When graphics cards manufacturers like NVIDIA and AMD release a new flagship GPU, they talk about how they are redefining gaming. This is true of course; each innovation moves graphics capabilities on one more step. However, the truth is the majority of PC gamers still play at 1080p with mid-range to affordable GPUs.
With that in mind, we thought we’d compare two of the most popular low-cost GPUs, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 and the AMD Radeon RX 580.
GTX 1060 & RX 580 Comparison
Both these GPUs are mainstream silicon that are pitched close together in terms of price and performance. When we break down their capabilities, are they as equal in result as they are on paper. No, neither of these cards will deliver world class PC gaming, but they will offer console-quality performance at 60 frames per second.
GTX 1060 vs RX 580 features
Both AMD and Nvidia have loaded their cards with Vulkan graphics and DirectX 12 APIs, while the GPUs also both boast support for DisplayPort 1.4 and HDMI 2.0b monitors and 4K / HDR. These are all standard technologies, meaning the Radeon RX 580 and GeForce GTX 1060 will play all modern triple A games.
If you are unfamiliar with the GTX 1060, it is something of a modern classic. Part of Nvidia’s Pascal generation of graphics, the 1060 is a popular GPU with gamers. Among its tech integrations are Nvidia Shield streaming capabilities, ShadowPlay recording, and more. GTX 1060 gamers can also use a more affordable monitor thanks to FreeSync support.
Looking more closely at the RX 580, it too has FreeSync monitor support alongside AMD’s Link system. The latter is a mobile app that users can download to monitor their GPU remotely. It is worth noting that the Radeon RX 580 is based on the company’s Polaris technology, which has since been replaced by the latest generation Vega GPUs.
GTX 1060 vs RX 580 prices
As mentioned, both the RX 580 and GTX 1060 are close to each in price. However, it’s always worth shopping around and looking for deals. For example, some stores may have one of the cards on offer but not the other.
Furthermore, the manufacturers sometimes sweeten the deal with bundles. Both Nvidia and AMD frequently offer a free game to customers who buy one of the graphics cards.
GTX 1060 vs RX 580 performance
Our tests were used with a Sapphire Nitro AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB model and the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 6GB. Through those tests were clearly pointing towards the RX 580 performing better across a series of games compared to the GTX 1060. Nvidia’s card certainly keeps pace and only drops a few frames from the AMD, but the difference was there. It’s worth noting the RX 580 tested was the most powerful available on the market as AMD does not supply a reference card.
The GTX 1060 we tested is a lower priced and as such we would say the compromise of a few less FPS would be a compromise we would make. That is especially the case if you are gaming at 1080p, where the Nvidia is our choice. However, if you’re bumping up to 1440p and looking for the best possible performance for the cost the AMD is clearly the better option.