Is a GTX 1060 6GB (or 3GB) enough?

[@man_daddio]

Currently I have an ASUS GTX 1070 ti Turbo in my work machine, but I am pulling the card out for another machine that has a 4k monitor coming. My current work machine does not and will not (and cannot) have Steam installed. I only play Age of Empires Definitive Edition (AOE DE) Single Player (and some campaigns) on it when I have a break. Current CPU is an Intel i7 4930k. I have a 4k monitor, but because I have other monitors connected to my computer, when I play AOE DE the max resolution I can get is 2560x1600. This is fine as the monitor is large enough. When I play, CPU utilization is about 40%, and GPU utilization hovers between 40%-50%.

So my question is, for my replacement GPU, will a GTX 1060 6GB be enough? I figure a GTX 1060 is about 60% of a GTX 1070 ti/ 1080 so since my GPU utilization is 50% max, it should be enough? I will not play other games nor can I install them. Another question is , can I get away with a GTX 1060 3GB? Will I run out of VRAM? I tried to look for AOE DE benchmarks but there isn't much info on it.

If you play the game and have a similar GPU please share your experience. Thanks for any help.

No suggestion for AMD cards please. Loud, hot, and too many drivers issues.

I don't think the price difference is much so I would go with the 6 GB version. I have a GTX 1060 and have even had it OC'd 200mhz or more stable with EVGA and Asus apps.

 

[Vario]

All of that is a GCE.

GTX 1060 ~ 120 watts
GTX 1070 Ti ~ 177 watts
RX 480 ~ 160 watts
RX 580 ~ 200 watts

FYI: There is more of a difference between the 3 and 6 GB versions of the 1060 than just their VRAM. The 3 GB model has 1152 shader units while the 6 GB model has 1280.

1) Exactly, it doesnt matter if the card's reported core temperature is low or how many fans are on it, we are talking wattage, thermal design power, the 580 uses more watts, therefore it generates more waste heat, its basic thermodynamics.
2) Good point.

 

[Vya Domus]

Get me the guy that can tell that his PC is emitting 20W more of heat. Come on people.

Also, if you buy a 1060 get the 6GB one, it's faster.

 

[Vario]

Get me the guy that can tell that his PC is emitting 20W more of heat. Come on people.

Also, if you buy a 1060 get the 6GB one, it's faster.

Yep the 1060 3 vs 6GB is kind of like the 7850 vs 7870 or 660 vs 660ti Its different beyond simply the VRAM amount.

 

[eidairaman1]

Yep the 1060 3 vs 6GB is kind of like the 7850 vs 7870 or 660 vs 660ti Its different beyond simply the VRAM amount.

290/X, 280/X etc.

 

[bug]

Get me the guy that can tell that his PC is emitting 20W more of heat. Come on people.

Also, if you buy a 1060 get the 6GB one, it's faster.

It's only a matter of kicking that over the "annoying" limit. Or having a 3 fans solution where others only need 2.
It's not a deal breaker. And it will not kill kittens if you do it. But all things being equal, I'd rather pick the better card.

And yes, the 6GB version is faster. But for sprite-based game it's only worth it if you can get it for almost the same price.

 

[Durvelle27]

I just realized I have a GTX 1060 3GB. If your not buying now I can test in a week or so and let you know.

 

[LFaWolf]

Appreciate the testing. Well, just my luck. I went on a different forum and looked, and bought an ex-mining 1060 6GB (I know) for $100. I happened to be the 1st to PM as quite a few people did too. According to the seller it has at least another year of warranty left. It should be here this week and I will test it out myself. Not a bad card I supposed? The reviews look good.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137040

 

[Vario]

Appreciate the testing. Well, just my luck. I went on a different forum and looked, and bought an ex-mining 1060 6GB (I know) for $100. I happened to be the 1st to PM as quite a few people did too. According to the seller it has at least another year of warranty left. It should be here this week and I will test it out myself. Not a bad card I supposed? The reviews look good.
https://www.newegg.com/Product/Product.aspx?Item=N82E16814137040

Hoping for the best for you, that was a good price for sure.

 

[lexluthermiester]

I went on a different forum and looked, and bought an ex-mining 1060 6GB (I know) for $100.

Hoping for the best for you, that was a good price for sure.

Yeah that definitely a bangin price! You're very likely to have fun with that card!

 

[LFaWolf]

Thanks but I am still bit worried. A mining card running for over a year. I think the card lifespan is halfway through. But the price is too good to pass up still, so I took a chance. Picture shows no dust thought. Hope it works...

http://imgur.com/16MSC9a

 

[lexluthermiester]

Thanks but I am still bit worried. A mining card running for over a year. I think the card lifespan is halfway through.

Total myth. That isn't the way solid-state electronics work. You'll be fine for years to come.

 

[bug]

Thanks but I am still bit worried. A mining card running for over a year. I think the card lifespan is halfway through. But the price is too good to pass up still, so I took a chance. Picture shows no dust thought. Hope it works...

http://imgur.com/16MSC9a

Even if it will fail after a year, you would have gotten your fun for the $$$ spent at that price. But like lex said, it probably won't.
Enjoy

 

[LFaWolf]

Received card and ran 2 AOE DE games with it. Ran great! Max GPU-utilization was mid 70%, but you guys are right, VRAM went over 4GB, max around 4.6. However, I am not sure if the game is really using all the VRAM, as I started the computer the VRAM usage is already over 1GB according to GPU-z. Anyway, I am happy! Card was clean and has the exact video output of my previous card, so it was just plug and play. Thanks to all that replied with good suggestion!

