Which companies are better for a 1060 card. Video cards. VRM zone temperature, °C

10 - Radeon RX Vega 64
9 - Quadro P6000
8 - NVIDIA TITAN X Pascal
7 - GeForce Titan Xp
6 - GeForce RTX 2080
5 - Radeon RX 580
4 - Quadro GV100
3 - GeForce GTX 1080 Ti
2 - GeForce RTX 2080 Ti
1 - NVIDIA Titan V

A video card, like a magic wand, can turn the most ordinary laptop into a powerful computing or gaming machine. The main thing is to choose the right device. To make the choice easier, we have compiled a rating of video cards - only the best, most productive and most interesting models.

8.5 Evaluation

Possibility of ordering water cooling
Wide adjustment interval often
Two BIOS

High price at the start
Large board weight

The rating reveals the creation of AMD, which had a difficult task - to create a powerful gaming graphics accelerator. Therefore, the Radeon RX Vega 64 is based on a processor created using 14 nm technology. The video card is equipped with 12.5 billion transistors, which are located on an area of 486 mm2.

The GPU frequency is only 1274 MHz, but, like most of the models presented in this rating, it supports Boost acceleration, so at the time of peak load the user can count on 1546 MHz.

The device has a small amount of HBM2 memory - only 8 GB with a bandwidth of 484 GB/s. True, this memory format can be used as a cache, using the RAM of the connected computer. In addition, the set of ports allows you to connect up to four monitors at once: there are three DisplayPorts and one HDMI.

Overall, AMD has produced a good device that can compete in power with some NVIDIA flagships. Moreover, the cost of the owner of the tenth place in the TOP will be noticeably lower and more pleasant.

8.5 Evaluation

DirectX support
Improved power consumption

Not the best choice for gaming

The new Quadro P6000, built on Pascal architecture, is in the TOP of video cards. The graphics accelerator is designed more for professional use, so the key feature of this model is the performance increase. And this is exactly what the engineers managed to achieve by replacing Maxwell with Pascal.

The new product is based on the GP102 graphics core. Today this particular kernel is considered the most powerful in the Pascal family.

The number of CUDA cores has increased by almost a quarter and is now 3840. There are 240 texture units. The base frequency is quite high - 1506 MHz. And the frequency in Turbo mode is even more pleasing - 1645 MHz.

The processor is used “to its fullest”, so the power is significantly higher than that of its predecessor, but everything barely reaches the level of modern flagships: peak performance for single calculations is 12.6 teraflops.

The Quadro P6000 looks no less advantageous in terms of its memory capacity - this particular model has an almost record 24 GB. Pascal has been maximally adapted to work with GDDR5X memory. With a 384-bit bus, the throughput is 432 Gb/s.

9.5 Evaluation

Increased throughput
Versatility of use
Possibility to connect high resolution screens

Clearly overpriced
High heat

In 2016, the new Pascal architecture was introduced, which was considered almost revolutionary. It is on this basis that the graphics accelerator from the NVIDIA family, Titan X Pascal, works. The processor is based on a 16 nm process technology, which has significantly improved performance. The number of transistors reaches 12 billion. In total, the adapter has up to 3584 stream processors, 224 TMUs and 96 ROPs.

The card does not let you down in games - even at maximum settings you can count on frame rates of 70-110 fps.

The base frequency is 1417 MHz, but if necessary, the graphics accelerator can accelerate to 1531 MHz. So performance may well rise to the level of 10.1 Tflops.

The device has a full set of necessary slots. Of course, it is possible to connect up to 4 monitors with a resolution of 8K (or 7680 x 4320 pixels). This can be done using three DisplayPort ports, one HDMI 2.0. In addition, there is a DVI port.

The only significant drawback that did not allow the model to rise to a higher position in the ranking was excessive heating - up to 88C.

8.5 Evaluation

Maximum memory 12 GB
Boost cores up to 1581 MHz
Record bandwidth
DirectX12 support

The high price is not justified
Lack of air cooling

NVIDIA Titan XP occupies a more advantageous position in the list of the 10 best video cards. As the manufacturer himself stated before the release of this model, every option in it has been refined and improved. And it's noticeable!

