Msi 1060 3gb gaming x review năm 2024

There are two different models of the GTX 1060 with two different memory configurations. Though Nvidia launched the 1060 with the now-familiar Founder’s Edition, which is a fancy way of saying “reference design,” but they were manufactured in very small numbers. That means if you’re in the market for this GPU you’ll need to select from a dizzying array of cards designed and sold by Nvidia’s partners including ones such as our review unit from MSI; the Gaming X 6G. Though the GTX 1060 initially launched with just a 6GB offering, Nvidia added a slightly detuned 3GB version shortly afterward for $50 less that it claims is about five percent slower overall. This strategy of launching two versions with different amounts of memory mirrors AMD’s tactic, as it launched the RX 480 in both 4GB and 8GB variants. This review is of the MSI Gaming X 6GB version of the GTX 1060, as we have not had a chance to test its baby brother. The 6GB GTX 1060 has an MSRP of $249, while the 3GB version starts at $199, though this overclocked MSI card retails for around $300.

The Specs

Since the RX 480 was released first, Nvidia had the opportunity to fashion a GPU it knew would be just slightly faster, but the rub is that it costs more, too. The RX 480 tends to sell for around $239 while the GTX 1060 6GB is about $250 or so, but as we noted above, this MSI version (and others) cost as much as $300 so it's a bit like bringing a gun to a knife fight.

As for the GTX 1060, it features a 192-bit memory interface, which is narrower than the RX 480’s 256-bit wide path, but makes up lost ground with much higher base and boost clock speeds. One of Pascal’s defining features is its ability to sustain clock speeds that required liquid nitrogen cooling in the previous generation, and the GTX 1060 carries on this tradition quite well. Whereas the RX 480 can boost up to 1,266MHz, the GTX 1060 is able to clock all the way up to 1,708MHz and beyond, which is a sizable advantage for Nvidia. One interesting aspect of the GTX 1060 is that it also consumes less power than the RX 480, continuing Nvidia’s dominance in the performance-per-watt battle. Also, unlike with its higher-end GPUs, Nvidia is not allowing for two-card SLI setups on the GTX 1060, though the RX 480 does allow multi-card configurations.

The Benchmarks

To test the MSI GTX 1060 Gaming X 6G we pulled some data from our sister site Computer Shopper, which tested it on a system featuring the following specs:

• Haswell Intel Core i7-4770K CPU
• 16GB DDR3 memory
• Gigabyte Z87X-UDH5 Socket 1150 mobo
• OCZ Vector 180 (480GB) SSD
• 850-watt Thermaltake Toughpower PSU The card was tested at both 2560x1440 and 1920x1080 resolutions (and 4k too, if you follow the link), and they also ran two DX12 tests too. We’ve compiled the results into the following charts.

When Nvidia was pitching the GTX 1060 to the media, it claimed it essentially offered the same level of performance as the GTX 980, which if you recall was $549 when it launched over two years ago. Not surprisingly the benchmark charts show it performs almost exactly the same, making today’s mid-range GPU equal to last generation’s flagship GPU. The GTX 1060 is also clearly faster than the RX 480 by about ten percent on average, though in some games the advantage was as high as 40 percent. This isn’t too shocking since again, the Nvidia GPU is more expensive. AMD’s card certainly gives the GTX 1060 a run for its money, which is impressive since it has such a dramatic clock speed disadvantage.

More Comprehensive Reviews

What is most clear in these benchmark charts is that both the GTX 1060 and RX 480 are superb 1080p GPUs, with both cards able to hit between 60 and 100fps in all of the titles that were tested, and that’s with settings maxed out as well. On the same note, neither card is quite able to reach 2560x1440 Valhalla, as they dipped into the 40 and 50fps region enough times to make their full-time use at this resolution questionable.

It’s also of note that the RX 480 really closed the gap to the GTX 1060 in two out of three games tested in DirectX12. This is one area where AMD seemingly has an advantage over Nvidia, but it’s too early in the DX12 lifecycle to say so definitively just yet.

Overclocking

Like the previous Pascal cards, the GTX 1060 was born to boost, as Nvidia has given it conservative reference clock speeds that seemingly have no bearing on the real world. For example, its Boost clock is listed as just 1,708MHz but thanks to its GPU Boost 3.0 technology it was able to power all the way up to over 1,900MHz right out of the box without any input from us. We eventually goosed it up to just a smidge over 2GHz, which is right inline with our experience with other Pascal GPUs as well.

Most of the time in the GPU world performance scales in-line with pricing quite evenly, and that’s the case with the GTX 1060. It was faster than the RX 480 in every test we ran, and it costs between $30 and $50 more too, so you get what you pay for when choosing between these two cards. Of course, there are also unknowns such as whether or not VR and DX12 will become larger factors in a GPU purchasing decision, but right now it’s too early to tell. Also though Nvidia’s software package has long been considered superior to AMD’s, AMD just revamped its entire suite to compete more fiercely with Nvidia, but again, it’s too early to tell how that will all shake out.

Purchasing Guide

This evaluation specifically focuses on the overclocked MSI Gaming X 6G GTX 1060, and since the launch of this GPU, a variety of models have been released from Nvidia's partners with prices ranging from $250 - $300 for the version with 6GB of RAM. There's also a 3GB version, which we have not reviewed, which sells for around $200. Prices vary, but below are a few solid purchasing options for the GTX 1060:

• Gigabyte Windforce OC GTX 1060
• Gigabyte Windforce OC GTX 1060 (UK)
• Gigabyte Windforce OC 3GB GTX 1060
• Gigabyte Windforce OC 3GB GTX 1060 (UK)
• EVGA GTX 1060 3GB Gaming ACX 2.0
• EVGA GTX 1060 3GB Gaming ACX 2.0 (UK)
• MSI Gaming X 6G GTX 1060
• MSI Gaming X 6G GTX 1060 (UK)
• Asus Dual-Fan OC GTX 1060
• Asus Dual-Fan OC GTX 1060 (UK)

Verdict

The bottom line is the GTX 1060 offers a slight edge over the RX 480 in DX11 performance, but those extra ponies require an extra $40 or so, making it a bit of a toss-up. We give Nvidia the slight advantage though, as it’s clocked slighty faster and has a more polished software suite.

Is MSI GTX 1060 3GB good for gaming?

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB can run the recommended graphics system requirements for 387 games today, of the top 1000 most demanding. A GeForce GTX 1060 3GB card at 1080p is seeing a reasonable frame rate when running Days Gone on Ultra - 45 FPS.

Can GTX 1060 3GB run all games?

This PC graphics card has a chip that can run 956 of the top 1000 games - so we give it a 95% rating. Games that this graphics card can run include Fortnite, Apex Legends, Minecraft, PUBG, GTA V, League of Legends, Overwatch and Rainbow Six Siege.

Is GeForce GTX 1060 outdated?

The NVIDIA GTX 1060, while a solid choice in its time, is now considered outdated due to the increasing demands of modern games. Games like Starfield require more advanced hardware to run smoothly and at higher settings.

How long will 1060 3GB last?

For the 1060 with 3GB of memory, I would say about 3 more years of new games at 1080p with medium level settings. The 6GB version might get you to 4, 4.5 years. This assumes that ray-tracing in graphics engines or some new graphics library doesn't take off and make all current cards look terribly slow.