5 6
70 % 70 %
Graphics cards
GROUP TEST
5
It comfortably came out on top in our benchmarks
with average framerates of 107fps at 1080p and
69fps at 1440p. In comparison, AMD’s fastest
competitor at around this price, the RX 580,
couldn’t break 90fps for 1080p gaming.
This is also a premium-looking card. The back is
covered in a protective, cooling metal plate, while
the front has various illuminated sections.
Underneath its two fans is a fancy fine-finned heat
sink with several heat pipes for efficient cooling.
The extra power of this card over the 3GB
version of the GTX 1060 means it requires an
eight-pin power input rather than a six-pin one.
Perhaps more of a concern is the size of the card. It
sits some 35mm above its expansion bracket, so
might not fit in some compact cases.
Also, we’re not actually sold on the design. It may
have flashing lights, but it’s gaudy. Nonetheless,
overall this is a good option, it’s just that
the 3GB version provides much of the
same performance for a lower price.MSI GEFORCE GTX 1060
GAMING X 6GB http://www.msi.com £300
For a start, if you shop around, there are other RX
560 cards available for under £100, which bumps
its bang for buck score up.
The usual caveats about G-Sync and Freesync
monitors also apply. For instance, you could buy this
card and the LG 23MP68VQ-P monitor and have a
75Hz, IPS, 1080p, Freesync-enabled monitor and
graphics card setup for £330, which is the same
price as the cheapest G-Sync monitor on its own.
That said, the card isn’t small form factor-
friendly. While it’s relatively short and is no taller
than an expansion bracket, it’s not that compact.
It’s also worth saying that the 4GB version of this
card is unlikely to be necessary for most buyers.
The amount of processing power this card has
means that it will seldom be able to take full
advantage of the extra memory.
So just how fast is it? It’ll hit 47fps at 1080p and
30fps at 1440p. Tweak detail levels right
down and 1440p will be playable, but
largely this is a 1080p and below card.SAPPHIRE RX 560 PULSE 4GB
http://www.sapphiretech.com £115
As the most expensive graphics card featured in this
test, you’d expect big things from the MSI GeForce GTX
1060 Gaming X 6GB, and it sure delivers on that front
with strong performance and build quality.This Sapphire RX 560 is the minnow of this group test,
with the lowest price and lowest performance. However,
you shouldn’t judge it on performance alone: it still has a
few things going for it.