When AMD released the Radeon RX 480, NVIDIA took a huge hit in the market for graphics cards. With an MSRP of $199, it offered performance similar to the GTX 1070 for almost half the price.
However, Nvidia has been making some big waves in terms of GPU sales once again. But does the GTX 16 series do a better job than the 10 series?
The GTX 16 series is an upgrade from the GTX 10 series. But there is a big “but.” This GTX 16 series is just a step up from mid-range cards like the GTX 1050 or GTX 1060. Some high-end 10 series cards, like the GTX 1080Ti, can still beat 16 series cards.
What is actually going on man? Is there still any real competition left? Here is all the information you need about these two cards!
Table of Contents
GTX 16 series vs. GTX 10 series: A Direct Comparison
In the first quarter of 2019, NVIDIA launched the GTX 16 series. This series uses GDDR6 memory instead of the GDDR5 memory used in the GTX 10 series.
We can compare the GTX 16 and GTX 10 series based on some of the most important features. Here’s a rundown of the comparison points.
Gaming Performance
Raw performance or gaming performance is the main criterion for judging the effectiveness of a GPU. The GTX 16 series cards outperform the mid-range GTX 10 series cards.
Looking at the specs of the GTX 1660Ti card, we see that it has faster GDDR6 memory. However, its predecessor, the GTX 1060, uses slower GDDR5 memory.
The core performance of these cards is also very different. The GTX 1660Ti has a total of 1536 CUDA cores. The GTX 1060 on the other hand only has 1280 CUDA cores.
The base clock of the GTX 1060 is 1506 MHz and the boost clock is 1708 MHz. But the GTX 1660Ti, which is fairly new, has a base clock of 1570 MHz and a boost clock of 1770 MHz.
A look at the specs shows that the GTX 16 series cards are better than the GTX 10 series cards. However, the GTX 16 series lacks the high-end cards like the GTX 1070 and GTX 1080.
Both the GTX 1070 and GTX 1080 were the best at the time they were released. Even today, there are few cards that can keep up with their capabilities.
The GTX 16 series cards can not beat these GTX 10 series cards, even though most people think they can. The GTX 1070, 1070Ti, 1080 and 1080Ti are still much better than the GTX 16 series.
Productivity
The main competitors of the GTX 16 series cards are the entry-level GTX 10 series cards.
The GTX 1650 is said to be an upgrade over the GTX 1050. However, the GTX 1050 is easily outperformed by the GTX 1650.
The GTX 1060 is in the same boat. GTX 1660Ti blows it out of the water. The GTX 1660Ti is not only the best in terms of spec wise, but it also supports newer software updates and optimizations.
GTX 16 series cards are advertised to have around a 50% performance increase over their respective predecessors. The series is based on Turing architecture and offers Turing NVENC, which is more efficient than CPU encoding. This Turing NVENC eliminates the need for laid-back streamers to run a dedicated stream PC.
To summarize, the GTX 16 series is far more productive than the GTX 10 series. Unless you have a GTX 1070 or GTX 1080, you should consider upgrading to a GTX 16 series card.
Power Draw
The GTX 16 series also improved its power draw significantly. A sheer performance gap yet almost the same power draw makes the GTX 16 series more outstanding than the GTX 10 series.
Surprisingly, the GTX 1660Ti improves performance by almost 50% with a TDP of only 120 watts. GTX 1060 would also need 120 watts of TDP to work. But at a lot slower speed.
The other GTX 16 variants, on the other hand, are significantly more power-efficient than the GTX 10 series cards.
Thermal Output
Even though they have so much power, the GTX 16 series cards produce a lot less heat than the GTX 10 series cards. NVIDIA worked hard to reduce heat production in the newer generation cards.
The GTX 1660Ti card runs much quieter and cooler than the GTX 1060 card. The core and chipsets of GTX 16 series cards are well made and have enough thermal protection. It’s something that every gamer wants and loves.
Temperature
The core design and novel layout with appropriate thermal guard made the GTX 16 series cards a lot cooler than the GTX 10 series cards. With the GTX 16 series cards, you can expect a quiet but cool gaming experience.
However, the fan noises depend on the third-party manufacturers. Still, a cooler core eliminates the possibility of excessive overheating.
