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Valve’s September 2026 Steam Hardware & Software Survey lists the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 at 2.88% and Windows 11 64-bit at 75.08% of Windows users in its Windows-version table. Those figures show both remain common among survey participants—but they do not establish that GTX 1060 owners are the people moving to Windows 11. And the GTX 1060 is roughly ten years old, not six: NVIDIA announced it in July 2016.
What the September 2026 Steam survey reports
Valve’s September 2026 results show Windows 11 64-bit with a 75.08% share in the survey’s Windows-version table, down 0.45 percentage points from August. Windows 10 64-bit had a 24.85% share, up 0.48 points. In a separate GPU table, the GeForce GTX 1060 had a 2.88% share. Valve’s Steam Hardware & Software Survey reports these as separate aggregate results.
| # | Preview | Product | Price | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 |
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ASUS GeForce GTX 1060 6GB Dual-Fan OC Edition VR Ready Dual HDMI DP 1.4 Gaming Graphics Card... | $164.99 | Buy on Amazon |
| 2 |
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SRhonyra GTX 1060 3GB Low Profile Graphics Card | $159.95 | Buy on Amazon |
| 3 |
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SRhonyra GTX 1060 6GB Graphics Card GDDR5 192-Bit | $156.90 | Buy on Amazon |
| Survey result | September 2026 share | Change from August | What it measures |
|---|---|---|---|
| Windows 11 64-bit | 75.08% | −0.45 percentage points | Windows-version table |
| Windows 10 64-bit | 24.85% | +0.48 percentage points | Windows-version table |
| NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 | 2.88% | Not stated in the cited result | GPU table |
The Windows figures are shares in the Windows-version table, not percentages of every PC gamer. The GTX 1060 figure comes from the GPU table; it should not be treated as if it used the same denominator as the Windows table unless Valve explicitly establishes that comparison.
Does this show GTX 1060 owners are migrating to Windows 11?
No. The published figures do not connect a specific graphics card to a specific operating system. They show that the GTX 1060 appears in the GPU results and that Windows 11 leads the Windows-version results, but do not reveal which operating systems GTX 1060 users run—or whether those users changed operating systems between survey months.
#1 Best Overall
- 1809 MHz boost Clock (OC mode) with 6GB GDDR5;NVIDIA ANSEL for a revolutionary new way to capture in-game screenshots
- Dual-fan cooling provides double airflow for 3x quieter gameplay
- Vr ready with dual HDMI 2.0 ports to simultaneously connect headset & monitor
- GPU TWEAK II makes monitoring performance and streaming easier than ever, featuring game booster and XSplit Gamecaster, all via an intuitive interface.Auto-extreme technology delivers premium quality and reliability with aerospace-grade super alloy power II components to run 15% faster and last 2.5 longer than reference
Valve describes the survey as monthly, optional, and anonymous. Its results are useful for observing the mix of hardware and software among participants, but they are not a census of all PC gamers or evidence about any individual owner. The survey’s separate totals support no person-level or causal claim about GTX 1060 users adopting Windows 11.
The GTX 1060 is about ten years old
NVIDIA announced the GeForce GTX 1060 on July 7, 2016. As of October 4, 2026, that makes the model roughly ten years old—not six. Its continued appearance in Valve’s GPU table is evidence that it remains represented among survey participants, not a measure of how well it performs in current games or how many cards are still in use outside Steam.
Rank #2
- 3GB Memory Size: The SRhonyra GTX 1060 SFF card is paired with 3GB GDDR5 VRAM, which is the only one least-expensive 6GB low profile video card on the market, will likely cover you for most graphics-based games and minimum VRAM requirement for tasks such as 3D modeling, animation, video editing, and graphic design.
- Low Profile Design: Merely 6.61"(length)×2.7"(width), single-slot design 0.71 inches in Thicknes, this GTX 1060 6GB Low-profile graphics cards will easily fit into your small-form-factor (SFF) system. Besides, the package includes a full height brackets so that you can install it on normal size PC.
- New Architecture: Built on the 16 nm process and based on the GP106 graphics processor, features 1280 shading units, 80 texture mapping units and 40 ROPs, the Pascal Architecture is very powerful to delivere groundbreaking performance, innovative technology, and next-generation immersive virtual reality experiences.
- PIC-e Bus Power: This graphics card only draws power rated at 75 Watts, no need extral power connector, can be powered by PCI Express Bus, easy to go, install and forget.
- Max 8K Resolution Output: This GTX 1060 6GB low profile supports DirectX 12, has dual displays Outputs including 1×HDMI 2.0 and 1×DisplayPort 1.4a which is able to delivery 8K (7680×4320) video playback.
NVIDIA’s 2016 announcement stated a 120-watt power rating for the GTX 1060. That launch figure is not enough to confirm whether a particular card will fit or work in a particular PC: board design and system requirements depend on the exact card and computer.
What to check if you still use one
The survey share alone is not a reason to keep or replace a graphics card. If you are troubleshooting or planning an upgrade, check the specific card and the jobs you expect it to do:
Rank #3
- Small Size, Huge Performance: Built on the 16 nm process, and based on the GP106 graphics processor, paired with 6gb GDDR5 VRAM with basic clock 2002MHz, only 8.26 x4.27 x1.57 inches, this gig can smoothly handle less intensity gaming titles in 1080P.
- Direct 12, OpenGL 4.6 Support: At 1920×1080, the GTX 1060 hit an average of 70 FPS, and go no lower than 60 FPS. Dual fans and an advanced heatsink system keep temperatures low for stable, this graphics card can handle today's most demanding games.
- Power supply for GTX 1060 6GB: Minimum 400 W or greater system power supply with one 6-pin PCI Express supplementary power connectors. If you do not have a spare 6-pin PCIe cable connetor, please be sure the replace your PSU first as no cable included in the package.
- Easy to Install: Please make sure you have sufficient room in the PC case, a PCIe 3.0x16 slot, then install the card, connect the power, fire up your PC. Windows will detect it, automatically download and install the driver to make it fully functional.
- Max 3 Monitors Supported: As a plug-in video card, this SRhonyra GTX 1060 6GB video card max supports 8K 7680 x 4320 by DisplayPort, 144Hz high refreash rate, bring you a great gaming experience.
- Identify the exact card. GTX 1060 variants and partner-board designs can differ. Check the card label or manufacturer’s specifications rather than assuming every model has identical dimensions or connectors.
- Verify power connections. For the documented GTX 1060 6 GB card, NVIDIA’s user guide calls for one 6-pin PCI Express power plug. Confirm the requirement for your exact model and that the power supply has the correct connector.
- Check physical and system fit. Compare the card’s dimensions and slot arrangement with the available space in your case, and check power-supply suitability for the specific card.
- Decide based on your own workload. Consider the games or applications you use, the settings and performance you want, and current replacement-card options. A survey ranking does not establish that an older card meets your needs.
How to read the monthly results
Steam’s hardware survey can show broad shifts in the hardware and software reported by participants. Month-to-month movement is a change in survey share, not necessarily a count of people upgrading or switching. For the September 2026 figures, the supported takeaway is limited but clear: Windows 11 had the larger share in the Windows-version table, while the GTX 1060 remained listed in the separate GPU table. The published totals do not tell us whether those results overlap among the same users.
Quick Recap
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