s Guide

(Interactive GTX 1060 comparison chart found below! Click on each row to find the latest price on Amazon.com. Models with 3GB and 6GB variants – the 6GB specs have been listed above)

 

One of the most popular cards of the year without a doubt has got to be the GTX 1060.  While it is not the thousand+ dollar beast of a card to max out 4K gaming and multiple monitors… most gamers and enthusiasts don’t have one or more 4K monitors they need to max out. For a large number of us, the extra five, six, or eight hundred dollars would be wasted, when a two or three hundred card (ie the GTX 1060) would suit our needs and still have some room for future-proofing. The 1060 line is powered by the new Pascal architecture, and was released with both 3Gb and 6Gb GDDR5 memory options.  Outperforming the 960 line by up to 2 times in gaming, and up to 3 times performance in VR, it’s no wonder so many people are opting for the awesome power hidden in this gem of a video card.

THE BEST GTX 1060: Gigabyte Windforce OC 6Gb (Editor’s Pick)

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There are so many factors involved when you want to crown one particular variant over another for the ‘best’ example of a given lineup.  For the GTX 1060, the Gigabyte Windforce OC 6Gb beats out the lineup with a number of nice features. This variant is equipped with 6Gb of 192-bit GDDR5 video memory, and comes with a factory boosted clock speed of 1797MHz. It’s priced at a modest $259.99 as of this writing, so is also a good option for those wanting an OC, 6Gb model, without a $290+ budget.  The card itself is rather stylish, with a dual-fan cooling array and a black shroud featuring orange accented pin-stripes.  The backplate even has a very nice looking black brushed metal look to it. All in all, this is a solid all-around GTX 1060 which will make most gamers looking to upgrade happy with their choice.

BEST GTX 1060 FOR OVERCLOCKING: EVGA SC ACX 3.0 FTW

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For those of us who like to push their card to the limit, and really bring out the hidden power of any new GPU that comes out, the criteria for a good, or best, video card can be a bit different. For this year, if you’re itching to really crank up a GTX 1060, and get the most out of it, you ought to look to the EVGA SC ACX 3.0 FTW GTX 1060.  It comes with the wildly effective EVGA ACX 3.0 cooling system which has a number of superb features designed to keep the card running cool even under a full load and overclocked. Featuring a memory/MOSFET cooling plate, double ball bearing fans, straight copper heatpipes and fan blades with optimized curve for its’ cooling needs, it’s more forgiving than a lot of other options when the heat is on. On the software side, you get the EVGA precision XOC package, which gives incredible control with a clean, easy to use interface.  Control for fan speed, CPU and memory clock speeds, voltages, as well as scanning and information display options that are hard to find elsewhere. If you eat, sleep, and breath overclocking, this is the 1060 you’re looking for.

BEST COOLING GTX 1060: MSI Gaming X

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The entirety of the GTX 1060 lineup has seen some really top-notch cooling. There are definitely some differences between them, but it really looks like there aren’t any that stand out as having anything less than ‘pretty superb’ cooling equipped. It wasn’t either, therefore, to pick a best as far as cooling went, but the MSI Gaming X model seemed to inch above the rest with the TORX 2.0 fan system.  Built on the TWIN FORZR VI cooling system, the fans themselves generate 22% more air pressure when spinning. MSI even went so far as to use premium thermal grease to more effectively transfer heat from the dies to the 8mm (not 6!) copper heat pipes. All this works beautifully together, to help this card move more air, and stay that crucial tiny bit more cool than the competition.

BEST PERFORMANCE GTX 1060: ASUS ROG STRIX OC Edition

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The entirety of the GTX 1060 lineup has seen some really top-notch cooling. There are definitely some differences between them, but it really looks like there aren’t any that stand out as having anything less than ‘pretty superb’ cooling equipped. It wasn’t either, therefore, to pick a best as far as cooling went, but the MSI Gaming X model seemed to inch above the rest with the TORX 2.0 fan system.  Built on the TWIN FORZR VI cooling system, the fans themselves generate 22% more air pressure when spinning. MSI even went so far as to use premium thermal grease to more effectively transfer heat from the dies to the 8mm (not 6!) copper heat pipes. All this works beautifully together, to help this card move more air, and stay that crucial tiny bit more cool than the competition.