Under full load, the GTX 1660Ti can reach 93 degrees, while the GTX 1060 can reach 95 degrees. It clearly shows the massive difference in temperature fluctuations.
Software Support
The newly released GTX 16 series is supported by a wide range of software and updates from NVIDIA. Driver utility and updates stabilize and increase card performances by a mile.
As a result, it’s far better to invest in a GPU that receives regular software updates. These updates arrive much later on GTX 10 series cards than on GTX 16 series cards.
Pricing & Availability
Given the performance improvement, the slight price increase for the GTX 16 series cards is justified. For an additional $30-35, you can enjoy a 30-50 percent performance boost.
In terms of availability, the newer GTX 16 series cards are clearly flooding the market. The older GTX 10 series cards are more difficult to find and may cost more than the retail price. The GTX 16 series cards are easy to find everywhere.
Comparison Table Between GTX 16 Series & 10 Series
Let’s take a look at the comparison table for a further fair assessment.
| Graphics Card | Architecture | CUDA Cores | Base Clock (MHz) | Boost Clock (MHz) | Memory Config | TDP |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| GTX 1050 | Pascal | 768 | 1392 | 1518 | 3 GB GDDR5 | 75 Watts |
| GTX 1050Ti | Pascal | 768 | 1290 | 1392 | 4 GB GDDR5 | 75 Watts |
| GTX 1060 | Pascal | 1280 | 1506 | 1708 | 6 GB GDDR5/X | 120 Watts |
| GTX 1070 | Pascal | 1920 | 1506 | 1683 | 8 GB GDDR5 | 150 Watts |
| GTX 1070Ti | Pascal | 2432 | 1607 | 1683 | 8 GB GDDR5 | 180 Watts |
| GTX 1080 | Pascal | 2560 | 1607 | 1733 | 8 GB GDDR5X | 180 Watts |
| GTX 1080Ti | Pascal | 3584 | 1480 | 1582 | 11 GB GDDR5X | 250 Watts |
| GTX 1650 | Turing | 896 | 1410 | 1590 | 4GB GDDR6 | 75 Watts |
| GTX 1650 Super | Turing | 1280 | 1530 | 1725 | 4GB GDDR6 | 100 Watts |
| GTX 1660 | Turing | 1408 | 1530 | 1785 | 6GB GDDR5 | 120 Watts |
| GTX 1660 Super | Turing | 1408 | 1530 | 1785 | 6GB GDDR6 | 120 Watts |
| GTX 1660Ti | Turing | 1536 | 1500 | 1770 | 6GB GDDR6 | 120 Watts |
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
Why do PUBG and Destiny 2 run better on Nvidia?
Nvidia has been performing better with these games because they use either DirectX 12 or Vulkan. Due to the recent release of the GTX 16 series, these GPU drivers and new games have been released.
How do you install a GTX 16 series card for gaming?
Put the graphics card into your motherboard and connect it to power. Power will be supplied via an 8-pin connector on your board or graphics card.
Then you’ll need a cable to connect your graphics card’s HDMI port to your monitor. Once this is connected, turn on the power switch and start up your PC. The start-up animation should show up on your screen.
Is GTX 1080 outdated?
The GTX 1080 is a powerful GPU that can run monstrous games, but it’s a little out of date. Regardless, it’s still worthwhile today!
Which one is better, the RTX 2060 or the GTX 1660?
The RTX 2060 outperforms the GTX 1660. The RTX 2060 offers more raw power and even has an RT core. To learn more about the differences, you can read this article.
Is Intel HD Graphics good for gaming?
Intel HD Graphics is not naturally suited for gaming. It’s not powerful enough to run most AAA games. Check out this post if you want to learn more.
Final Words
The graphics card is the single most important piece of hardware for gaming. You will never be able to enjoy gaming without a good GPU. This is why it is of utmost importance to us to dispel all GPU misconceptions and misunderstandings.
The most common question, “Is the GTX 16 Series better than the 10 Series?” can’t be answered in a single line. So, we tried to compare the two series based on their specs and efficiency. Taking into account all of the important factors, it’s safe to say that the GTX 16 series cards are superior to the GTX 10 series.
We would be delighted if our article could contribute to a final decision. We wish you a wonderful gaming experience!
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