NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q Refresh

Benchmark Performance

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Max-Q Refresh occupies the 50th percentile among all GPUs tracked in the database, placing it squarely in the middle of the performance distribution. This is not a flagship part, nor is it an entry-level offering; the data positions it as a mainstream mobile solution capable of handling contemporary titles at reasonable settings. The benchmark results indicate that its FP32 compute throughput of 4.608 TFLOPS is the foundational metric driving its overall score, though real-world gaming performance is influenced by texture and pixel throughput as well.

The chip's texture rate of 144.0 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 57.60 GPixel/s suggest balanced rasterization capabilities for its class. With 1920 shading units operating at a boost clock of 1200 MHz, the card delivers compute density consistent with a mid-range Turing implementation. The FP16 rate of 9.216 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio) indicates the presence of fast-path half-precision execution, which can benefit certain workloads, though gaming applications rarely exploit this fully.

Because the FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals with deltaPct values, direct percentage comparisons against specific competing models cannot be made from the data provided. However, the percentile ranking alone tells a clear story: this GPU sits at the median of all tracked devices, meaning roughly half of all GPUs in the database outperform it and half trail it. For a mobile GPU from the GeForce 20-series generation, this positioning reflects the Max-Q design philosophy—prioritizing efficiency and thermal headroom over outright performance. The 50th percentile is a meaningful anchor: users seeking high-refresh 1080p or entry-level 1440p should calibrate expectations accordingly.

The absence of benchmark scores (avgBenchmarkScore is 0) means the database contains no synthetic or aggregated gaming results for this specific SKU. The analysis must therefore rely on architectural metrics and the percentile placement. The 4.608 TFLOPS FP32 figure, combined with the 57.60 GPixel/s fill rate, suggests that the card can sustain playable frame rates at 1080p with medium-to-high settings in most titles from its era, but it will struggle with maximum settings in demanding modern releases.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

This GPU implements the Turing architecture with 30 dedicated RT cores and 240 tensor cores. The RT cores enable hardware-accelerated ray tracing, a defining feature of the GeForce 20-series generation. The tensor cores provide AI-accelerated capabilities, most notably for DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) in supported titles. The presence of these specialized units distinguishes this card from older GeForce 10 Mobile predecessors, which lacked both.

The API support is comprehensive for its generation: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) is listed, which includes support for hardware ray tracing, mesh shaders, variable rate shading, and other modern features. Vulkan 1.4 and OpenGL 4.6 round out the API package, ensuring broad compatibility with contemporary and legacy titles alike. The DirectX 12 Ultimate designation is notable, as it indicates the hardware meets the feature requirements Microsoft set for the latest DirectX 12 feature level, even though this is a mobile part.

The 30 RT cores are neither sparse nor abundant; they represent a middle-tier configuration within the Turing lineup. Ray-traced effects will be feasible at reduced resolutions or with lighter ray-tracing loads, but the performance headroom for full ray-traced scenes at high resolutions is limited. The 240 tensor cores, by contrast, offer a substantial AI compute resource that can offload certain tasks and enable performance-enhancing features like DLSS, which can partially offset the RT core throughput limitations.

Memory Subsystem

The memory configuration consists of 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, yielding a bandwidth of 259.8 GB/s. The memory clock runs at 1353 MHz, translating to 10.8 Gbps effective transfer rate. This bandwidth figure is adequate for 1080p gaming and entry-level 1440p, but it imposes constraints at higher resolutions where texture streaming and frame buffer demands increase substantially.

The 6 GB capacity is the more immediate limitation for modern titles. At 1080p, 6 GB can handle most games at high settings, though some recent releases exceed this allocation, causing texture pop-in or forcing lower quality presets. At 1440p, 6 GB becomes restrictive; users should expect to dial back texture quality or use DLSS to manage memory pressure. The 259.8 GB/s bandwidth complements the 6 GB capacity—it is sufficient to feed the 1920 shading units without becoming a bottleneck in most scenarios, but it will not rescue the card in memory-heavy workloads.

FAQ

Q: Does this GPU support hardware ray tracing?