Externally, the gadget has not changed at all: a classic form factor and a color combination familiar to all NVIDIA fans. Hidden inside is a powerful cooling system, which was improved by engineers shortly before the announcement of the video card.

The increased air flow prevents the device from heating above 81-83C.

Another advantage of this model is the presence of a full-featured GP102-450-A1 chip, which contains an increased number of stream processors (their number here is 3840). In addition, there are 224 texture units and 96 raster operation units.

The memory is also pleasing: although the GDDR5X memory capacity is only 11 GB, in terms of throughput this model leaves behind many of its competitors. It is equal to 547.7 Gb/s.

What about testing? For example, when running games at a resolution of 2560x1440 pixels, you can safely count on frame rates of up to 75 per second.

8.8 Evaluation

Full set of interfaces
Availability of NVLink port
Excellent test results
Advanced CO

High heat during intensive work

The holder of sixth place in the ranking managed to perfectly combine performance and technical capabilities with a moderate cost. The GeForce RTX 2080 video card costs from 60,000 rubles, but at the same time boasts the most modern Turing architecture and an improved cooling system.

The advantages of the model are visible even upon visual inspection of the case:

Firstly, we are pleased with two fans at once, which ensure support for the optimal temperature of the entire case (the temperature threshold does not exceed 88C).
Secondly, the port system has been improved. The owner of this device has the ability to connect multiple 8K monitors using DisplayPort 1.4a and HDMI 2.0.
There is also a USB Type-C connector, so you can synchronize with any hard drive if desired.
The second generation NVLink interface opens up even more possibilities, thanks to which two accelerators can be combined into a single network.

There is enough power for both work and gaming entertainment, as evidenced by excellent test results: in 3DMark, the TU104 processor, built on 12 nm technology, scores 28 thousand points.

8.8 Evaluation

Affordable price for everyone
Operating frequency 1366 MHz and 8 GB of memory
Small dimensions
Stylish design

Uncomfortable FPS in new games
Unstable operation in VRS

In the 2019 rating of video cards for PCs in terms of price-quality ratio, the AMD Radeon RX 580 8GB model occupies one of the leading positions. And all because AMD developers managed to combine a powerful processor and support for all modern technologies.

Despite all the advantages, the manufacturer did not significantly raise the price: the cost of a configuration with 8 GB of memory is only 15,000 rubles. Not bad!

The device is clearly intended for fans of gaming reality. Here you can connect a record number of monitors in this TOP (up to 6 pieces) using DVI, HDMI 2.0b and DisplayPort 1.3/1.4 Ready connectors.

The GDDR5 memory standard is modern and in demand: it provides a bandwidth of 256 GB/s. The amount of memory at first glance seems small (especially in comparison with the giants from this rating), but 8 GB is considered the optimal value for games: there is enough space even for high-resolution 8K images.

The Polaris 20 graphics core has a moderate number of universal processors (2304) and texture units (144). The core frequency is at an average level - in normal mode it is 1257 MHz, and in Boost mode it is accelerated to 1340 MHz.

8.5 Evaluation

Wide range of interfaces
Boost cores
Possibility of combining two video cards together

High price
Selling only up to 5 pieces per person

The new Quadro GV100 was presented as the most powerful video card of our time. Indeed, the model is equipped with a GV100 processor based on modern Volta architecture. The processor is equipped with 5120 CUDA cores and a record number of tensor cores (there are 640 in this model). Quadro GV100 offers the user almost 32 GB of internal memory of the HBM2 standard.

Obviously, with such characteristics, the device is aimed primarily at professional use - working with neural networks and complex calculations. Therefore, performance indicators are at a fairly high level:

Double precision reaches 7.4 teraflops;
Single precision - 14.8 Tflops;
With half precision - 29.6 Tflops;
And ultimately it gets to 118.5 Tflops.

