AMD Radeon R9 290X vs GeForce GTX 1060

The GeForce GTX 1060 is the faster graphics card, scoring 15/100 on our gaming benchmark versus 14/100 for the AMD Radeon R9 290X — roughly 7% faster. That said, the gap is small, so the cheaper option is often the smarter buy.

AMD

AMD Radeon R9 290X

14
Gaming score / 100
Check AMD Radeon R9 290X price

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Winner

GeForce GTX 1060

15
Gaming score / 100
Check GeForce GTX 1060 price

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Specs compared

SpecAMD Radeon R9 290XGeForce GTX 1060
Gaming score14/10015/100
VRAM4 GB-
Memory typeGDDR5-
TDP290 W120 W
Boost clock1000 MHz-
ReleaseOct 2013-
MSRP$69.00-

AMD Radeon R9 290X vs GeForce GTX 1060: which should you buy?

The GeForce GTX 1060 is the faster graphics card, scoring 15/100 on our gaming benchmark versus 14/100 for the AMD Radeon R9 290X — roughly 7% faster. That said, the gap is small, so the cheaper option is often the smarter buy. For your specific games and resolution, run both through our comparison tool, check pairing with the bottleneck calculator, or see where each lands on the tier list.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the AMD Radeon R9 290X better than the GeForce GTX 1060?
The GeForce GTX 1060 is faster for gaming, scoring 15/100 versus 14/100 for the AMD Radeon R9 290X (about 7% faster).

Should I buy the AMD Radeon R9 290X or the GeForce GTX 1060?
For raw gaming performance, choose the GeForce GTX 1060. If it costs notably more for only a small gain, the AMD Radeon R9 290X can be the better value. Check current prices before deciding.

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