The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 is a popular graphics card among gamers, known for its balance of performance and affordability. Released in 2019, it has been a staple in the mid-range gaming market, offering a significant boost in performance compared to its predecessors. But the question remains, is a GTX 1660 good for gaming? In this article, we will delve into the details of the GTX 1660, its performance, and whether it is suitable for modern gaming needs.
Introduction to the GTX 1660
The GTX 1660 is based on the Turing architecture, which provides a significant improvement in performance and power efficiency compared to the previous Pascal architecture. It features 1408 CUDA cores, 6 GB of GDDR6 memory, and a boost clock speed of up to 1845 MHz. The GTX 1660 is designed to provide smooth performance in 1080p and 1440p resolutions, making it an attractive option for gamers who want to play modern games at high frame rates.
Performance Overview
The GTX 1660 offers impressive performance in a variety of games, including popular titles like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Overwatch. In 1080p resolution, the GTX 1660 can handle most games at high settings, with frame rates often exceeding 60 FPS. However, in more demanding games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and The Witcher 3, the frame rates may drop to around 40-50 FPS at high settings.
Benchmark Performance
In benchmark tests, the GTX 1660 has shown impressive results, often outperforming its competitors in the mid-range market. In 3DMark Time Spy, the GTX 1660 scores around 6,500 points, which is significantly higher than the AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT. In Unigine Heaven 4.0, the GTX 1660 scores around 40 FPS, which is comparable to the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070.
Gaming Performance at Different Resolutions
The GTX 1660 is designed to provide smooth performance in 1080p and 1440p resolutions. At 1080p, the GTX 1660 can handle most games at high settings, with frame rates often exceeding 60 FPS. However, at 1440p, the frame rates may drop to around 40-50 FPS at high settings.
1080p Gaming Performance
At 1080p, the GTX 1660 is more than capable of handling most games at high settings. In games like Fortnite and League of Legends, the GTX 1660 can achieve frame rates of over 100 FPS, making it an excellent option for competitive gamers. However, in more demanding games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and The Witcher 3, the frame rates may drop to around 40-50 FPS at high settings.
1440p Gaming Performance
At 1440p, the GTX 1660 can still provide smooth performance, but the frame rates may drop compared to 1080p. In games like Overwatch and Apex Legends, the GTX 1660 can achieve frame rates of around 60-70 FPS at high settings. However, in more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, the frame rates may drop to around 30-40 FPS at high settings.
Power Consumption and Cooling
The GTX 1660 has a relatively low power consumption of around 120W, making it an attractive option for gamers who want to build a power-efficient gaming PC. The GTX 1660 also features a single 8-pin power connector, which makes it easy to install and manage.
Cooling Performance
The GTX 1660 features a custom cooling solution that provides excellent cooling performance. The cooling solution includes a large heat sink and a single fan that provides efficient airflow. In benchmark tests, the GTX 1660 has shown excellent cooling performance, with temperatures often staying below 70°C.
Conclusion
In conclusion, the GTX 1660 is an excellent option for gamers who want to play modern games at high frame rates. With its impressive performance in 1080p and 1440p resolutions, low power consumption, and excellent cooling performance, the GTX 1660 is a great value for its price. However, it’s worth noting that the GTX 1660 may not be suitable for 4K gaming, and it may struggle with more demanding games at high settings.
For gamers who want to play modern games at high frame rates, the GTX 1660 is an excellent option. It’s also a great option for gamers who want to build a power-efficient gaming PC. However, for gamers who want to play games at 4K resolution or want the latest and greatest technology, the GTX 1660 may not be the best option.
| Specification | Value |
|---|---|
| CUDA Cores | 1408 |
| Memory | 6 GB GDDR6 |
| Boost Clock Speed | up to 1845 MHz |
| Power Consumption | around 120W |
Overall, the GTX 1660 is a great option for gamers who want to play modern games at high frame rates. Its impressive performance, low power consumption, and excellent cooling performance make it a great value for its price.
Is the GTX 1660 a good graphics card for 1080p gaming?
The GTX 1660 is a popular mid-range graphics card that offers excellent performance for 1080p gaming. With its 1408 CUDA cores and 6 GB of GDDR6 memory, it can handle most modern games at high frame rates and medium to high graphics settings. In fact, the GTX 1660 is capable of delivering frame rates of over 60 FPS in many popular games, including Fortnite, League of Legends, and Overwatch. This makes it an excellent choice for gamers who want to play at 1080p resolution without breaking the bank.
In terms of specific performance, the GTX 1660 can handle games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and The Witcher 3 at around 50-60 FPS at medium to high graphics settings. It can also handle more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare at around 40-50 FPS at medium graphics settings. Overall, the GTX 1660 is a great option for 1080p gaming, offering a good balance of performance and price. However, it’s worth noting that it may struggle with more demanding games at higher resolutions, such as 1440p or 4K.