Other advantages of the model include support for NVIDIA RTX ray tracing technology and the presence of an NVLink port, with which you can combine two accelerators into a single system.

Why is this model not even among the top three in the rating? It's all about the cost: the Quadro GV100 is estimated at almost $9,000, or over 500,000 rubles. Not every user can afford to buy two cards at once.

8.9 Evaluation

Large amount of video memory 11 GB
3584 stream processors
New cooling algorithms
Reduced noise level
DirectX12 support

Solid price
Reducing the bus width to 352

In terms of its technical characteristics, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is not much inferior to the flagship Titan X, but at a much more attractive price. Therefore, the video card entered the TOP graphics accelerators for games in 2019.

The model is based on the top-end GP102 graphics processor and video memory of the most modern standard - GDDR5X. Thanks to 12 billion transistors, which are located on 471 mm2, so that the user receives enough power not only for games, but also for computing. Although you shouldn’t think about working with neural networks.

The winner of bronze in the TOP received an improved cooler, which not only reduces the peak temperature of the device, but also reduces the noise level.

By the way, this model also differs in design. Like some graphics accelerators, the new product received a limited Founders Edition design, which, although it does not affect performance, is pleasantly pleasing to the eye. But the set of interfaces is standard - one HDMI and three DisplayPort.

How much can a video card with such amazing characteristics cost? Surprisingly, for a model that is as powerful as an elite flagship, the manufacturer asks no more than 60,000 rubles.

8.5 Evaluation

Latest RTX technology
Excellent cooling
12 nm processor
Adaptive Boost
DirectX12 support

Unrealistically huge price

A video card with leadership ambitions, the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti has attracted the attention of many game lovers. The new product was presented quite recently, therefore all its components are the most innovative and modern. For example, the TU102 processor features an updated Pascal Refresh architecture. The number of CUDA cores is 3384, and the amount of video memory is the standard 12 GB.

The manufacturer managed to achieve amazing peak throughput - up to 616 Gb/s. In addition, any user will be pleasantly surprised by the power consumption: even at peak, the device consumes only 264 W in 3D mode.

Another undoubted advantage of the GeForce RTX 2080 Ti is the improved cooling system:

Two independent coolers;
Powerful radiator;
Cooling plate.

All of them work flawlessly, so even under peak loads the case does not heat up above 88°C.

But gamers will probably be interested in how the video card works in games? The device supports DirectX 12, so the owner is provided with the most realistic, high-quality image.

How much does such an interesting model cost? The starting price fluctuated around 100 thousand rubles. However, this cost is completely justified. Especially in contrast to other devices from this list.

One of the most popular video cards among demanding gamers who do not have an endless budget: at a very reasonable price, it allows you to run the latest games at fairly high settings.

GeForce GTX 1060 is the most powerful mid-class and mid-price graphics accelerator. The price gap between a typical GTX 1060 6 GB is about 10,000 rubles, and if we take the most affordable options with 3 GB of memory, it can reach 15,000 rubles. At the same time, the GTX 1060 copes well with games at 1080p resolution, and in some games this card is quite capable at 2K. The only drawback of the GTX 1060 is the inability to work in SLI mode; it does not even have a connector for connecting a bridge. If you want SLI, pay for the GTX 1070.

Meanwhile, different GeForce GTX 1060 from different manufacturers can differ quite significantly both in the design of the cooling system and overall design, as well as in the operating frequencies of the GPU and video memory. In our review we will name the five best, in our opinion, representatives of this family of accelerators, but first we’ll talk about the most important thing that you should pay attention to when choosing.

