The Great Black Friday Flop: NVIDIA GTX 1060 for $5 Tragically Disappoints Lucky Buyer
Sometimes, a deal that seems too good to be true is precisely that – an illusion. A Reddit user, who goes by the handle scorpionthecruel, believed he’d struck gold, snagging an NVIDIA GTX 1060 graphics card for a mere $5 from an “Army of Salvation” store during their Black Friday sale. The advertised price was a more substantial $10, but a generous Black Friday discount slashed it in half, making it an irresistible bargain. Enthralled by the prospect of such an incredible find, the buyer apparently didn't bother to inspect the contents of the box before making his purchase.
“I was bored, so I went to the nearest TSA store, and I randomly found a GeForce GTX 1060 sitting on the shelf. I had a terrible computer, it definitely wouldn’t fit it, but at least I could probably sell it. I bought it today, on Black Friday, so it was at least half off, I got it for $5,” the unfortunate buyer recounted, his initial excitement palpable even in text. Little did he know, his joy was about to be profoundly short-lived.
A Bitter Disappointment Unboxed
The anticipation of unboxing a coveted NVIDIA GTX 1060, a respectable GPU from its era capable of handling many contemporary games with grace, quickly turned into dismay. Instead of the sleek MSI GTX 1060 3GB he likely envisioned, the box contained a Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti. While both are technically graphics cards, the performance chasm between them is vast, akin to comparing a modern sports car to a vintage bicycle – both have wheels, but the experience is worlds apart.
It’s crucial to understand the gulf here. The GTX 1060, even the 3GB variant, represents a significant leap in processing power and architectural efficiency over the much older GTX 560 Ti. While not an RTX 5080, the GTX 1060 was a solid mid-range card that offered a fantastic gaming experience for its time and still holds value today. The GTX 560 Ti, though once a desirable card for budget-conscious gamers in its heyday, is now considerably outdated.
Market Realities and a Glimmer of Hope
As Tom's Hardware wisely points out, the current used market value for a GTX 1060 3GB in the US hovers around $50, with the more capable 6GB version fetching up to $80. The stark contrast between these figures and the $5 or even $10 price tag should have been a flashing red beacon of suspicion. It’s a classic case of the “if it looks too good to be true, it probably is” scenario playing out in real-time.
However, the narrative doesn't have to end in utter despair. The buyer did, after all, receive a functional graphics card – the Gigabyte GTX 560 Ti, a card that, 14 years ago, was a dream for many gamers on a budget. For those who appreciate the artistry of older gaming titles, the GTX 560 Ti can still offer a gateway to a treasure trove of games with compelling storylines and immersive experiences, often surpassing the narrative depth of many modern, graphically intensive blockbusters that cost millions to develop. The author of this piece fondly remembers his own time with a GTX 260 before it succumbed to old age, a card that was a step down from the 560 Ti, and can attest that there’s immense joy to be found in revisiting gaming's past.
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