NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max Q: Review and Analysis in 2025
Introduction
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max Q is a mobile graphics card that has remained popular among gamers and users who appreciate a balance between performance, energy efficiency, and cost for several years. Despite the release of newer models, such as the RTX 40 series, this card continues to attract attention due to its reliability and accessibility. In this article, we will examine its key features, performance, and practical value in 2025.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Turing Architecture: A Timeless Foundation
The GTX 1660 Ti Max Q is built on NVIDIA's Turing architecture, introduced in 2018. Unlike flagship RTX cards, it lacks specialized RT cores for ray tracing and tensor cores for DLSS. However, Turing brought optimizations to enhance shader computation efficiency and improve texture handling.
Manufacturing Technology: 12 nm from TSMC
The card is manufactured using TSMC's 12 nm process, which ensures a good balance between performance and power consumption. This is especially important for mobile versions (Max Q), where heat dissipation is limited.
Unique Features: CUDA and NVENC
Although RTX features are unavailable, the GTX 1660 Ti Max Q supports CUDA (with 1408 cores), which accelerates rendering and computations. It also includes an NVENC chip for hardware video encoding, useful for streaming and editing.
2. Memory: Speed and Impact on Performance
GDDR6: Fast but Not the Newest
The card is equipped with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus. The bandwidth reaches 336 GB/s (14 Gbps per module), which is sufficient for most games at 1080p.
Memory Capacity Limitations
6 GB is an acceptable amount in 2025 for medium settings, but in games with detailed textures (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077 or Horizon Forbidden West), memory shortages may occur, especially at 1440p.
3. Gaming Performance
1080p: Comfortable Gaming
In popular titles, the GTX 1660 Ti Max Q exhibits stable results:
- Apex Legends: 90–110 FPS (high settings).
- Elden Ring: 45–55 FPS (high settings, no ray tracing).
- Fortnite: 70–85 FPS (epic settings).
1440p: Acceptable but with Compromises
For a resolution of 2560×1440, settings must be reduced to medium:
- Red Dead Redemption 2: 35–40 FPS (medium settings).
- Call of Duty: Warzone: 50–60 FPS (medium).
4K: Not Recommended
At 3840×2160, the card only manages to handle less demanding games, such as CS:GO (60–80 FPS), but it is not a viable option for AAA titles.
Ray Tracing: No Support
Since the GTX 1660 Ti lacks RT cores, enabling ray tracing in games is impossible. This is a significant drawback for enthusiasts of "cinematic" graphics.
4. Professional Tasks
Video Editing: Decent Performance
Thanks to CUDA and NVENC, the card is suitable for work in DaVinci Resolve and Premiere Pro. Rendering 1080p videos takes 20–30% less time than on integrated graphics.
3D Modeling: Moderate Capabilities
In Blender or Maya, the GTX 1660 Ti Max Q can handle simple projects, but for complex scenes with high-polygon objects, a card with more memory may be required.
Scientific Calculations: Limited Specialization
For CUDA/OpenCL tasks (e.g., machine learning), the card is only suitable for training small models. Serious projects need GPUs with tensor cores (RTX 3060 and above).
5. Power Consumption and Heat Dissipation
TDP: 60–80 W
The Max Q model is optimized for laptops: its TDP is lower than that of the desktop GTX 1660 Ti (120 W). This allows the card to be used in thin chassis without overheating.
Cooling Recommendations
- For laptops: choose models with two fans and copper heat pipes.
- In compact PCs: install at least one case fan for exhaust.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Radeon RX 5600M: Parity with Caveats
The RX 5600M is close in performance but excels in Vulkan games (e.g., Doom Eternal). However, its drivers are less stable, and power consumption is higher.
NVIDIA RTX 3050 Mobile: New vs. Old
The RTX 3050 supports DLSS and ray tracing but costs $100–150 more. For those who do not need "ultra" settings, the GTX 1660 Ti Max Q remains a cost-effective choice.
7. Practical Tips
Power Supply: 400–450 W
For PCs with this card, a budget PSU of 450 W (e.g., Corsair CV450) will suffice. Ensure that the unit has an 8-pin PCIe connector.
Platform Compatibility
- Laptops: compatible with Intel 10th-12th generations and AMD Ryzen 4000/5000.
- Desktops: requires a motherboard with PCIe 3.0 x16.
Drivers: Stability First
Use NVIDIA Studio drivers for professional tasks and Game Ready drivers for gaming. Avoid beta versions, as they may cause crashes.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Energy efficiency (ideal for laptops).
- Sufficient performance for 1080p.
- Low price ($250–300 for new models).
Cons:
- No ray tracing or DLSS support.
- 6 GB of memory is insufficient for some modern games.
9. Final Verdict: Who is the GTX 1660 Ti Max Q For?
This graphics card is an excellent option for:
- Budget gamers looking to play at medium settings in 1080p.
- Owners of slim laptops seeking balanced performance.
- Students and freelancers working with video editing and basic 3D tasks.
However, if you want maximum graphics in 4K or dream of ray tracing, consider the RTX 3050 or RX 6600M. Nonetheless, for its price, the GTX 1660 Ti Max Q remains a reliable and practical solution in 2025.
Prices are based on new devices as of April 2025.