QUIETEST GTX 1060: MSI GAMING X

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Having the fastest rig around can be fun and exciting, but when your PC sounds like a vacuum cleaner when it’s under load, it may not seem so magical anymore. It’s important to find the right happy medium, and the noise level of a video card can be a serious factor for a lot of us. When it becomes a deciding factor, or for those aiming to put together a ‘silent’ PC, the MSI Gaming X is likely going to be where you land. It’s hard to say enough good things about the TORX 2.0 fans, or the Zero FROZR technology. The fans themselves are perfected with 22% additional air pressure, so they don’t need to spin as fast as some of the competing cooling systems. The fans themselves are only half the battle, because without a bleeding-edge heatsink and fin array, it won’t matter how much air you push. MSI uses an advanced top-quality thermal grease, and has direct-contact copper heatpipes, which gives the card an easy time getting rid of performance-stealing heat.

BEST GTX 1060 CUSTOMER SUPPORT / WARRANTY: EVGA FTW ACX 3.0

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It’s important with ANY purchase to make sure you’ve gone through a reputable company.  There’s little worse than spending your hard earned cash on something new, only to find it came defective, or develops a problem two months down the road. EVGA takes customer service to a higher level with not only a standard 3 year warranty on the EVGA FTW ACX 3.0, but they also have the fantastic ‘step up’ program. Maybe you want a 1060 now, but in two months, you decide you want to make the leap to ultra-settings 4K gaming? EVGA has you covered, and with registered devices, will allow you to upgrade to a more expensive model within 90 days of your original purchase. EVGA is so confident in the quality of their products, you can even extend the warranty to TEN full years if you want, for a very nominal fee. When the most important factor is the quality and support you get from a manufacturer, this card is the way to go, hands down.

BEST VALUE GTX 1060: EVGA SC

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Bang for your buck, that’s the name of the game these days. There aren’t any losers in the GTX 1060 line for value.  This is one of the best line-ups in a long while as far as price-to-performance ratio goes. None the less, there still needs to be a winner for value, and the unassuming EVGA SC nails it. It comes in at a modest price of under $269 on amazon, and despite being a smaller-sized GTX 1060 variant, it packs an impressive 1835Hmz boosted clock speed, comes with the full 6Gb (not 3Gb) GDDR5 video ram, and of course the standard EVGA 3 year 24/7 support warranty.  Perfect especially for those building smaller form-factor PCs, this card comes in at a TINY 6.8″ long, so those who enjoy HTPC or mocro-ATX builds (even some MicroITX!) will appreciate the demure size, without sacrificing any power (actually much faster than a lot of the stock 1060s available).

BEST LOOKING GTX 1060: MSI Gaming X

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Play hard, and LOOK good doing it. There’s no shame in building something that not only rocks whatever games  you wish, but also turns heads at a LAN party or gaming convention. There isn’t a single model that we crowned in this category, because MSI bundles several GTX 1060 variants in their incredibly stylish Zero FROZR fan and shrouds. The cover on this card comes with a black on red motif that screams to be noticed. The TORX 2.0 fans have more blades than traditional fans, giving it a no-nonsense look when not spun up. They also include customizable LEDs that can be set to pulse or dance in a number of configurations, or even glow in time with whatever music you’re listening to! If you want to look sharp while you kill the latest games out there, the MSI Gaming X is a solid option with some really nice perks to keep you happy about your decision.

GTX 1060 Buying Guide

Why pick the GTX 1060 vs… other cards? 

Every day there are more and more options for gamers, VR users, and general PC enthusiasts. The GTX 060 line has proven so popular in today’s market versus it’s competition for a number of very solid reasons. First is performance. It wouldn’t be worth talking about if the card didn’t stand up to the needs of today’s users.  For most of us, this includes, but isn’t limited to; getting your feet wet with VR, maxing out the settings on the latest AAA game on your HD (720/1080p) monitor, watching HD or even 4K movies in a HTPC setup. For each and every ‘most common’ need today, the GTX 1060 checks them off the list with a resounding ‘got you covered!’.  Of course, it wouldn’t matter how well anything performs if no one can afford it, and this is the second reason we see so many people making a very smart choice in the 1060 instead of some other options.  It’s a bargain. Once more, for emphasis, it’s a BARGAIN. The performance you get out of this card for a price point that, on sale, can be as low as $199.99 is simply incredible. This makes the GTX 1060 line something special. It’s the card most people can afford, but unlike previous years, we can afford it without having to decide what other aspect is worth sacrificing. Staying within budget, but maxing out your video settings is what we’ve all been yearning for, and now it seems, until the next big leap forward, we have it.

Why we think the GTX 1080 1060 is so popular

Popularity isn’t always dictated by numbers. Betamax, Laser Disc, HD-DVD. All were competitors that despite being superior to their counterparts in some (or all!) ways, just didn’t end up making the cut. Popularity can be the difference between what we want, and what we’re offered. Luckily, this line of cards wasn’t passed up by the general consumers, and with good reason. There is so much going for the GTX 1060 line it’s easy to see why it became a fan favorite for 2016, and looks to be in 2017 as well. Whether you need to stay in a strict budget, need a silent, or stylish card that can still handle 1080p maxed out gaming, VR, and 4K movies (or modest gaming also!), this card has you covered, and it seems to be being recognized by the customer base for their efforts!

