NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 in 2025: Budget Champion or Outdated Solution?
Let’s figure out who this graphics card is suitable for six years after its release.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Turing Architecture: A Foundation Without Excess
The GTX 1660 is built on the Turing architecture but lacks the "features" of the RTX series — hardware ray-tracing cores (RT cores) and tensor cores for DLSS. It is a classic GPU geared towards traditional rendering. The manufacturing process is 12 nm from TSMC, which looks modest in 2025 against the backdrop of competitors' 5 nm and 6 nm chips.
Unique Features: A Modest Set
The card does not support RTX features, DLSS, or FidelityFX Super Resolution (AMD technology). However, it is compatible with NVIDIA Adaptive Shading for optimizing workload in games and supports Vulkan and DirectX 12.
2. Memory: GDDR6 and Speed Balance
6 GB GDDR6: Is It Enough for 2025?
The video memory volume is 6 GB of GDDR6 with a 192-bit bus. The bandwidth is 336 GB/s (14 Gbps × 192 bits / 8). This is sufficient for comfortable gaming at Full HD (1080p), but in 1440p or 4K, frame drops may occur in modern projects due to insufficient memory. For instance, in Alan Wake 2 or Starfield on ultra settings, 6 GB is already not enough.
3. Gaming Performance: Numbers and Realities
Full HD: The Ideal Environment
At 1080p, the GTX 1660 shows stable 60+ FPS in most games from 2022-2024:
- Cyberpunk 2077 (medium settings): 55-60 FPS.
- Fortnite (epic settings): 75-90 FPS.
- Apex Legends (high settings): 90-100 FPS.
1440p and 4K: Compromises
At 1440p, the card manages less demanding games (CS2, Valorant) at 60+ FPS, but in AAA titles, you will have to lower settings. 4K is not suitable for the GTX 1660: even at low presets, FPS rarely exceeds 30.
Ray Tracing: Not Available
Without RT cores, real-time ray tracing is impossible. In games with hybrid rendering (such as Call of Duty: Warzone), you can enable software emulation, but this "kills" performance.
4. Professional Tasks: Not Just Gaming
CUDA Cores: Assistance in Editing and Rendering
With 1536 CUDA cores, the card accelerates rendering in Blender or Adobe Premiere Pro. For simple tasks (1080p video editing, low-complexity 3D modeling), the card is suitable, but for working with 4K or neural networks (Stable Diffusion), it's better to choose an RTX 3050 or newer.
OpenCL and Scientific Calculations
In scientific packages (MATLAB, GROMACS), the GTX 1660 shows modest results due to limited memory and lack of specialized cores.
5. Power Consumption and Thermal Output
TDP 120W: Simple Cooling
The card does not require a powerful cooling system. Even models with a single fan (e.g., MSI GTX 1660 Ventus XS) maintain temperatures under load in the 70-75°C range.
Recommendations for Cases and PSUs
- Power Supply: 450W with an 80+ Bronze certification (e.g., Corsair CX450).
- Case: At least 2 fans for ventilation. Avoid compact cases without airflow.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Radeon RX 6600: Main Rival
The RX 6600 (price: $220-250) offers 8 GB GDDR6, support for FSR 3.0, and 20-30% higher performance. In 2025, it is a more advantageous choice for 1080p/1440p.
NVIDIA RTX 3050: Price Question
The RTX 3050 (6 GB, $230-260) adds support for DLSS and ray tracing, but in games without these technologies, it falls behind the GTX 1660.
7. Practical Tips
Power Supply: Don’t Skimp
Even with a modest TDP, choose a PSU from reliable brands (Seasonic, EVGA). Avoid no-name models as they may not withstand peak loads.
Platform Compatibility
- Motherboard: Any PCIe 3.0 x16 slot will work.
- CPU: Avoid "bottlenecking." Optimal choices are Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i5-12400F.
Drivers: Stability First
NVIDIA regularly updates drivers for the GTX 16 series, but new features (like Frame Generation support) are not available.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Excellent performance at 1080p.
- Low power consumption.
- Affordable price ($180-200 for new models).
Cons:
- No support for ray tracing and DLSS.
- Only 6 GB of memory.
- Outdated manufacturing process.
9. Final Conclusion: Who Is the GTX 1660 Suitable for in 2025?
This graphics card is a choice for:
1. Budget gamers playing at 1080p.
2. Owners of older PCs looking to upgrade without replacing the PSU.
3. Students and enthusiasts working on basic professional tasks.
If you're willing to spend $50 more — the RX 6600 or RTX 3050 will offer more capabilities. But if the goal is to maximize FPS for minimal money at Full HD, the GTX 1660 is still relevant.