NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5060 and NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1630 represent two vastly different eras of GPU design, separated by architecture, process technology, and performance class. The data shows a decisive generational gap, with the RTX 5060 dominating the GTX 1630 in every measured benchmark, though the GTX 1630 holds its own in specific legacy contexts. This analysis breaks down the raw numbers, architectural chasm, and practical implications for each card.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark data presents a stark, unambiguous picture of performance disparity. Across the two shared tests, the RTX 5060 secures a 100% win rate, with winsA recorded at 2 and winsB at 0. The average benchmark score for the RTX 5060 is 26,331, compared to 24,277 for the GTX 1630, a difference of roughly 8.5% in aggregate, though this narrow margin is misleading given the specific test results.

In Geekbench OpenCL, the RTX 5060 scores 112,787 against the GTX 1630’s 24,858. This translates to a deltaPct of 353.7%, meaning the RTX 5060 is over 4.5 times faster in this compute-oriented workload. The Vulkan test shows an even wider gap: the RTX 5060 hits 113,321 while the GTX 1630 manages only 23,695, yielding a deltaPct of 378.2%. These are not incremental improvements; they represent orders-of-magnitude leaps in raw throughput.

For context on the RTX 5060’s position, its nearest rivals include the AMD Radeon 860M (avg score 26,401, deltaPct -0.3%), NVIDIA GeForce MX550 (26,421, -0.3%), and AMD Radeon RX 6750 XT (26,011, +1.2%). The RTX 5060 sits within 1% of these cards, indicating it is a mid-range performer relative to its contemporaries. The GTX 1630, by contrast, is bracketed by the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti (24,236, +0.2%) and NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 SUPER (24,170, +0.4%), suggesting its average score aligns with much older high-end hardware.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is fundamental, starting with the silicon itself. The RTX 5060 uses the GB206 chip built on TSMC’s 5 nm process, housing 21,900 million transistors within a 181 mm² die. This yields a transistor density of 121.0M per mm², a figure that dwarfs the GTX 1630’s TU117 chip. The GTX 1630 is fabricated on a 12 nm process, contains 4,700 million transistors, and occupies a larger 200 mm² die, resulting in just 23.5M transistors per mm². The RTX 5060 packs nearly five times the transistors into a smaller physical area, evidence of process node advancement.

Core configurations amplify this disparity. The RTX 5060 features 3,840 shading units, 120 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 48 raster output units (ROPs). It also includes 30 dedicated ray tracing cores and 120 tensor cores, enabling hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI workloads. The GTX 1630 has 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs, with no ray tracing or tensor cores present (both fields are null). Clock speeds tell a similar story: the RTX 5060 runs at a base of 2280 MHz and boost of 2497 MHz, while the GTX 1630 operates at 1740 MHz base and 1785 MHz boost—a ~30% clock advantage for the newer card before considering core count.

Memory subsystems are equally divergent. The RTX 5060 ships with 8 GB of GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The GTX 1630 has 4 GB of GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus, capped at 96.00 GB/s. This 4.7x bandwidth advantage for the RTX 5060 is critical for texture-heavy and high-resolution workloads. Pixel and texture rates follow suit: the RTX 5060 achieves 119.9 GPixel/s and 299.6 GTexel/s, versus the GTX 1630’s 28.56 GPixel/s and 57.12 GTexel/s. FP32 compute is rated at 19.18 TFLOPS for the RTX 5060 and 1.828 TFLOPS for the GTX 1630, a 10.5x gap. Notably, the RTX 5060 offers FP16 at a 1:1 ratio (19.18 TFLOPS), while the GTX 1630 runs FP16 at 2:1 (3.656 TFLOPS).

