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In the middle class, NVIDIA released two video cards under the same name. GeForce GTX 1060 with 6 GB of video memory flashed in our reviews more than once. There is also a cheaper modification with 3 GB of video buffer and some other simplifications. We will talk about it in this article, consider the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB by ASUS, check it for overclocking and compare it with the GeForce GTX 1060 6GB.
In addition to the obvious difference in the amount of memory, the two versions of the GeForce GTX 1060 differ in the number of computing units. Both video cards are based on the GP106 GPU. The older modification has all 1280 stream processors and 80 texture units active. The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB has one multiprocessor disabled and 1152 stream processors and 72 texture units active. The operating frequencies are identical, as is the TDP level of 120W.
| Video adapter | GeForce GTX 1060 6GB | GeForce GTX 1060 3GB |
|---|---|---|
| Core | GP106 | GP106 |
| Number of transistors, million pieces | 4400 | 4400 |
| Process technology, nm | 16 | 16 |
| Core area, sq. mm | 200 | 200 |
| Number of stream processors | 1280 | 1152 |
| Number of texture blocks | 80 | 72 |
| Number of render units | 48 | 48 |
| Core frequency, MHz | 1506–1708 | 1506–1708 |
| Memory bus, bit | 192 | 192 |
| Memory type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory frequency, MHz | 8000 | 8000 |
| Memory size, MB | 6144 | 3072 |
| Supported version of DirectX | 12 | 12 |
| Interface | PCI-E 3.0 | PCI-E 3.0 |
| Power, W | 120 | 120 |
As a result, we have an 11% difference in the number of main computing units, while maintaining the rest of the performance. It seems to be a little, but the reduced amount of memory can also play a role. After the release of the new generation of consoles, modern games have stepped forward in terms of texture quality, and now some projects require up to 4 GB even at Full HD. How things are in practice, our testing will show.
ASUS Dual GeForce GTX 1060 3GB (DUAL-GTX1060-O3G)
We will get acquainted with the video card made by ASUS. This is an affordable model of the Dual line, which is equipped with a good cooler, but in the ASUS hierarchy it is lower than Strix products.
ASUS DUAL-GTX1060-O3G comes in a small box with a stylized image of a leopard on the front side. The set is minimal, it includes a disk with software and instructions.
Video card in a white case. If you are a perfectionist or want a computer with a stylish interior, then this card will go well with white ASUS TUF Sabertooth motherboards.
A simple pattern is applied to the surface of the white case. The fan impeller is black. The total length of the device is 24 centimeters.
There is an ASUS logo on the side. In the corner is one power connector for six pins.
It’s nice to note the full-format board instead of the short reference PCB.
The video card offers five connectors for connecting monitors: two DisplayPort, two HDMI and one DVI.
The cooling system is reminiscent of the DurectCU cooler for budget video cards – two thick heat pipes and a medium-sized radiator.
Without the top casing with fans, the cooling looks a little more modest. It can be seen that the radiator is smaller in size than the board. But with a TDP of 120 W, it’s not scary.
Implemented direct contact of the tubes with the surface of the graphics chip. To do this, the tubes are fixed in the grooves of the base, the joint is smeared with thermal paste.
Two 90 mm Everflow T129215SU fans are responsible for blowing the radiator.
A small heatsink is provided for the power node transistors.
The board is made on a black textolite. The GPU is powered by a four-phase system. High-quality electronic components are used, which are also used in top-end ASUS products.
A stripped-down version of the GPU is labeled GP106-300-A1.
Three gigabytes of memory work on a 192-bit bus. Such a volume was collected with six Samsung K4G41325FE-HC25 microcircuits.
ASUS DUAL-GTX1060-O3G operating frequencies are higher than recommended. Base core clock 1569 MHz with Boost Clock 1785 MHz. The effective memory frequency corresponds to the standard value of 8 GHz.
ASUS Dual video cards adopted support for different frequency profiles from Strix models. The default settings correspond to the Gaming Mode. The faster mode offers a base frequency of 1594 MHz with a Boost Clock of 1809 MHz. Switching is done through the ASUS GPU Tweak utility. In this case, we limited ourselves to tests at initial frequencies and with manual overclocking.
On an open bench during long-term testing with the Metro: Last Light benchmark, the core temperature reached 73 ° C at 23 ° C indoors. The fan speed was less than 1600 rpm, so the noise is low.
Peak short-term Boost values reached 1974 MHz. The average core frequency in Last Light was kept at the level of 1924-1936 MHz, although there were rare drawdowns below these values. In order to test the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB as a reference analogue, the ASUS base frequency was lowered even below 1506 MHz, which allowed us to obtain an operating frequency range of 1848-1873 MHz. As a result, the average value is about 1860 MHz, which allows for a head-to-head comparison with the GeForce GTX 1060, which strictly functioned at this GPU frequency.
The overclocking results from ASUS can be called as expected good. The video card has reached the same performance as the older GeForce GTX 1060 – no higher and no lower. The base core frequency was raised to 1719 MHz with a peak Boost value of up to 2114 MHz. Memory took 9.5 GHz. Higher values were associated with loss of stability or artifacts.
In heavy tests, the core frequency remained at the level of 2076-2088 MHz even when the power limit was increased to the maximum. A slight increase in fan speed to 1800 rpm allowed us to keep the core temperature during overclocking within 71 ° C while maintaining acoustic comfort. In simple or short tests like 3DMark, the heat was even lower. So the achieved frequencies are quite suitable for continuous use. It may be necessary to reset some 10 MHz for complete safety, then for overall performance this will be a minor change. The main thing is that overclocking is not associated with a serious increase in noise.
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