 

[lexluthermiester]

However, I am not sure if the game is really using all the VRAM, as I started the computer the VRAM usage is already over 1GB according to GPU-z.

Windows itself uses some, but over 1GB? Seems a little high. Mine is at 372MB ATM. It's good that you're enjoying it!

 

[Gorstak]

off topic, but I wonder if data stays on vram or is deleted when card is plugged out?

 

[lexluthermiester]

off topic, but I wonder if data stays on vram or is deleted when card is plugged out?

VRAM is never static, IE, when power is turned off everything in both system ram and vram is lost.

 

[Gorstak]

VRAM is never static, IE, when power is turned off everything in both system ram and vram is lost.

hmm, I know some malware persists over reboots, that's why I asked

 

[eidairaman1]

hmm, I know some malware persists over reboots, that's why I asked

Written to hdd, loads to ram then written to hdd again, beware of firmware based malware too

 

[lexluthermiester]

beware of firmware based malware too

I think that's what he was talking about.

 

[John Naylor]

The 6GB version is about 6% faster ... but VRAM has nothing to do with it. The GTX 1060 3 GB has 1152 shaders while there is 1280 on the 6 GB version. The shaders give the 6 GB card 6% fps advantage across the board. At 1080p and 1440p, that 6% advantage remains constant.... if VRAM was an issue, that would be impossible as we's see a significan't performance decrease when all those extra pixels are added. At 2160p, that extra VRAM will come in handy ... I guess .... tho at 2160 the 1060 GPU is inadequate.

https://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/MSI/GTX_1060_Gaming_X_3_GB/26.html

 

[Greasy]

I'm using a 3gb version to play elite dangerous. I'm using linux however and wine so I dont know the difference to windows. It's an overclocked(manufacturer oc) xlr8 pny varient. It can run it at ultra settings @1080p but with shadow quality turned down to high, the extra gpu oomph setting to max, and super sampling at 1.0. This will use almost 100% use depending on area and all the Vram. Don't now if this helps. I'm running through wine so who knows the difference from windows. I'm still not sure if I should have gotten a 6gb myself. I had the chance when it was 20 dollars difference. No idea where it matters. Elite dangerous uses all the vram basically all the time. But I don't know if this is normal or from wine/linux play. Utilization goes up to 100% but can also be much lower depending on location. There can be stutters on system loads sometimes though. Again that has to be translated through my use of wine/linux. I also use an 1100t phenom II. I can't tell you how much is the cpu either.

 

[John Naylor]

I'm still not sure if I should have gotten a 6gb myself. I had the chance when it was 20 dollars difference. No idea where it matters. Elite dangerous uses all the vram basically all the time. But I don't know if this is normal or from wine/linux play.

1. Right now, they are the same price.

2. No utility exists that measures VRAM usage. Whatever utility you are using is measuring VRAM allocation, not usage. As an analogy .... Greasy applies for a credit card and Visa gives him a $5,000 credit limit. You have $1,000 charged on the card 6 months later when you apply for a car loan. The credit reporting agency sends the bank a credit eport saying Greasy has a $5,000 credit liability .... even tho you only **used** $1,000. The VRAM utilities do the same thing. If it sees 8 GB when the game installs, the game might say "Let's allocate 6 GB for put game"..... if It finds 6 GB, it might allocate 4 GB ... in reality, it might use only 2 or 3 GB

 

[eidairaman1]

I'm using a 3gb version to play elite dangerous. I'm using linux however and wine so I dont know the difference to windows. It's an overclocked(manufacturer oc) xlr8 pny varient. It can run it at ultra settings @1080p but with shadow quality turned down to high, the extra gpu oomph setting to max, and super sampling at 1.0. This will use almost 100% use depending on area and all the Vram. Don't now if this helps. I'm running through wine so who knows the difference from windows. I'm still not sure if I should have gotten a 6gb myself. I had the chance when it was 20 dollars difference. No idea where it matters. Elite dangerous uses all the vram basically all the time. But I don't know if this is normal or from wine/linux play. Utilization goes up to 100% but can also be much lower depending on location. There can be stutters on system loads sometimes though. Again that has to be translated through my use of wine/linux. I also use an 1100t phenom II. I can't tell you how much is the cpu either.

6GB extends the life of the card, 970 is crippled due to the last 512MiB of VRAM being 32bit only. Even 7970s and 280Xs life are extended due to 6GB, the 290 is 4GB

 

[Vayra86]

6GB extends the life of the card, 970 is crippled due to the last 512MiB of VRAM being 32bit only. Even 7970s and 280Xs life are extended due to 6GB, the 290 is 4GB

This, see also every other topic where 970 is put up against higher VRAM equivalents. See also the demise of the 7970 as a useful GPU (is there a 6GB version of it?!). Or the 780ti. They all have sufficient core power to keep going well into 2018>gaming, but the VRAM limitations kill consistent performance.

There is a difference between reading a few benches and practical experience. People need to realize that.