 

GTX 1060 Buying Guide

	Memory	Memory Clock	Base Clock (MHz)	Boost Clock (MHz)	Pins	PCB	Ports	Cooler Type	Lighting	Length (mm)	Thickness (mm)/No of slots	Warranty (North A.)	Backplate
Nvidia Founder's Edition	6 GB	8000	1506	1708	6	Reference	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Blower Fan	No	250	2 Slot	3 years	No
Palit Dual	3/6 GB	8000	1506	1708	6	Reference	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	No	252	2 Slot	2 years	No
Palit StormX	3 GB	8000	1506	1708	6	Reference	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Single Fan	No	252	2 Slot	2 years	No
PNY	3/6 GB	8000	1506	1708	6	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	No	267	39	3 years	No
Zotac Mini	3/6 GB	8000	1506	1708	6	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Single Fan	No	174	2 Slot	2 years	No
Asus Dual	3/6 GB	8008	1506	1708	6	Custom	2x DP, 2x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	No	242	43	3 years	No
Asus Turbo	6 GB	8008	1506	1708	6	Reference	2x DP, 2x HDMI, 1x DVI	Blower Fan	RGB	267	38	3 years	No
EVGA Gaming	3/6 GB	8008	1506	1708	6	Reference	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Single Fan	No	173	2 Slot	3 years	No
GALAX EX OC	3/6 GB	8008	1544	1759	6	Custom	2x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	No	268	41.5	2 years	Yes
MSI Aero ITX	3/6 GB	8008	1544	1759	6	Custom	2x DP, 2x HDMI, 1x DVI	Single Fan	No	175	38	3 years	No
MSI Armor OC	3/6 GB	8008	1544	1759	8	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI (6Gb)	Dual Fan	No	279	38	3 years	No
Zotac AMP! Edition	6 GB	8000	1556	1771	6	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	No	210	2 Slot	2 years	No
Inno3D iChill X3 V2 9Gbps	6 GB	9024	1569	1784	8	Custom	2x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Triple Fan	No	302	2.5 Slot	3 years	Yes
Zotac 3GB AMP! Edition	3 GB	8000	1582	1797	6	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	No	206	2 Slot	2 years	No
Gigabyte Windforce OC	3/6 GB	8008	1582	1797	6	Custom	2x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	RGB	223	39	3 years	Yes
Asus Dual OC	3/6 GB	8008	1594	1809	6	Custom	2x DP, 2x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	No	242	43	3 Years	No
MSI GAMING X	3/6 GB	8100	1594	1809	8	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	RGB	277	39	3 years	Yes
MSI GAMING X+ 9Gbps	6 GB	9126	1594	1809	8	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	RGB	277	39	3 years	Yes
EVGA SC Gaming	3/6 GB	8008	1607	1835	6	Reference	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Single Fan	No	173	2 Slot	3 years	No
Zotac AMP! Edition+ 9Gbps	6 GB	9000	1607	1835	6	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	No	210	2 Slot	2 years	No
EVGA SSC2+ 9Gbps	6 GB	9024	1607	1835	8	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI		LED	267	2 Slot	3 years	Yes
EVGA FTW ACX 3.0	3/6 GB	8008	1620	1847	8	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	LED	267	2 Slot	3 years	No
Gigabyte G1	3/6 GB	8008	1620	1847	8	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	RGB	278	40	3 years	Yes
ASUS OC+ Edition 9Gbps	6 GB	9100	1620	1847	6	Custom	2x DP, 2x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	No	218	42	3 years	Yes
EVGA FTW+	3/6 GB	8008	1632	1860	8	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	LED	267	2 Slot	3 years	No
EVGA FTW2+ 9Gbps	6 GB	9024	1632	1860	8	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	LED	267	2 Slot	3 years	Yes
Gigabyte AORUS 9Gbps	6 GB	9026	1632	1860	8	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	RGB	280	38	3 years	Yes
Asus ROG Strix OC	6 GB	8208	1645	1873	8	Custom	2x DP, 2x HDMI, 1x DVI	Triple Fan	RGB	298	40	3 years	Yes
Gigabyte AORUS XTREME 9Gbps	6 GB	9026	1645	1873	8	Custom	3x DP, 1x HDMI, 1x DVI	Dual Fan	RGB	281	59	4 Years	Yes

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