How does the GTX 1660 compare to the GTX 1660 Super?
The GTX 1660 Super is an upgraded version of the GTX 1660, with several key improvements. The most notable difference is the increase in memory bandwidth, from 336 GB/s to 336 GB/s, thanks to the use of faster GDDR6 memory. The GTX 1660 Super also has a slightly higher boost clock speed, which can result in improved performance in some games. In terms of performance, the GTX 1660 Super is around 10-15% faster than the GTX 1660, making it a better option for gamers who want to play at higher graphics settings or resolutions.
In terms of value, the GTX 1660 Super is generally priced around $50-100 more than the GTX 1660, depending on the specific model and brand. While this may seem like a significant premium, the improved performance and increased memory bandwidth make it a worthwhile upgrade for gamers who want the best possible experience. However, for those on a tight budget, the GTX 1660 is still a great option, offering excellent performance at a lower price point. Ultimately, the choice between the GTX 1660 and GTX 1660 Super will depend on individual needs and budget.
Can the GTX 1660 handle 1440p gaming?
The GTX 1660 can handle 1440p gaming, but it may struggle with more demanding games at high graphics settings. With its 1408 CUDA cores and 6 GB of GDDR6 memory, it can deliver frame rates of around 40-60 FPS in many games at 1440p resolution, depending on the specific game and graphics settings. However, it may struggle with more demanding games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and The Witcher 3, which may require reduced graphics settings to achieve smooth frame rates.
In terms of specific performance, the GTX 1660 can handle games like Fortnite and League of Legends at around 60-80 FPS at 1440p resolution, while more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare may require reduced graphics settings to achieve frame rates of around 40-50 FPS. Overall, the GTX 1660 is capable of handling 1440p gaming, but it may require some compromises on graphics settings to achieve smooth performance. Gamers who want to play at 1440p resolution may want to consider the GTX 1660 Super or other more powerful graphics cards.
How does the GTX 1660 compare to the RTX 2060?
The RTX 2060 is a more powerful graphics card than the GTX 1660, with several key improvements. The most notable difference is the addition of ray tracing and AI-enhanced graphics, which can provide a more immersive and realistic gaming experience. The RTX 2060 also has more CUDA cores and faster memory, resulting in improved performance in many games. In terms of performance, the RTX 2060 is around 20-30% faster than the GTX 1660, making it a better option for gamers who want to play at higher graphics settings or resolutions.
In terms of value, the RTX 2060 is generally priced around $200-300 more than the GTX 1660, depending on the specific model and brand. While this may seem like a significant premium, the improved performance and addition of ray tracing and AI-enhanced graphics make it a worthwhile upgrade for gamers who want the best possible experience. However, for those on a tight budget, the GTX 1660 is still a great option, offering excellent performance at a lower price point. Ultimately, the choice between the GTX 1660 and RTX 2060 will depend on individual needs and budget.
Is the GTX 1660 good for esports gaming?
The GTX 1660 is an excellent option for esports gaming, offering fast frame rates and low latency in many popular esports titles. With its 1408 CUDA cores and 6 GB of GDDR6 memory, it can handle games like Fortnite, League of Legends, and Overwatch at high frame rates and low graphics settings. In fact, the GTX 1660 can deliver frame rates of over 144 FPS in many esports games, making it an excellent choice for competitive gamers who want to play at high refresh rates.
In terms of specific performance, the GTX 1660 can handle games like CS:GO and Dota 2 at around 200-300 FPS at low graphics settings, while more demanding games like Rainbow Six Siege and Apex Legends may require medium graphics settings to achieve frame rates of around 100-150 FPS. Overall, the GTX 1660 is a great option for esports gaming, offering fast frame rates and low latency in many popular esports titles. Its affordability and wide availability make it a popular choice among competitive gamers.
Can the GTX 1660 handle 4K gaming?
The GTX 1660 is not well-suited for 4K gaming, as it may struggle to deliver smooth frame rates at high graphics settings. With its 1408 CUDA cores and 6 GB of GDDR6 memory, it can handle some games at 4K resolution, but it may require reduced graphics settings to achieve frame rates of around 30-40 FPS. More demanding games like Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and The Witcher 3 may be unplayable at 4K resolution, even at low graphics settings.
In terms of specific performance, the GTX 1660 can handle games like Fortnite and League of Legends at around 30-40 FPS at 4K resolution, while more demanding games like Cyberpunk 2077 and Call of Duty: Modern Warfare may be unplayable at 4K resolution. Overall, the GTX 1660 is not a good option for 4K gaming, and gamers who want to play at 4K resolution may want to consider more powerful graphics cards like the RTX 2070 or RTX 2080. However, for those who want to play at lower resolutions, the GTX 1660 is still a great option, offering excellent performance at a lower price point.