Choosing GeForce GTX 1060 | What is the difference between different models

The reference ones are equipped with a GP106 processor of the Pascal family, which operates at a clock frequency of 1506 MHz with the ability to increase to 1708 in turbo mode. Maximum power consumption is 120 W. The cards can accommodate either 6 GB or 3 GB of GDDR5 memory. The performance of both options is quite comparable, although, of course, a larger frame buffer accommodates larger textures and ensures smooth gameplay at high resolutions. By today's standards, 3GB is the minimum for modern games, so it's likely you'll have to lower settings even at 1080p, let alone 1440p. Therefore, versions with 3 GB of memory can only be considered if you have a strictly limited budget, but if you have a small reserve, it is better to choose modifications with 6 GB of GDDR5. Russian prices for GeForce GTX 1060 3 GB start at approximately 16,000 rubles, for GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB - from 20,000 rubles. For comparison, the most affordable GeForce GTX 1070 8 GB will cost about 32,000 rubles.

Different GeForce GTX 1060 models have a different set of connectors for connecting to a monitor. You'll likely see some combination of HDMI, DisplayPort, and DVI (Dual Link DVI-D). All of these interfaces handle 1080p and 1440p resolutions seamlessly, and you won't notice any visual differences in the image.

The lion's share of the GeForce GTX 1060 is equipped with air cooling systems with a radiator and one or two fans. There are also options with passive cooling based on heat pipes and even with liquid cooling, but in this class there are vanishingly few of them.

Models with a single fan are usually of a shorter type, their length does not exceed 17 cm, they fit into small cases and, as a rule, are cheaper. The downside of saving is the increased noise level: the radiator is smaller and the fan has to rotate at high speeds to ensure the operating temperature is within normal limits.

Cards with two fans are full-size; under normal load they are quieter and often have factory overclocked processor and memory frequencies. In addition, thanks to an effective cooling system, they also have sufficient potential for independent overclocking. However, they are noticeably noisier under high load and are more expensive.

As for the fashionable RGB backlight, it has not yet become widespread in mid-class cards. As a rule, all you can count on is a static single-color backlight, or with a choice of several colors.

Let's now take a look at five models of GeForce GTX 1060 video cards that are worthy of your attention.

CONTENT

NVIDIA initially announced the GTX 1080 video card; it is the flagship model in the gaming market and is quite expensive. In principle, this is not surprising - the cost of a top-end video card has always been high, especially at the time of release. However, the manufacturer also showed a pre-top-level video card, the GTX 1070, and a mid-level GTX 1060 video card, which we will talk about today. It is worth noting that there may also be a GTX 1050 video card, since previously there was an entry-level card in the line, but it has not yet been announced. We decided to start the series of articles with the most affordable GTX 1060 model, since it will be the most popular due to its reasonable cost, such cards are already on sale, they are ideal for toys not only in FullHD, but also in 4K, there is a possibility work with all modern technologies and so on. If you are building a new computer or want to replace your outdated card with something modern, then this is a good choice, but if you already have a 960, 970 or 980 card, then you can not rush into buying a new product just yet, since the GTX The 1060 will not provide a sufficient performance increase compared to the GTX 970 or GTX 980.

Inno3D GeForce GTX 1060

The video card is built on the GP106 graphics processor, in fact, like all video cards in this collection, the technological process is 16 nanometers, the number of supported monitors is 4, the maximum image resolution is 7680 by 4320 pixels. Of course, this is all just marketing and no one will use such permission. The GPU frequency here is 1569 MHz, which is good news, the video memory capacity is 6 gigabytes, the video memory frequency reaches 8200 MHz, and the bus width is 192 bits. We will not write many numbers regarding texture units and the number of universal processors, since this does not give you a clear understanding of the operation of the video card. A parameter such as Boost gives you an understanding, that is, overclocking, which in automatic mode gives you the 1784 MHz frequency of the graphics professor. This allows you to run absolutely all games at ultra settings in FullHD and at high settings in 4K. But in 4K you can still experience drops in frames per second, small micro-freezes, and so on. Still, even a higher-end video card sometimes produces less than 60 frames in 4K games. The cost is 22,750 rubles.

