EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GAMING ACX 3.0 graphics card: specs and fit

The EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GAMING (model 06G-P4-6262-KR) is a graphics card built on NVIDIA's Pascal architecture. It adds 3D graphics power to a desktop PC, either to run games at 1080p-class settings or to replace an ageing card. EVGA pairs the GPU with its own ACX 3.0 cooler and a custom clock speed.

Pascal, clocks and memory

Pascal is the generation of NVIDIA graphics chips that introduced the GTX 10-series. EVGA lists a real base clock of 1506 MHz and a real boost clock of 1708 MHz. The base clock is the speed the GPU is guaranteed to hold, and boost is the higher speed it can reach when temperature and power allow. Cards with a factory boost like this typically run a little faster than the reference design.

The card carries 6144MB of GDDR5 memory. Video memory holds textures and frame data, so 6GB gives room for the texture settings that many games of its era call for. Newer titles at high settings can want more, which is worth bearing in mind when choosing a card for a particular game.

ACX 3.0 cooling

Graphics cards slow themselves down when they get hot, so cooling affects sustained performance. EVGA says its ACX 3.0 cooler uses "SHP", which it describes as more heat pipes and a larger copper contact area for cooler operation. It also lists an optimised fan curve, swept fan blades, double ball bearings and an extremely low-power fan motor. The company's claim is more airflow with less power, leaving more power available to the GPU. The card is listed with LED lighting as well.

DX12 and on-screen monitoring

The listing mentions DirectX 12 on-screen display support through EVGA Precision XOC. That is EVGA's free tuning utility. It can show clock speeds, temperatures and frame rates over a game, and it lets you adjust fan behaviour and clocks if you want to experiment. It is optional; the card works without it.

Size and form

The card is a plug-in PCIe card. EVGA gives its dimensions as 10.5 inches long (about 27 cm), 4.4 inches high and 1.5 inches thick. That's a dual-slot cooler design, so it needs two adjacent slots free at the back of the case.

Who it suits

It fits someone refreshing an older desktop for 1080p gaming or general graphics work, or a builder assembling a system around a compact, single-fan-class card. EVGA describes it as a way into virtual reality and modern games; as with any older GPU, how it fares depends on the game and its settings.

What to check before you buy

• Measure your case for the card's 10.5-inch length and two-slot width.
• Check your power supply's wattage and that it has the PCIe power connector the card needs; EVGA's product page lists the exact requirement.
• Confirm you have a free PCIe x16 slot on your motherboard.
• Check your monitor's connections against the card's ports, which are listed on the manufacturer's site.
• Make sure your operating system and drivers support the card, and note that driver support for older generations can change over time.
• Think about the games you play and whether 6GB of memory suits their requirements.

The short version

• EVGA GeForce GTX 1060 6GB GAMING, model 06G-P4-6262-KR, on NVIDIA's Pascal architecture.
• 1506 MHz base and 1708 MHz boost clocks, 6144MB of GDDR5.
• ACX 3.0 cooling with extra heat pipes, a copper contact area and ball-bearing fans.
• DX12 on-screen display support through EVGA Precision XOC, plus LED lighting.
• Dual-slot plug-in card about 10.5 inches long; check case, power and slot first.

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