GeForce GTX 1060 3GB vs Radeon RX 6400

Speed and memory

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB and the Radeon RX 6400 are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB has 3 GB of video memory and the Radeon RX 6400 has 4 GB. That is a small difference and unlikely to decide anything.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Red Dead Redemption 2 (22 against 30 fps), and the smallest is in ELDEN RING (20 against 26 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce GTX 1060 3GB is rated at 120 W and the Radeon RX 6400 at 53 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 450 W for the first and 450 W for the second. A gap of 67 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB cost $199 and the Radeon RX 6400 $159. Per dollar, the Radeon RX 6400 gave more performance (5.0 points per $100 against 4.0). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce GTX 1060 3GB if you want the faster card, and you can accept 3 GB of memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the Radeon RX 6400 if the price gap matters more than the small speed difference, and you value the extra video memory. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.