Palit GeForce GTX 1060

We have always liked Palit video cards for their compactness and ability to install in any computer case. Some ASUS or GIGABYTE models do not always fit, but the Palit absolutely always does. The new Palit GeForce GTX 1060 received the same case design as previous models, only before the cooling casing was golden, and now it is silver. Although, the GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 look even more attractive. Two fans of the cooling system do their job perfectly, they do not make noise even at maximum load, and the card itself looks attractive. In terms of hardware, it is no different from Inno3D, only the characteristics here are a little better - in normal mode the GPU frequency is 1620 MHz, and in automatic overclocking mode it is 1847 MHz. It's noticeably more powerful and gives you a pretty decent FPS boost, to be honest. This model seems to us ideal in terms of power-to-cost ratio, and the manufacturer has enough fans, so its success is guaranteed. The cost of the card is 23,100 rubles, only a few hundred more expensive than its previous competitor.

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1060

If you are used to seeing GIGABYTE with three cooling fans, then here is a new design, two fans and a backplate. It is worth noting that the graphics chip does not heat up so much to install three fans, so the company separated the GTX 1060 from older models, which already have three fans. Inside, the same GP106 graphics processor is installed, which operates at a standard frequency of 1620 MHz. The video memory capacity is 6 gigabytes, the frequency of this memory reaches 8008 MHz. It is worth noting that the video card has a Gaming Mod, when the frequency drops to 1594 MHz and when overclocked it is 1809 MHz. This is an ideal mode for gaming, when the cooling system can fully cope with the load. But, there is also an overclocking mode in which 1847 MHz is reached - this is useful for working with video or for overclocking. Personally, I am a big fan of GIGABYTE video cards, but due to their length, users usually buy something else. There are no such problems with the GTX 1060; the card is quite compact, quiet and produces excellent power for both gaming and work. And the cost is only 24 thousand rubles.

MSI GeForce GTX 1060

If you are looking for a beautiful graphics card, then the MSI GeForce GTX 1060, in my opinion, is the most attractive of all that is on the market today. And it’s not worth saying that the beauty of a video card is not so important - everyone now buys a case with a window in order to look at its beauty, and for the most part all video cards differ only in the cooling system and the design of the casing. There are not many differences between the GTX 1060 case and the GTX 980, for example, from MSI - the same red and black case, the same dragons on the fans. But there are some changes - the casing has become more durable, more daring, or something, some elements have been redone. But in terms of performance, the product lags quite a bit behind its direct competitors on the market - in normal mode, the graphics core frequency is 1594 MHz, the video memory frequency is 8100 MHz, and the built-in video memory is 6 gigabytes. The video card also has three modes - Gaming, Silent and OC. In the first case, the frequency is 1784 MHz and this gives you tremendous gaming performance. The second mode allows you to use the video card with the fans turned off - overclocked frequency 1708. In OS mode, the graphics core frequency is 1809 MHz. The cost of the video card is 24,900 rubles.

ASUS GeForce GTX 1060

ASUS has pleased us with a very beautiful video card, which looks almost the same in all models - the same cooling system casing, the same color, dimensions. It is worth noting that this video card is one of the longest among all GTX 1060 and if you decide to take it, see if you have enough space in the case, you need 30 cm. But along with a large long card you get three fans in the cooling system - This will allow better air circulation in the case and supply enough cold air to the radiator. In terms of performance, the card also turned out to be quite attractive - the graphics core frequency in normal mode is 1620 MHz, the video memory frequency is 8208 MHz, and the volume is 6 gigabytes. It is also worth noting that in game mode the GPU frequency reaches 1847 MHz, and in overclocking mode - 1873 MHz. This is the highest figure among all GTX 1060 video cards. Probably for the first time, an ASUS video card, being a more expensive option, will be the most popular. The cost is 25,800 rubles, but this cost is fully justified by the power and body.

Let's start the article with a comparison of GTX 1060 video cards from the three most popular manufacturers: ASUS, MSI and Gigabyte. We will evaluate design, quality, cooling and, of course, overclocking. We will not compare FPS in games, since the difference is very small and does not have any weight when choosing a video card in this case.

A comparison of GTX 1060 video cards reveals the Asus Gtx 1060 strix - this is the largest video card of the three.

