GeForce GTX 1060 3GB vs Radeon R9 290X

These two are practically equal for gaming.

Verdict

Performance index: practically equal (26 vs 26).
1080p high, 23 popular games: about the same on average (est.); the processor caps both in 1 of 23 games.
1440p high, 23 popular games: about the same on average (est.).
4K high, 23 popular games: about the same on average (est.).
Video memory: Radeon R9 290X has 4 GB vs 3 GB.
Power (TDP): GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 120 W, Radeon R9 290X 290 W; the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB delivers 142% more performance per watt.
Age: the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is 3 years newer (2016 vs 2013).

FPS figures assume a Ryzen 7 9850X3D, the fastest gaming processor in our catalog, so the graphics card is the limit wherever possible.

Specs

Spec	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	Radeon R9 290X
Performance index	26	26
Brand / series	NVIDIA GTX 10	AMD R9 200
Released	2016	2013
Video memory	3 GB	4 GB
Memory type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory bus	192-bit	512-bit
Power (TDP)	120 W	290 W
Hardware ray tracing	No	No
Upscaling	FSR	FSR

Ray tracing and upscaling support follow the GPU architecture (series), not per-game support.

Estimated FPS in popular games (high preset)

1080p1440p4K

1080p, high preset, estimated. Median: GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 65 fps, Radeon R9 290X 65 fps. Confidence: medium for 16, low for 7 games.
Game	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	Radeon R9 290X
Counter-Strike 2	164	164
Dota 2	300+	300+
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS	60	60
WARDOGS	23	23
Apex Legends™	65	65
Valheim	56	56
Grand Theft Auto V Legacy	120	120
Aniimo	31	31
HELLDIVERS™ 2	37	37
Slay the Spire 2	156	156
Marvel Rivals	37	37
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege	37	37
Overwatch®	78	78
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth	300+	300+
War Thunder	62	62
Dead by Daylight	111	111
Geometry Dash	300+	300+
Limbus Company	260	260
Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced	35	35
Delta Force	56	56
Terraria	300+	300+
Stardew Valley	300+	300+
Rust	31	31

1440p, high preset, estimated. Median: GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 46 fps, Radeon R9 290X 46 fps. Confidence: medium for 16, low for 7 games.
Game	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	Radeon R9 290X
Counter-Strike 2	115	115
Dota 2	287	287
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS	42	42
WARDOGS	16	16
Apex Legends™	46	46
Valheim	39	39
Grand Theft Auto V Legacy	84	84
Aniimo	22	22
HELLDIVERS™ 2	26	26
Slay the Spire 2	109	109
Marvel Rivals	26	26
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege	26	26
Overwatch®	55	55
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth	300+	300+
War Thunder	44	44
Dead by Daylight	78	78
Geometry Dash	287	287
Limbus Company	182	182
Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced	25	25
Delta Force	39	39
Terraria	300+	300+
Stardew Valley	287	287
Rust	22	22

4K, high preset, estimated. Median: GeForce GTX 1060 3GB 27 fps, Radeon R9 290X 27 fps. Confidence: medium for 16, low for 7 games.
Game	GeForce GTX 1060 3GB	Radeon R9 290X
Counter-Strike 2	69	69
Dota 2	172	172
PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS	25	25
WARDOGS	10	10
Apex Legends™	27	27
Valheim	23	23
Grand Theft Auto V Legacy	50	50
Aniimo	13	13
HELLDIVERS™ 2	16	16
Slay the Spire 2	66	66
Marvel Rivals	16	16
Tom Clancy's Rainbow Six Siege	16	16
Overwatch®	33	33
The Binding of Isaac: Rebirth	262	262
War Thunder	26	26
Dead by Daylight	47	47
Geometry Dash	172	172
Limbus Company	109	109
Grand Theft Auto V Enhanced	15	15
Delta Force	23	23
Terraria	300+	300+
Stardew Valley	172	172
Rust	13	13

Estimated FPS from our model (v0), based on the game's published requirements and relative GPU/CPU performance. Not measured. Real results vary with drivers, patches, and scenes. Values above 300 fps show as 300+.

Values above 300 fps are shown as 300+. Hover a value for its range. How we estimate FPS

Verdict

Specs

Estimated FPS in popular games (high preset)

Related comparisons