API support also separates them. The RTX 5060 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the GTX 1630 is limited to DirectX 12 (12_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4. The RTX 5060 uses a PCIe 5.0 x8 interface, whereas the GTX 1630 relies on PCIe 3.0 x16. Power and physical specs reflect their respective classes: the RTX 5060 has a 145 W TDP, requires a 300 W power supply, and occupies a dual-slot form factor with a single 8-pin connector; the GTX 1630 draws just 75 W, needs a 250 W PSU, and is a single-slot card with no power connector. The RTX 5060 is 241 mm long, 111 mm tall, and 40 mm wide, while the GTX 1630 is 145 mm long, 69 mm tall, and 18 mm wide.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5060 wins decisively in any scenario that leverages modern GPU features. Its 30 ray tracing cores and 120 tensor cores make it suitable for real-time ray tracing and DLSS-style AI upscaling, though the benchmark data only confirms raw compute superiority. The 8 GB GDDR7 memory with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth positions it for 1440p gaming and content creation tasks like video encoding or 3D rendering. The 5 nm process and 19.18 TFLOPS FP32 performance indicate strong sustained throughput in compute-heavy applications.

The GTX 1630, despite its overwhelming disadvantages, retains niche utility. Its 75 W TDP and single-slot design make it ideal for low-power systems, legacy office PCs, or SFF builds where space and thermal headroom are constrained. The 4 GB GDDR6 memory is sufficient for older titles at 1080p with reduced settings. Its lack of external power connectors simplifies installation in pre-built systems with limited PSU capacity. The PCIe 3.0 x16 interface ensures compatibility with older motherboards, and the inclusion of a DVI output supports legacy monitors that newer cards may not accommodate.

The benchmark data shows the GTX 1630’s nearest rivals are all older high-end cards (GTX 780 Ti, RTX 2080 SUPER), indicating it competes in a performance tier that predates the RTX 50-series by multiple generations. Its average score of 24,277 places it in the 70th percentile of all GPUs, versus the RTX 5060’s 72nd percentile—a surprisingly small gap in percentile ranking given the massive absolute score differences in head-to-head tests. This suggests that the GTX 1630’s performance is sufficient for a broad swath of undemanding workloads, even if it lacks headroom.

The Verdict

The data is unequivocal: the RTX 5060 is the superior GPU by every measurable metric. In Geekbench OpenCL and Vulkan, it outperforms the GTX 1630 by margins of 353.7% and 378.2% respectively. Its architectural advantages—5 nm process, 5x transistor count, ray tracing cores, tensor cores, GDDR7 memory—make it a modern, capable solution for gaming and compute. The RTX 5060’s active production status and launch MSRP of 299 USD (stated once here as reference) position it as a current-generation mid-range card, while the GTX 1630 is end-of-life, having been succeeded by the GeForce 20-series.

The GTX 1630 is not without merit. Its 75 W power draw, single-slot profile, and no power connector requirement make it a pragmatic choice for ultra-compact or low-power systems where the RTX 5060’s 145 W TDP and dual-slot cooler would not fit. The GTX 1630’s percentile rank of 70 versus the RTX 5060’s 72 shows it still handles a majority of common tasks adequately. For users with legacy hardware, limited PSUs, or a need for DVI output, the GTX 1630 remains a functional option. However, for anyone building a new system or upgrading for modern gaming, the RTX 5060’s 10.5x FP32 advantage and 4.7x memory bandwidth advantage are not just recommended—they are transformative.

FAQ

Q: How much faster is the RTX 5060 in OpenCL compared to the GTX 1630?

A: The RTX 5060 scores 112,787 in Geekbench OpenCL, while the GTX 1630 scores 24,858, resulting in a deltaPct of 353.7%, meaning the RTX 5060 is roughly 4.5 times faster.

Q: Does the GTX 1630 support ray tracing?

A: No. The GTX 1630 has no ray tracing cores (rtCores is null), while the RTX 5060 features 30 dedicated ray tracing cores.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two cards?

A: The RTX 5060 has 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth from 8 GB GDDR7 on a 128-bit bus, whereas the GTX 1630 has 96.00 GB/s from 4 GB GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus—a 4.7x advantage for the RTX 5060.

Q: Are these cards in the same performance percentile?

A: They are close: the RTX 5060 is in the 72nd percentile of all GPUs, and the GTX 1630 is in the 70th percentile. However, this masks the huge absolute score differences in specific tests.

Q: What is the power consumption difference?

A: The RTX 5060 has a TDP of 145 W and requires a 300 W power supply, while the GTX 1630 has a TDP of 75 W and requires a 250 W power supply.

Q: Which card has better API support?

A: The RTX 5060 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the GTX 1630 only supports DirectX 12 (12_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4.