At the front we see a black plastic casing and three fans. On the back there is a black metal Back plate with several logos. There are also logos on the top as well as an 8-pin power connector. Dimensions – 298 mm by 134 mm, the video card occupies 2 slots. To connect displays there are 1 DVI, 2 HDMI 2.0 and 2 display port 1.4.

The second video card is MSI GTX 1060 gaming 6G.

The black and red plastic casing from MSI looks even more aggressive and cool this time around, and the 2 large fans provide good cooling. At the back there is a black metal Back plate with logos and slots for ventilation. To connect displays there is DVI, HDMI 2.0 and 3 display port 1.4. On top there is an RGB logo and an 8-pin power connector. Overall dimensions are 277mm by 140mm, the video card occupies 2 slots.

Our comparison of GTX 1060 video cards ends with the Gigabyte GTX 1060 G1 Gaming.

The front features a black plastic shroud with orange accents and two fans. On the back there is a black metal Back plate with the Gigabyte logo. On top there is an 8-pin power connector and an RGBL logo. Overall dimensions are 278 mm by 114 mm, the video card occupies 2 slots.

Let's move on to testing GTX 1060 video cards

Temperature test

For the test we used Furmark, which worked in automatic mode. The MSI GTX 1060 gaming 6G showed the best result here – 62 degrees. The fans ran at 34% power with a speed of 860. In order to find out at what speed the noise starts, we manually added revolutions. The cooler started making noise after 70% rpm. This is quite a large margin for those who want to overclock their video card and at the same time keep the temperature within normal limits.

The Asus Gtx 1060 strix is breathing down its neck with an indicator of 63 degrees at 47% or 1730 rpm. The noise starts after 55% or 2010 rpm. The stock is quite small.

Gigabyte GTX 1060 G One Gaming is in 3rd place in this test - 69 degrees with fans at 54%. It makes noise after 70% and 2020 rpm, which means there is a good margin.

It should be noted that this video card has the highest core frequency of the three, which means the gaming power and temperature are slightly higher. But temperatures below 70 degrees are in any case considered a very good indicator for any video card. In our test, all 3 video cards showed temperatures below 70 in harsh conditions, but nevertheless, the MSI GTX 1060 gaming 6G with the lowest temperature – 62 degrees – earns a plus.

Appearance

It is difficult to talk about the beauty of design, since there are no comrades in taste and color, and this will be our personal opinion. In this category, we liked the video card from MSI more, since it is the MSI GTX 1060 gaming 6G that has the most attractive and balanced design in terms of shape, size, quality of materials used and color.

As a result, the MSI GTX 1060 gaming 6G takes the podium as the best of these three video cards. The Asus Gtx 1060 strix remains a choice for fans and those who liked the design, because it is still built well and from very high-quality materials, but the Gigabyte GTX 1060 G One Gaming, although it looks less presentable than the other two, still deserves attention. This is a graphics card that has decent cooling, more power right out of the box, and the lowest price.

Finally, let's touch on the topic of overclocking. I would like to note that overclocking will be individual for each video card, that is, video cards of the same model may have different overclocking potential. The base core frequency on almost all copies was overclocked to 1700 Mhz and the memory to 9200 Mhz. Only the Gigabyte GTX 1060 G One Gaming is 1 step behind with 1690 and 9000 Mhz.

This concludes the comparison of GTX 1060 video cards from these three manufacturers. All of them performed well, however, after searching for information on the forums, we found out that there is another company that is not only inferior, but outperforms these three manufacturers in many respects. Details below.

Comparison of top-line GTX 1060 video cards with regular ones using the example of Aorus GTX 1060

Let's use a specific example to try to figure out how the top options of video cards differ from those that are cheaper. We will compare GTX 1060 video cards from the same company, namely Aorus - but not ordinary ones, but those that are new, with faster 9 Gbps memory. Let's compare the regular version of the Aorus GTX 1060 with a cooler and more sophisticated version, which has cooler cooling, greater factory overclocking - this is the Aorus GTX 1060 Xtreme Edition.

