NVIDIA GTX 1060 vs AMD RX 580 - Which Mid-Range Graphics Card is Better

October 18, 2021

NVIDIA GTX 1060 vs AMD RX 580

Are you in the market for a mid-range graphics card but can't decide whether to go for NVIDIA or AMD? That's a common dilemma, but you're in luck because we've done the hard work for you. Let's take a closer look at the NVIDIA GTX 1060 and AMD RX 580 to help you make an informed decision.

Pricing

When it comes to pricing, both the NVIDIA GTX 1060 and AMD RX 580 fall in the same bracket, with a price range of around $250 to $300. However, the AMD RX 580 offers better value for money, as it comes with 8GB of GDDR5 memory, while the NVIDIA GTX 1060 only has 6GB.

Performance

In terms of performance, both the NVIDIA GTX 1060 and AMD RX 580 are quite evenly matched. The NVIDIA GTX 1060 has a base clock speed of 1506 MHz with a boost clock of 1708 MHz, while the AMD RX 580 has a base clock speed of 1257 MHz with a boost clock of 1340 MHz.

When it comes to actual gaming performance, the NVIDIA GTX 1060 performs slightly better in some games compared to the AMD RX 580, but the difference is not significant. Overall, both graphics cards deliver a good performance in 1080p gaming, and you won't be disappointed with either of them.

Power Consumption

The AMD RX 580 has a higher TDP (Thermal Design Power) of 185W compared to the NVIDIA GTX 1060, which has a TDP of 120W. This means that the AMD RX 580 consumes more power, which could lead to higher electricity bills. However, it's worth noting that the AMD RX 580 does offer better power efficiency than previous AMD models, which is a big plus.

Driver Support

Both NVIDIA and AMD offer regular driver updates to improve performance and fix any bugs or issues. However, NVIDIA drivers tend to be more stable, and their GeForce Experience software makes it easy to download and install new drivers. On the other hand, AMD drivers have been known to cause issues in the past, but the situation has improved in recent years.

Conclusion

So, which one is better? It really depends on your priorities. The NVIDIA GTX 1060 delivers slightly better gaming performance and has lower power consumption, while the AMD RX 580 offers better value for money with more VRAM. It ultimately comes down to personal preference and what you're looking for in a graphics card.

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