Hello!
I am looking to purchase a single fan EVGA 1060 6gb card.  Mostly I intend to use it as I model and texture 3D graphics, images so fast gaming is not an issue,  but rotating and zooming a large model with texturing and shading is.  I've got a Dell T7500 and I'm running Windows 7 SP1.  Right now I've got an Evga 2GB 1050 with 780 Cuda cores and it is very good 95% of the time. 
 
(1) The box for the 06G-P4-6163-KR card only lists Active X 12.  Will this card run on Windows 7 DX 11?
(2) I am told that the 6163 is a slightly better card to go to rather than a 06G-P4-6161-KR for multiple reasons including a more robust heat sink mechanism, is this true?  The 6161-KR lists a host of older Direct X's that it is compatible with.
(3) is the 6163 a super clocked card?.
 
Thank you.

UGH!  Sales means I have to either fill out another form (I just gave enough information for me and my first born as well multiple "I'm REALLY not a Robot" statements in order to join the evga forum) or make a telephone call after the holiday weekend. I just thought someone here might be able to answer the couple of questions and I'd get some instant gratification.
 
When you say software companies, you mean not evga or msft?  I presume you mean MY particular 3D graphics program(s)?.  My principal one doesn't specify an Active X as a requirement and I doubt that my current release was during Active X12. So as far as my Software is concerned I'd guess ActiveX 11 is probably the peach.  That means good for the graphics card?
 
That your 1080 works on Win 7 64 and also lists only Direct X 12 is a good sign. Thank you!

It makes some sense that  Hardware is backward compatible but software would be the gating item.  So if software says "12"  you need 12, but if hardware says "12" it can also run 11, 10 etc.
 
Thank you for your time and the replies... and the links, including the Tom's hardware review!