Although this article will be based on the example of one manufacturer, in general the conclusion can be applied to all brands of video cards, and if you were previously in doubt whether to buy a video card with a simple cooling of some brand or the same video card, but in the coolest design, this article should clarify situation.

To build the computers on which we will compare GTX 1060 video cards from Aorus, manufacturers recommend a power supply of at least 400 W. The length of these two video cards is approximately the same, and it is 28 cm for the regular version and 28 centimeters for the Aorus GTX 1060 Xtreme Edition. Moreover, the first one is standard - 2 slots, but the other one will take 2.5 slots. The casing of both video cards is plastic, and the Back plate is metal.

Cooling

The simple version of the Aorus GTX 1060 is equipped with three 80 mm fans, and the Aorus GTX 1060 Xtreme Edition is equipped with two 100 mm fans. What's strange is that the regular version has a miniature heatsink to cool the back of the chip, but the advanced version does not. If anyone doesn’t know, this is a new feature of Aorus video cards, where the chip is cooled not only in the front (the main part), but also in the back. We cannot say how much it really helps with cooling, but the manufacturer himself says that the gain is in the region of 2 - 5%. Let's take a look inside the cards.

The Aorus GTX 1060 is cooled by a 3-section radiator, which is penetrated by only two not very large heat pipes.

They also directly remove heat from the graphics chip. The memory chip, capacitors and mosfets are cooled by separate metal plates, which, although not part of the main radiator, are still tightly sealed into it, so there should be no problems with heat transfer. The power subsystem here is 7-phase, 6 phases per chip and one for memory chips. What’s interesting is that the Back plate, although passive, still additionally cools the area where the power subsystem is soldered, which by the way does not get hot, there is also a thermal pad between the chip and the rear mini radiator, there is also a third pad that cools the converters power supply on the back of the board.

Now let's look at the Aorus GTX 1060 Xtreme Edition version.

The back plate here, oddly enough, only cools the area of the soldered power circuit. Comparing the GTX 1060 video cards from Aorus, you can see that the radiator here is much more massive - it is 2 sections and is no longer penetrated by 2 but 4 heat pipes, which immediately catches your eye.

The radiator fins here are denser than those of a simple Aorus and, in addition, the heat pipes here are more massive. Both the graphics chip itself, as well as the memory chips, and the entire power zone, which, oddly enough, is also 7-phase, are cooled. The main difference between this radiator is that heat is removed by one large copper plate, and not just by direct contact of heat pipes. In this version, 2 additional HDMIs are soldered on the board itself for convenient connection of a VR helmet. Additional power for both video cards is supplied via one 8-pin connector.

Factory overclocking

OS Mode: 1860/9026 Mhz, Gaming mode 1835/9026 Mhz

OS Mode: 1873/9026 Mhz, Gaming mode 1847/9026 Mhz

Price

In foreign stores, the difference in price between cards is only $10; in Russia, prices are taken out of the blue, so the difference can be greater.

Comparative tests of the top-line GTX 1060 video cards with the regular one using the example of the Aorus GTX 1060

Let's go through the most current games, plus take a closer look at cooling efficiency and overclocking capabilities. By default, out of the box, video cards operate in pre-maximum Gaming mode. Let's look at the real operating frequencies in this mode - that is, you took the video card out of the box, plugged it into the computer and, without adjusting anything, run the latest benchmark Unigine superposition in FULL HD Preset hi: Aorus GTX 1060 starts at 2012 Mhz for the chip, but very soon the boost it drops to 2000 and after some time the card settles down to 1974 Mhz at a temperature of 64 degrees.

