NVIDIA GTX 1060: Best-Selling GPU of the Generation (July 2016)
The GTX 1060 launched July 19, 2016 at $249 (6GB) / $199 (3GB), becoming the best-selling discrete GPU 2016-2019 and dominating Steam Hardware Survey charts for years. It hit the 1080p 60fps sweet spot for mainstream gamers during the PUBG/Fortnite boom.
Market Dominance
Steam Hardware Survey data showed the 1060 6GB peaking at 15.27% market share (Jan 2019), surpassing all other GPUs. The 6GB VRAM variant outsold the crippled 3GB model 4:1 despite $50 price gap, as games like Shadow of Mordor proved 3GB inadequate. Partners (EVGA, MSI, Gigabyte) flooded retail with dozens of SKUs, from budget single-fan models to triple-fan RGB behemoths.
Mining Casualty & Cultural Shift
The Ethereum mining boom (mid-2017 to early-2018) devastated 1060 availability, with prices spiking to $400+. Gamers turned bitter toward miners, spawning “#GamersFirst” sentiment and NVIDIA’s ill-fated mining-specific GPU line. Used 1060s flooded eBay post-crash with unknown wear, teaching buyers to fear ex-mining cards.
Endurance & Retirement
The 1060 6GB remained a capable 1080p card through 2021, with users resisting upgrades during the RTX 3000/RX 6000 shortage. By 2022, newer AAA titles (Cyberpunk 2077, Flight Simulator) finally forced retirements as 6GB VRAM became limiting. It defined “good enough” for a generation unwilling to overpay.
Sources: Steam Hardware Survey archives, TechPowerUp GPU database, PCPartPicker pricing history