NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 6 GB and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4050 Mobile represent two distinct eras of GPU design, and the benchmark data reflects a clear generational shift. The RTX 4050 Mobile posts decisively higher scores in the recorded compute and graphics API tests, while the GTX 1060 6 GB remains a competent legacy part, especially when considering its standing among all GPUs in the database. The recorded data shows that the RTX 4050 Mobile wins both head-to-head benchmark comparisons, but the GTX 1060 6 GB holds a higher overall percentile rank, indicating that raw test scores alone do not tell the entire story.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 4050 Mobile wins every direct benchmark comparison recorded in the database. In the Geekbench OpenCL test, it scores 74748 against 32322 for the GTX 1060 6 GB, a delta of 56.8% in favor of the newer part. In the Geekbench Vulkan test, the margin is even larger: 75235 versus 18659, a 75.2% difference. These are not marginal improvements; they represent a fundamental performance leap in both general compute and modern graphics API workloads.

The GTX 1060 6 GB, despite losing both head-to-head tests, holds a percentile rank of 67 among all GPUs, which is higher than the RTX 4050 Mobile's 63. This means that while the RTX 4050 Mobile is faster in the specific tests recorded, the GTX 1060 6 GB sits in a better position relative to the broader GPU landscape in the database. This is partly explained by the nature of the benchmark suite: the GTX 1060 6 GB has a Geekbench Metal score of 14587, a test not recorded for the RTX 4050 Mobile, which contributes to its higher average score of 21856. The RTX 4050 Mobile's average benchmark score is 19049, pulled down by several low PassMark scores in legacy DirectX tests, including 79 in DirectX 10, 61 in DirectX 12, and 184 in DirectX 9. These legacy tests do not reflect modern gaming workloads, but they do affect the aggregate statistics.

For users focused on current-generation graphics APIs and compute tasks, the RTX 4050 Mobile is the clear winner. Its Vulkan score of 75235 is more than four times that of the GTX 1060 6 GB, indicating exceptional performance in modern cross-platform graphics workloads. Its OpenCL score of 74748 similarly points to strong compute throughput. The GTX 1060 6 GB, in contrast, still delivers respectable results in Metal-based workloads, where it scores 14587, and its overall average is buoyed by this additional data point.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is substantial. The GTX 1060 6 GB is built on the Pascal architecture, using the GP106 chip fabricated on a 16 nm process at TSMC. It contains 4,400 million transistors on a 200 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 22.0M per mm². The RTX 4050 Mobile uses the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD107 chip on TSMC's 5 nm node. This chip packs 18,18 million transistors on a smaller 159 mm² die, achieving a density of 118.9M per mm², over five times the density of the Pascal part.

The core configuration also differs significantly. The GTX 1060 6 GB has 1280 shading units, 80 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, with no ray tracing cores or tensor cores. Its FP32 performance is rated at 4.375 TFLOPS, while its FP16 output is only 68.36 GFLOPS, reflecting a 1:64 ratio. The RTX 4050 Mobile doubles the shading units to 2560, keeps 80 TMUs and 48 ROPs, and adds 20 RT cores and 80 tensor cores. Its FP32 performance nearly doubles to 8.986 TFLOPS, and FP16 matches that at 8.986 TFLOPS, a 1:1 ratio, indicating vastly superior compute efficiency in half-precision workloads.

Memory architecture is another clear divider. The GTX 1060 6 GB uses 6 GB of GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus with 192.2 GB per second bandwidth and an effective memory speed of 8 Gbps at 2002 MHz. The RTX 4050 Mobile also has 6 GB of GDDR6 on 96-bit bus, delivering 192.0 GB/s at 16 Gbps effective. The bandwidth is nearly identical, but the RTX 4050 Mobile achieves it with half the bus width, relying on faster GDDR6 memory. Both parts have identical pixel rate around 82 to 84 GPixel/s (82.03 versus 84.24) and texture rate around 136.7 versus 140.4 GTexel/s, indicating that rasterization throughput is similar despite the memory and compute differences.

The TDP figures highlight a major efficiency shift. The GTX 1060 6 GB draws 120 W, uses a dual-slot cooler, and requires a 1x 6-pin power connector with a 300 W suggested PSU. The RTX 4050 Mobile is rated at 50 W, consumes no additional power connectors, and is listed as an IGP form factor, meaning it is integrated into the laptop motherboard. This makes the RTX 4050 Mobile dramatically more power-efficient, delivering more than double the FP32 throughput at less than half the power draw.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear verdict: the RTX 4050 Mobile is the superior GPU for modern workloads, and the GTX 1060 6 GB is a legacy product that should only be considered in specific contexts. The RTX 4050 Mobile wins both head-to-head tests with massive margins, and its architecture provides features the GTX 1060 6 GB lacks entirely, including ray tracing cores and tensor cores. Its FP16 performance is identical to FP32, which is critical for AI and compute applications, while the GTX 1060 6 GB's FP16 is severely limited at 68.36 GFLOPS.

However, the GTX 1060 6 GB's higher percentile rank and higher average benchmark score mean it still holds value in the database's overall rankings. This is partly because the RTX 4050 Mobile includes several PassMark legacy DirectX scores that are very low, such as the DirectX 12 test at 61 and the DirectX 10 test at 79. These low scores drag down its average, even though its modern API scores are excellent. For a user relying on the database's aggregate statistics, the GTX 1060 6 GB appears more balanced, but for someone selecting a GPU for current games or compute tasks, the RTX 4050 Mobile's modern scores are far more relevant.