A: Yes, it includes 30 dedicated RT cores based on the Turing architecture, which provide hardware acceleration for ray-traced effects in supported games.

Q: What is the maximum supported DirectX version?

A: The card supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), which is the highest feature level available in the DirectX 12 family.

Q: How much VRAM does it have?

A: It has 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus, providing 259.8 GB/s of memory bandwidth.

Q: Can it handle 1440p gaming?

A: It can run 1440p in less demanding titles or with reduced settings, but the 6 GB VRAM and 259.8 GB/s bandwidth make 1080p the more comfortable resolution for consistent performance.

Q: What is the power consumption?

A: The TDP is 115 W, which is typical for a Max-Q mobile GPU designed for thinner laptops.

Q: What is the transistor count?

A: The TU106B chip contains 10,800 million transistors on a 445 mm² die, fabricated on TSMC's 12 nm process.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK lists no nearest rivals for this GPU, so direct comparative analysis against specific competing models cannot be provided. The 50th percentile ranking, however, offers a general reference point: this card performs better than half of all GPUs in the database and worse than the other half. Within the GeForce 20 Mobile generation, it sits below full-power RTX 2060 implementations and above lower-tier Max-Q variants, though specific delta percentages are not available.

Its predecessor, the GeForce 10 Mobile series, lacked RT and tensor cores, so this card represents a generational leap in feature support. The successor, GeForce 30 Mobile, would later offer improved ray tracing and higher performance, but the RTX 2060 Max-Q Refresh remains a viable option for its class. The 12 nm process from TSMC, while not cutting-edge even at launch, offers a balance of density (24.3M transistors per mm²) and power characteristics suitable for mobile use.

Who Should Consider It

The benchmark data positions this GPU as a 1080p-class solution. Users targeting 1080p resolution with high settings in esports titles or medium settings in AAA games will find the performance adequate. The 4.608 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and 57.60 GPixel/s pixel rate are sufficient for maintaining 60+ FPS in many titles at this resolution, particularly when paired with the 6 GB VRAM that matches most 1080p texture budgets.

For 1440p gaming, the card is a marginal candidate. The 259.8 GB/s bandwidth and 6 GB capacity will struggle with high-resolution textures in demanding titles, and users should expect to lower settings or rely on DLSS where supported. The 50th percentile ranking reinforces this assessment—it is a mainstream part, not a high-refresh or high-resolution champion. The 240 tensor cores do provide a path to improved performance via DLSS, which can make 1440p more playable in supported titles.

Users with ray tracing ambitions should temper expectations. The 30 RT cores can render ray-traced effects, but the performance cost is significant; combining ray tracing with high resolutions will likely push the card beyond its comfort zone. The card is best suited for gamers who prioritize a balance of features and performance at 1080p, or who are willing to engage DLSS to stretch its capabilities.

Power and Cooling

The TDP is rated at 115 W, a modest figure for a GPU with 10,800 million transistors. This power envelope is typical for a Max-Q design, allowing for thinner laptop chassis and reduced thermal loads compared to full-power variants. The card is delivered as an MXM Module, meaning it is a removable, standardized mobile GPU form factor rather than a soldered chip.

Notably, the power connectors are listed as "None," which indicates that the MXM module draws power through the slot itself rather than requiring auxiliary PCIe power connectors. This simplifies installation in compatible laptop designs. The suggested PSU field is null in the FACT PACK, so no specific power supply recommendation can be made; however, the 115 W TDP and lack of external connectors imply that the host system's power delivery is designed to accommodate this load.

The 12 nm TSMC process node, while larger than later 7 nm or 8 nm nodes, contributes to the 115 W TDP. The die size of 445 mm² is substantial, reflecting the inclusion of 30 RT cores and 240 tensor cores alongside the 1920 shading units. Thermal management is handled by the laptop's cooling solution, which must dissipate up to 115 W of heat under sustained load. The boost clock of 1200 MHz (vs. 960 MHz base) indicates thermal headroom exists, but sustained boost behavior will depend on the specific laptop's cooling design.