GeForce GTX 950 vs GTX 1060 6 GB

Place in the ranking	206	375
Place by popularity	9	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	17.18	8.75
Power efficiency	15.20	10.55
Architecture	Pascal (2016−2021)	Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)
GPU code name	GP106	GM206
Market segment	Desktop	Desktop
Release date	19 July 2016 (8 years ago)	20 August 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$299	$159

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 1060 6 GB has 96% better value for money than GTX 950.

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores	1280	768
Core clock speed	1506 MHz	1024 MHz
Boost clock speed	1709 MHz	1188 MHz
Number of transistors	4,400 million	2,940 million
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	120 Watt	90 Watt
Texture fill rate	136.7	57.02
Floating-point processing power	4.375 TFLOPS	1.825 TFLOPS
ROPs	48	32
TMUs	80	48

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Bus support	no data	PCI Express 3.0
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 3.0 x16
Length	250 mm	202 mm
Height	no data	4.376" (11.1 cm)
Width	2-slot	2-slot
Recommended system power (PSU)	no data	350 Watt
Supplementary power connectors	1x 6-pin	1x 6-pin
SLI options	-	+

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount	6 GB	2 GB
Memory bus width	192 Bit	128 Bit
Memory clock speed	2002 MHz	6.6 GB/s
Memory bandwidth	192.2 GB/s	105.6 GB/s
Shared memory	-	-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors	1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort	Dual Link DVI-I, HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.2
Multi monitor support	no data	4 displays
HDMI	+	+
HDCP	-	+
Maximum VGA resolution	no data	2048x1536
G-SYNC support	+	+
Audio input for HDMI	no data	Internal

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

GameStream	-	+
GeForce ShadowPlay	-	+
GPU Boost	no data	2.0
GameWorks	-	+
VR Ready	+	no data

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 (12_1)
Shader Model	6.4	6.4
OpenGL	4.6	4.5
OpenCL	1.2	1.2
Vulkan	1.2.131	1.1.126
CUDA	6.1	+

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 1060 6 GB 26.61
+92.1%

GTX 950 13.85

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GTX 1060 6 GB 10252
+92.1%

GTX 950 5337

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 1060 6 GB 17401
+108%

GTX 950 8351

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 1060 6 GB 12984
+109%

GTX 950 6208

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1060 6 GB 77035
+106%

GTX 950 37454

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD	90 +80%	50 −80%
1440p	47 +95.8%	24−27 −95.8%
4K	30 +42.9%	21 −42.9%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	3.32	3.18
1440p	6.36	6.63
4K	9.97	7.57

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

40−45
+110%

21−24

−110%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	72 +125%	30−35 −125%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	45−50 +105%	21−24 −105%
Battlefield 5	89 +97.8%	45−50 −97.8%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	66 +136%	27−30 −136%
Cyberpunk 2077	40−45 +110%	21−24 −110%
Far Cry 5	83 +159%	30−35 −159%
Far Cry New Dawn	82 +116%	35−40 −116%
Forza Horizon 4	279 +210%	90−95 −210%
Hitman 3	50−55 +108%	24−27 −108%
Horizon Zero Dawn	120−130 +70.4%	70−75 −70.4%
Metro Exodus	92 +100%	45−50 −100%
Red Dead Redemption 2	100 +163%	35−40 −163%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	135 +200%	45−50 −200%
Watch Dogs: Legion	100−110 +42.7%	75−80 −42.7%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	93 +191%	30−35 −191%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	45−50 +105%	21−24 −105%
Battlefield 5	78 +73.3%	45−50 −73.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	60 +114%	27−30 −114%
Cyberpunk 2077	40−45 +110%	21−24 −110%
Far Cry 5	64 +100%	30−35 −100%
Far Cry New Dawn	64 +68.4%	35−40 −68.4%
Forza Horizon 4	260 +189%	90−95 −189%
Hitman 3	50−55 +108%	24−27 −108%
Horizon Zero Dawn	120−130 +70.4%	70−75 −70.4%
Metro Exodus	78 +69.6%	45−50 −69.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2	69 +81.6%	35−40 −81.6%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	90−95 +102%	45−50 −102%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	183 +69.4%	108 −69.4%
Watch Dogs: Legion	100−110 +42.7%	75−80 −42.7%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	38 +18.8%	30−35 −18.8%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	45−50 +105%	21−24 −105%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	43 +53.6%	27−30 −53.6%
Cyberpunk 2077	40−45 +110%	21−24 −110%
Far Cry 5	50 +56.3%	30−35 −56.3%
Forza Horizon 4	73 −23.3%	90−95 +23.3%
Hitman 3	50−55 +108%	24−27 −108%
Horizon Zero Dawn	120−130 +70.4%	70−75 −70.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	90−95 +102%	45−50 −102%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	44 +110%	21 −110%
Watch Dogs: Legion	100−110 +42.7%	75−80 −42.7%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

69
+81.6%

35−40

−81.6%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	48 +77.8%	27−30 −77.8%
Far Cry New Dawn	43 +105%	21−24 −105%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	32 +129%	14−16 −129%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	24−27 +136%	10−12 −136%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	30 +100%	14−16 −100%
Cyberpunk 2077	16−18 +143%	7−8 −143%
Far Cry 5	31 +93.8%	16−18 −93.8%
Forza Horizon 4	196 +180%	70−75 −180%
Hitman 3	30−35 +88.2%	16−18 −88.2%
Horizon Zero Dawn	55−60 +96.4%	27−30 −96.4%
Metro Exodus	50 +108%	24−27 −108%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	55−60 +146%	24−27 −146%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	30−35 +136%	14−16 −136%
Watch Dogs: Legion	140−150 +72.1%	85−90 −72.1%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

46
+100%

21−24

−100%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	24 +84.6%	12−14 −84.6%
Far Cry New Dawn	22 +120%	10−11 −120%
Hitman 3	21−24 +110%	10−11 −110%
Horizon Zero Dawn	130−140 +98.5%	65−70 −98.5%
Metro Exodus	25 +92.3%	12−14 −92.3%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	29 +123%	13 −123%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	18 +125%	8−9 −125%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	14−16 +150%	6−7 −150%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	14 +100%	7−8 −100%
Cyberpunk 2077	7−8 +250%	2−3 −250%
Far Cry 5	15 +114%	7−8 −114%
Forza Horizon 4	38 +111%	18−20 −111%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	30−35 +154%	12−14 −154%
Watch Dogs: Legion	12−14 +140%	5−6 −140%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

22
+69.2%

12−14

−69.2%

This is how GTX 1060 6 GB and GTX 950 compete in popular games:

GTX 1060 6 GB is 80% faster in 1080p
GTX 1060 6 GB is 96% faster in 1440p
GTX 1060 6 GB is 43% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Cyberpunk 2077, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 1060 6 GB is 250% faster.
in Forza Horizon 4, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 950 is 23% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

GTX 1060 6 GB is ahead in 71 test (99%)
GTX 950 is ahead in 1 test (1%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	26.61	13.85
Recency	19 July 2016	20 August 2015
Maximum RAM amount	6 GB	2 GB
Chip lithography	16 nm	28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	120 Watt	90 Watt

GTX 1060 6 GB has a 92.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 10 months, a 200% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 75% more advanced lithography process.

GTX 950, on the other hand, has 33.3% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 950 in performance tests.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.