The introduction of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 represented a significant milestone for PC enthusiasts. In 2016, we witnessed the most substantial progress in manufacturing techniques and performance enhancements since the launch of Intel’s 32nm Nehalem processor series in 2009. This trend is reemerging in 2019 with the emergence of 7nm technology from both Nvidia and AMD.
Regardless of the perspective taken, it is evident that the product offerings from Nvidia and AMD primarily begin in the midrange category. While flagship models such as the Nvidia GeForce RTX 2080 Ti often receive significant media attention, it is the mid-range products that ultimately dominate the market.
We will now revisit the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB. The year 2016 was marked by the introduction of the Z170 chipset, the Skylake Broadwell-E architecture, and the release of top-tier Pascal graphics cards, including the GTX 1080 and 1070. This series of advancements culminated in Nvidia’s launch of the GTX 1060 6GB, which served as a response to AMD’s stronghold in the mid-range market, particularly represented by the Radeon RX 480.
At the time of the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060’s release, the AMD Radeon RX 480 was the prominent contender in the market. It was competitively priced and positioned effectively between the Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 and GTX 980 regarding performance. However, the question remains: did the RX 480’s pricing strategy prove sufficient to withstand the overwhelming popularity of the GTX 1060 6GB?
Therefore, what information do we possess regarding this new mid-range Titan? It is important to note that it continues to utilize Pascal’s 16nm FinFET manufacturing process, but it is built on the GP106 processor rather than the GP104 used in the GTX 1080 and 1070 models.
The product is available in two configurations: 6GB and 3GB, both offering a standard bandwidth of 8GB/s across a 192-bit bus. It boasts an impressive count of 1,280 CUDA cores, 80 Texture Units, and 48 ROPs. Additionally, it incorporates 1.46 billion transistors, operates with a thermal design power (TDP) of 120 watts, and features a base clock speed of 1708 MHz prior to any enhancements from GPU boost, making it a highly competitive option.
The GTX 1060 does have its drawbacks, and one significant concern is related to SLI. Upon unboxing the impressive Nvidia packaging, it became immediately apparent that the card is missing the standard SLI connectors typically found on the top.
At this price level, the absence of SLI is not particularly concerning; however, individuals intending to enhance their GPU performance in the coming years will find the lack of an SLI bridge to be a limitation. This situation confines users to DirectX 12 titles that are supported by both Microsoft and game developers through advanced technologies known as MDA mode or LDA explicit. It is advisable not to rely on these methods as a consistent means of achieving improved performance.
This actually then brings up quite the conundrum when it comes to how exactly you take your upgrade path. Historically, we’ve always suggested (if you’re buying long term for now) that you should always opt for a more powerful GPU rather than two lower cost cards. SLI is great when it works, but it’s exactly that – it has to work – and with a lack of SLI profiles for games on launch, it’s not always a compelling argument to grab two unless you’re talking about a top-tier PC gaming monster rig.
Nevertheless, if you intend to acquire an additional graphics card in the future when prices decrease and a new generation of cards is released, this may no longer be feasible. An alternative to this dilemma is to consider the more premium GTX 1070, which still supports SLI configurations if that is your preference.
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