Equivalent GPU, Part the RAM: MSI GeForce GTX 1060 3GB Assessment

The brand new mid-range choices from AMD and Nvidia have not moderately delivered like we was hoping they may. It is not for a loss of efficiency, as each the RX 480 and GTX 1060 cling their very own when gaming at 1080p and rather past. As an alternative, the problem stems from pricing and availability, the latter most likely being answerable for the previous.

Upon arrival, the Radeon RX 480 promised to supply previous-generation R9 390-like efficiency at a value of simply $200, whilst the GTX 1060 claimed GTX 980-level efficiency for $250.

As of writing, the most cost effective RX 480 on Newegg is $250 for a customized MSI 4GB model and the remaining are nearer to $300. Issues do not glance significantly better for the fairway group. Even if the least pricey GTX 1060 can also be had for $250, maximum are sitting at $300 or upper.

Final month, AMD introduced any other mid-range contender, regardless that at $180 the RX 470 is not fully differentiated. MSRP and exact side road worth are two various things particularly at release, so these days the most cost effective RX 470 prices $190 with maximum above $200.

What about Nvidia’s new 3GB model of the GTX 1060, you ask?

For $200 — and we have now been ready to search out a minimum of one promoting at that worth — however as is the case with the RX 480, RX 470 and the 6GB GTX 1060, we discover that many of the 3GB fashions are promoting for above the respectable pricing.

Anyways, assuming costs calm down in a while, there will have to be a $50 distinction between the 3GB and 6GB variations of the GTX 1060, which might make the 3GB style 20% inexpensive which is important in sub-$300 graphics playing cards.

The 3GB body buffer will have to be considerable for 1080p gaming and would possibly even make do at 1440p, regardless that lowered VRAM is not the one downgrade made to the 3GB style. Regardless of holding the GTX 1060 identify, the 3GB style has an additional SM unit disabled.

With handiest 9 of the 10 SMs energetic, the core rely drops from 1280 to 1152, and the feel gadgets see a identical aid from 80 to 72. Clock speeds stay unchanged at 1506 MHz with a spice up to 1709MHz, however rated compute efficiency decreases by way of 11% (from 4.4 to a few.9 TFLOPs). Even if its core rely has been minimize, the TDP of the 3GB style stays at 120W.

Converting the core configuration for the GTX 1060 3GB approach comparisons between the 2 GPUs now transcend the incorporated body buffer. Nvidia claims the real-world efficiency drop from disabling one SM is round 5 p.c, which is beautiful cheap taking into account the $50 saving.

Quite than take Nvidia’s phrase for it, we are prepared to peer simply how a lot of an have an effect on the 3GB body buffer and 10% aid in core rely has on efficiency in our benchmarks. There is no Founders Version 3GB style so readily available for checking out we’ve got the spectacular having a look MSI GTX 1060 Gaming X 3G.

MSI GTX 1060 Gaming X 3G

The GTX 1060 3GB would possibly handiest be a $200 graphics card, however that hasn’t stopped MSI from going all out and whilst the corporate’s Gaming X 3G is these days retailing for $240, we are hoping that worth to dip down fairly over the approaching weeks.

All up, the cardboard measures 277mm lengthy, 39mm vast and an excessively tall 140mm. MSI and Asus like so as to add a little bit of additional peak to their graphics playing cards and we need to admit it does cause them to glance moderately implementing.

The most recent-generation Dual Frozr VI cooler has been put in that includes a couple of Torx 2.0 lovers which boast a novel steeper curved blade design this is stated to generate 22% extra air force. The lovers additionally prevent spinning fully when the cardboard is working underneath 60 levels all through gentle load.

In fact, it is not steadily the cardboard would require the lovers to spin up and unquestionably by no means to a noticeable point. That is helped no longer handiest by way of the environment friendly Pascal GPU but additionally the large heatsink this is riddled with copper heatpipes measuring as much as 8mm vast. The heatsink is capped off with a big nickel plated base that covers all of the GPU.

Beneath the heatsink is a big warmth shroud that covers a lot of the PCB and naturally supplies cooling for the reminiscence and PWM. There may be an enormous full-size backplate with a horny cool having a look design.

MSI has upgraded the one 6-pin PCIe connector to an 8-pin connector which necessarily doubles the quantity of juice that may be delivered right here. Serving to profit from that further energy is a 5+1 section PWM design which is a substantial improve over the 6GB Founders Version graphics card.

Out of the field, MSI has set the Gaming X 3G’s base clock at 1569MHz, leading to a spice up clock of 1784MHz. That is a gentle 4% overclock, however please be aware for the sake of consistency we’ve got downclocked the GPU to Nvidia’s spec which requires a 1506MHz base clock. We did this to make sure a good comparability between the GTX 1060 6GB Founders Version graphics card that we have now already examined.