Now the Aorus GTX 1060 Xtreme Edition. It starts at 2025 Mhz, but just as quickly the boost drops to 2015, then to 2000, and at the end of the benchmark the card stopped at a frequency of 1980 Mhz at 63 degrees. As a result, from the initial value the boost dropped by 38 Mhz. For the game, of course, this doesn’t mean anything at all, but the number is no longer as beautiful as 2000. Let’s say right away that the boost also works for almost all video cards from any manufacturer. Now we turn on the OC mode - guaranteed slight overclocking from the manufacturer. In the regular version, the boost starts at 2037 Mhz and stops at almost 2000. The Aorus GTX 1060 Xtreme Edition starts at 20150 Mhz and stops at 2012. As a result, comparing GTX 1060 video cards from AORUS in the fastest OC mode, we found out that the frequencies these cards differ by only 0.6%. In principle, there was no need to test further, but we still have to look at overclocking. The OS is the maximum overclocking from the manufacturer, which is guaranteed to work on all video cards, plus it can be turned on literally with one click, provided that you have the proprietary Aorus program installed.

Game testing

Battlefield 1 – FULL HD, ultra settings. Disable vertical sync. There is nothing special to comment on - the difference in frequencies is 13 Mhz, in temperature - 1 degree.

Watch Dogs 2 – Preset Ultra. Performance also differs within the margin of error; the temperature of both video cards is the same.

Mass effect Andromeda - Preset Ultra. Again everything is within the margin of error.

Let's try to find the difference in overclocking potentials

Aorus GTX 1060 Xtreme Edition video card. Overclocking was done via MSI afterburner. We did not touch the fan speed, everything remained on automatic. The card overclocked to 2160 Mhz and stopped at constant operation at 2150 Mhz, which is 6% more than the factory overclocking in OS mode and 15% more than the operating frequency of the reference, only the reference video card still heated up to 75 degrees, but here it was 15 % faster, but also another 10 degrees less. But the weight of the humor is that the simple version with its simpler radiator, thinner fins and fewer heat pipes overclocked almost the same. It started at 2040 Mhz and stopped at 2026 Mhz, and this is only 1 percent less than the more sophisticated and more expensive Aorus GTX 1060 Xtreme Edition card. And the most important thing is that in terms of noise they were also the same, they worked equally quietly and in terms of temperatures the difference was small.

A three-gigabyte version of the people's favorite, released by a popular company. Working with video material, comfort in modern games - everything is easy with her. In addition, you can get such a card inexpensively, and you can save money. But more on this below.

Advice to owners of cases with a transparent wall: The backlight of the indicators and logo can be changed - the full RGB spectrum is available.

Top Options and Features:

No extra noise or “Africa” inside the system unit. Cooling is provided by Windforce 2X - a system of two 90 mm fans and a radiator. The copper heat pipe guarantees super efficiency.
You can immerse yourself in gameplay with maximum comfort: the video adapter supports GeForce Experience and NVIDIA GameWorks.
You can completely immerse yourself in the atmosphere of what is happening, because you can also play in VR.

Ultra settings in 4K, complete immersion in an alternative world, including virtual reality - this is what one of the best models released under the MSI brand can offer. Effective cooling without unnecessary noise, video memory capacity and the ability to use professional software for working with video - these are the key qualities of the budget model, thanks to which it received a place in the top selection.

Key Features:

Suitable for multi-monitor configuration: the card “sees” 4 connected at the same time.
There is a backlight: using a proprietary utility, the user can control each LED individually.
You can choose the optimal settings to adjust performance indicators through the program in one click.
Thanks to Dragon Eye, a gamer can easily watch online videos without looking away from the game - an indispensable thing for streaming.

It is recommended to choose a budget system for a modern system unit for gaming and professional purposes. Online broadcasts, working with video, excellent FPS indicators - all this makes it the best option for games and graphics. Under heavy loads, the card will not “boil” or hum. The absence of noise is a guarantee of a comfortable pastime, and moderate heating is a plus for stable operation and durability.

Why in the top of the best:

NVIDIA VRWorks support provides the ability to experience what's happening. No need to spend a lot of time setting up. Virtual devices are immediately ready for use after connecting via HDMI.
At minimum loads, the coolers stop: smart fans will not make unnecessary noise, nor will they waste energy.
overclocking enthusiasts are provided with a wonderful tool from the manufacturer - Afterburner.