RX 570 vs GTX 1060 | Which GPU Wins In 2026?

For 1080p gaming, the GTX 1060 6GB generally beats the RX 570, but the RX 570 can still be the value pick if the price gap is wide.

When you’re deciding between the RX 570 vs GTX 1060, the short answer is that the GeForce GTX 1060 6GB usually wins on performance and VRAM, while the Radeon RX 570 often wins on price. Both cards are now mostly found in used and budget builds, so the best choice depends on which exact model you’re looking at and what it costs in front of you.

If you’re comparing the most common desktop versions, you’re looking at two GPUs from the same performance class that trade blows depending on the game. The GTX 1060 has higher clocks, more ROPs, and 6GB of memory. The RX 570 has more shaders, a wider 256-bit bus, and either 4GB or 8GB of VRAM.

Head-To-Head Specs: RX 570 And GTX 1060, Side By Side

The spec sheets explain most of this matchup before you even load a game. NVIDIA’s Pascal-based GTX 1060 does more work per clock; AMD’s Polaris-based RX 570 packs more raw hardware.

Specification Radeon RX 570 GeForce GTX 1060 6GB
Release date April 18, 2017 July 19, 2016
Launch MSRP (US) $169 $299
Architecture GCN 4.0 (Polaris 20) Pascal (GP106)
Base / boost clock 1168 / 1244 MHz 1506 / 1709 MHz
Memory 4GB or 8GB GDDR5, 256-bit 6GB GDDR5, 192-bit
Memory bandwidth 224 GB/s About 192 GB/s
Shaders / ROPs / TMUs 2048 / 32 / 128 1280 / 48 / 80
Typical power 120–150W 120W

Those prices are original US launch prices, not today’s used-market numbers. The RX 570 launched nine months after the GTX 1060 at $169 against $299, and that price gap explains a lot of its popularity. Both are standard PCIe 3.0 x16 desktop cards, so most boards from that era accept either one. Most RX 570 cards use a single 6-pin power connector; most GTX 1060 6GB cards are rated at 120W.

Which Card Is Faster In Real Games?

For most games, the GTX 1060 6GB is the faster card, but the margin is smaller than the spec sheets suggest. A 36-game head-to-head put the GTX 1060 6GB about 4% ahead on average, and aggregate results like UserBenchmark tend to rank it ahead as well. Site-specific “performance score” percentages vary too much to treat any single number as gospel.

In shader-heavy or bandwidth-sensitive titles, the RX 570 can close the gap or win outright. Its 2048 shaders and 224 GB/s memory bandwidth give it a real edge in the right workload. TechSpot’s RX 570 4GB vs GTX 1060 3GB review also showed both cards overclock well: the RX 570 sample reached 1435MHz core and 1900MHz memory, while the GTX 1060 3GB sample hit 1770MHz core and 2275MHz memory.

On the feature side, Notebookcheck’s side-by-side comparison lists the RX 570 with AMD FreeSync and HDR-ready DisplayPort output, while the GTX 1060 brings G-Sync, VR Ready status, Multi-Projection, and Vulkan support. Both cards support DirectX 12.

Which One Should You Buy In 2026?

Start with the actual card in front of you, not the brand. The GTX 1060 6GB is the stronger all-around pick for 1080p gaming, but the RX 570 becomes the right choice when it’s meaningfully cheaper or carries 8GB of VRAM.

  • Pick the GTX 1060 6GB when prices are similar, you play newer titles, or you want more consistent 1080p performance.
  • Pick the RX 570 when it’s enough cheaper to matter, or the 8GB version is available and you run high-texture settings.

Watch the variants. Comparing a GTX 1060 3GB to an RX 570 8GB is not a fair fight; the 3GB card has fewer CUDA cores and far less VRAM, so the RX 570 can dominate in texture-heavy games. The GTX 1060 6GB avoids that problem, but it still only has 6GB, so an 8GB RX 570 gives you more headroom for high-resolution textures even if its core is slower.

In 2026, both are legacy cards. Neither will shine in modern AAA titles at high settings, but at 1080p medium or high they still handle most games, and both are fine for esports. If you’ve settled on the RX 570, our roundup of the best RX 570 video cards lists tested models worth comparing before you buy.

FAQs

Is an 8GB RX 570 better than a 6GB GTX 1060?

Sometimes. The extra 2GB of VRAM lets the RX 570 run higher texture settings without stuttering, which helps in newer games at 1080p. The GTX 1060 6GB still usually produces higher average frame rates because its core is stronger. If a game stays under 6GB, the 1060 wins; when textures exceed 6GB, the 570 closes the gap.

Is the GTX 1060 3GB worth buying in 2026?

Only at a very low price. The 3GB memory limit is already below what many current games want, and NVIDIA also cut CUDA cores on this model, making it noticeably slower than the 6GB version. It still works well for older games and esports at 1080p, but a used RX 570 with 4GB or 8GB is usually a better deal.

Can these cards handle 1440p gaming?

Yes, with lowered settings. The GTX 1060 6GB is the stronger 1440p performer of the two, while an RX 570 8GB handles high-resolution textures better than the 4GB version. For demanding modern games at 1440p high settings, neither card is comfortable; 1080p remains their home turf.

References & Sources

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