The RTX 4050 Mobile is the right choice for laptops where power efficiency and modern feature support matter. Its 50 W TDP, lack of power connectors, and IGP form factor make it suitable for thin and light machines, and its Vulkan and OpenCL scores indicate strong performance in contemporary applications. The GTX 1060 6 GB, with its 120 W TDP and dual-slot design, is a desktop part that requires external power and a larger chassis, making it less practical for mobile use.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The GTX 1060 6 GB has an average benchmark score of 21856, while the RTX 4050 Mobile has an average of 19049.

Q: What is the largest performance margin in the head-to-head tests?

A: The largest margin is in the Geekbench Vulkan test, where the RTX 4050 Mobile scores 75235 compared to the GTX 1060 6 GB's 18659, a delta of 75.2%.

Q: Do both GPUs have the same amount of memory?

A: Yes, both have 6 GB of memory, but the GTX 1060 6 GB uses GDDR5 on a 192-bit bus, while the RTX 4050 Mobile uses GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus.

Q: Which GPU supports ray tracing?

A: The RTX 4050 Mobile includes 20 RT cores, while the GTX 1060 6 GB has no ray tracing cores listed.

Q: How does the FP16 performance compare?

A: The RTX 4050 Mobile achieves 8.986 TFLOPS FP16, equal to its FP32, while the GTX 1060 6 GB only reaches 68.36 GFLOPS FP16 due to a 1:64 ratio.

Q: Which GPU has a higher percentile rank among all GPUs?

A: The GTX 1060 6 GB ranks in the 67th percentile, while the RTX 4050 Mobile ranks in the 63rd percentile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The Geekbench OpenCL test is the first recorded comparison. The RTX 4050 Mobile scores 74748, while the GTX 1060 6 GB scores 32322. This gives the RTX 4050 Mobile a 56.8% lead. OpenCL is a general-purpose compute benchmark, so this result indicates that the RTX 4050 Mobile has vastly superior compute throughput. This is consistent with its FP32 rating of 8.986 TFLOPS versus 4.375 TFLOPS for the GTX 1060 6 GB, and its 2560 shading units versus 1280.

The Geekbench Vulkan test shows an even wider gap. The RTX 4050 Mobile scores 75235, and the GTX 1060 6 GB scores 18659, a delta of 75.2%. Vulkan is a modern low-level graphics API, and the RTX 4050 Mobile's performance here is more than four times higher. This is not just a compute advantage; it reflects architectural efficiency in draw call processing and modern rendering features. The GTX 1060 6 GB, despite supporting Vulkan 1.4 in its API list, cannot match the newer architecture's execution capacity.

The RTX 4050 Mobile also has additional benchmark data that shows its strengths and weaknesses. Its PassMark G3D score is 14423, and its PassMark GPU Compute score is 5947, indicating solid performance in older DirectX-based tests. However, its DirectX 9 score of 184, DirectX 11 score of 130, and DirectX 12 score of 61 are all low, suggesting that legacy API paths do not fully utilize the GPU's capabilities. The GTX 1060 6 GB's only additional recorded benchmark is Geekbench Metal at 14587, which is not present for the RTX 4050 Mobile.

In summary, the head-to-head data is unambiguous. The RTX 4050 Mobile wins both tests, and the margins are substantial. The GTX 1060 6 GB has no benchmark wins in the direct comparison, recording zero wins against two for the RTX 4050 Mobile.

Specification Differences

The process node differs: the GTX 1060 6 GB is on 16 nm, while the RTX 4050 Mobile is on 5 nm. Both are fabricated by TSMC. Transistor counts are 4,400 million for the GTX 1060 6 GB versus 18,900 million for the RTX 4050 Mobile. The die size is 200 mm² for the GTX 1060 6 GB and 159 mm² for the RTX 4050 Mobile, resulting in a transistor density of 22.0M per mm² versus 118.9M per mm².

The base and boost clocks are close. The GTX 1060 6 GB runs at 1506 MHz base and 1709 MHz boost, while the RTX 4050 Mobile runs at 1455 MHz base and 1755 MHz boost. The memory clock differs in effective speed: 8 Gbps for the GTX 1060 6 GB versus 16 Gbps for the RTX 4050 Mobile, though the physical clock is similar at 2002 MHz versus 2000 MHz. Memory bandwidth is nearly equal at 192.2 GB/s and 192.0 GB/s, but the bus width differs: 192-bit for the GTX 1060 6 GB versus 96-bit for the RTX 4050 Mobile.

Shading units are 1280 versus 2560. TMUs are equal at 80 each, and ROPs are equal at 48 each. The RTX 4050 Mobile adds 20 RT cores and 80 tensor cores, while the GTX 1060 6 GB has none. FP32 is 4.375 TFLOPS versus 8.986 TFLOPS, and FP16 is 68.36 GFLOPS versus 8.986 TFLOPS. Pixel rate is 82.03 GPixel/s versus 84.24 GPixel/s, and texture rate is 136.7 GTexel/s versus 140.4 GTexel/s.

The TDP is 120 W versus 50 W. The GTX 1060 6 GB is dual-slot with a 1x 6-pin power connector and a 300 W suggested PSU, while the RTX 4050 Mobile is an IGP with no power connectors. The bus interface is PCIe 3.0 x16 for the GTX 1060 6 GB versus PCIe 4.0 x8 for the RTX 4050 Mobile. Display outputs differ: the GTX 1060 6 GB has 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, while the RTX 4050 Mobile is listed as portable device dependent. DirectX support is 12 (12_1) for the GTX 1060 6 GB versus 12 Ultimate (12_2) for the RTX 4050 Mobile. OpenGL and Vulkan versions are identical at 4.6 and 1.4 respectively. The GTX 1060 6 GB has a launch MSRP of 299 USD, while the RTX 4050 Mobile has no launch MSRP recorded.