GTX 1060 3GB vs GTX 970 4GB

[Fady__gamil]

Hey guys ! I have to choose between those GPUs for gaming
Gigabyte GTX 1060 3GB
zotac GTX 970 4GB
Which of them will give me better FPS and will be better in gaming?

 

[NightAntilli]

RX 580 4GB.

Don't mean to be distracting... But the GTX 970 technically only has 3.5 GB of useful V-ram, and the GTX 1060 3GB is not really a GTX 1060... So I can never recommend anyone to buy either of these GPUs.

For performance between them, depends on the game.

 

[k1114]

I'd say get the one that's cheaper. If they cost the same, I am assuming used vs new then go with new because it's new.

 

[Karadjgne]

1060-3 and 970-4 are basically the same thing. There will be games where the 970 makes better use of the extra 1Gb of vram, and gets 1-10 higher fps, just as there's games that make use of the 1060-3's ability and gets higher fps by 1-10.

The only real difference is power, the 970 is a Maxwell gpu and really requires 500-550w psu, the 1060 is Pascal and needs only 400-450w. So depending on the psu available, the 1060-3 might be the better choice, even if slightly more expensive, as you may not need to upgrade the psu, or if the 970 is cheaper and your psu is good enough, that might be the better option.

The 970 has a full 4Gb of useful vram. It has 3.5Gb of high speed vram and 0.5Gb of slower vram, that's only used if required. But thats not enough to physically slow fps, the card works the way it does. The gtx980 uses all 4Gb of high speed vram and has higher clocks, giving it the edge in fps.
The 1060-3 is still a 1060, and in games with lower than 3Gb actual needs, performs exactly the same as a 1060-6. It's only in high vram requirement games where the 1060-6 gains a bonus.

 

[NightAntilli]

The 970 has a full 4Gb of useful vram. It has 3.5Gb of high speed vram and 0.5Gb of slower vram, that's only used if required. But thats not enough to physically slow fps, the card works the way it does.

Actually it is... Specific circumstances, but, it does slow it down... Perfect example;
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Bm5ZCJah-FY