AMD Radeon 660M

AMD Radeon 660M: Compact Graphics for Everyday Tasks and Light Gaming
Analysis of Mobile GPU Capabilities in 2025
Introduction
The AMD Radeon 660M is an integrated graphics solution built into the Ryzen 7000/8000 series processors for laptops. Targeted at budget and mid-range devices, this GPU promises a balance between performance and energy efficiency. Let’s take a closer look at what it can do in gaming, work, and everyday tasks.
1. Architecture and Key Features
RDNA 3 Architecture: The Radeon 660M is based on the updated RDNA 3 microarchitecture, which brings energy consumption optimization and improved support for modern APIs (DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.3).
- Process Technology: 6nm TSMC - a choice that allows for reduced heat generation with minimal performance loss.
- Unique Features:
- FidelityFX Super Resolution 3.0: An upscaling technology that boosts FPS in games by 30-50% with minimal quality loss.
- Radeon Ray Tracing: Basic support for ray tracing, but with a caveat of low performance in AAA projects.
- Smart Access Memory: Optimization for CPU access to GPU memory in systems with Ryzen processors.
2. Memory: Type, Capacity, and Bandwidth
The Radeon 660M uses DDR5/LPDDR5 system memory, typical for integrated solutions.
- Dedicate Memory: Up to 4GB (dynamically adjusted based on workload).
- Bandwidth: Depends on the laptop's RAM speed. For example, with DDR5-5600, it can reach up to 89.6 GB/s.
- Impact on Gaming: In projects with high video memory requirements (e.g., Horizon Forbidden West), there may be stuttering due to limited bandwidth.
3. Gaming Performance
The Radeon 660M is positioned as a solution for 1080p gaming at low-medium settings.
- Cyber Games:
- Cyberpunk 2077 (without ray tracing): 28-35 FPS (Low), 22-27 FPS (Medium).
- Apex Legends: 60-70 FPS (Medium).
- Fortnite (FSR 3.0, Performance Mode): 90-100 FPS.
- Ray Tracing: Enabling RT reduces FPS by 40-60%. For example, Minecraft RTX achieves only 15-20 frames.
- 1440p and 4K: In less demanding games (CS:GO, Dota 2), 1440p is achievable at 60 FPS, but 4K is only feasible for indie projects.
4. Professional Tasks
The Radeon 660M is suitable for basic workloads but cannot replace discrete GPUs.
- Video Editing: In DaVinci Resolve, rendering a 1080p clip takes 20% longer than on an NVIDIA RTX 3050. Hardware acceleration via OpenCL speeds up export, but 4K effects will be processed slowly.
- 3D Modeling: In Blender, a scene with 500k polygons renders in 12-15 minutes (Cycles, GPU mode). For more complex tasks, cloud solutions are advisable.
- Scientific Calculations: OpenCL support allows for lightweight simulations, but more powerful graphics cards are needed for ML/AI tasks.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Generation
The integrated nature of the GPU minimizes power consumption:
- TDP: 15-28 Watts (within the overall TDP of the processor).
- Cooling: A passive heatsink or compact cooler is sufficient. In ultraportables, throttling may occur under prolonged loads.
- Case Recommendations: Laptops with vents on the bottom and aluminum chassis (e.g., Lenovo Yoga Slim 7) perform better than plastic counterparts.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Radeon 660M vs NVIDIA GeForce MX570 vs Intel Arc A350M:
- Performance: The Radeon 660M is 10-15% faster than the MX570 in games thanks to FSR 3.0 but lags behind the Arc A350M in tasks supporting AV1 encoding.
- Price: Laptops with Radeon 660M range from $650 to $850, while those with MX570 start at $700 and with Arc A350M at $750.
- Energy Efficiency: AMD wins - battery life is 7-8 hours compared to 5-6 hours for the competitors.
7. Practical Tips
- Power Supply: A standard 65W adapter is sufficient for the laptop.
- Compatibility: Ensure the system uses DDR5 memory - this is critical for iGPU performance.
- Drivers: Regularly update the Adrenalin Edition - AMD actively optimizes support for new games.
- BIOS Settings: Allocate 3-4 GB of memory for the GPU if gaming is planned.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Energy efficiency.
- Support for FSR 3.0 and modern APIs.
- Affordable laptop prices.
Cons:
- Limited gaming performance.
- Dependency on RAM speed.
- Weak ray tracing capabilities.
Final Conclusion: Who is the Radeon 660M Suitable For?
This GPU is an ideal choice for:
- Students: Light video editing and work in CAD programs.
- Office Users: Multitasking and video conferencing.
- Casual Gamers: 1080p gaming at medium settings.
If you are looking for a laptop under $800 for work and light gaming, the Radeon 660M is a sensible compromise. However, for professional tasks or AAA games in 2025, consider models with discrete GPUs at the RTX 4050 level or higher.
Updated in April 2025. Prices are accurate as of the time of publication.