NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti in 2025: Is It Worth Buying?
An up-to-date review of the graphics card for gamers and professionals
Despite being released in 2019, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti remains a popular choice for budget builds. But is this model still relevant in 2025? Let's delve into the details.
Architecture and Key Features
Turing: A Foundation Without Revolutionary Claims
The GTX 1660 Ti is built on the Turing architecture but lacks the specialized RT Core and Tensor Core blocks found in the RTX series. This means that the card does not support hardware ray tracing or DLSS technology. However, NVIDIA partially compensates for this shortcoming through drivers by adding compatibility with some AMD FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR) features to enhance performance in games.
Manufacturing Process: 12 nm (TSMC). By 2025 standards, this is outdated, but the card's energy efficiency is still at a respectable level.
Memory: A Balance Between Speed and Capacity
GDDR6 and Hidden Limitations
The card comes equipped with 6 GB of GDDR6 memory with a 192-bit bus and a bandwidth of 288 GB/s. This is sufficient for most games in 2025 at "High" settings in 1080p resolution, but in projects with Ultra HD textures or when working with 3D model rendering, 6 GB could become a bottleneck. For example, in games like Starfield 2 or GTA VI at 1440p, video memory is utilized at 80-90%, occasionally leading to stuttering.
Gaming Performance
1080p — Comfortable, 1440p — With Reservations
In 2025, the GTX 1660 Ti remains a Full HD graphics card:
- Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty (2024): 45-55 FPS on high settings with FSR 2.0.
- Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (2025): 60-70 FPS on medium settings.
- Fortnite (Chapter 6): 90-100 FPS on high settings with FSR.
In 1440p, the results are modest: stable 60 FPS often requires lowering graphics to “Medium” or using FSR/DLSS (the latter operates in emulation mode). 4K is not an option: even in less demanding titles like CS2, the frame rate rarely exceeds 30-40 FPS.
Ray tracing is unavailable due to the absence of RT Core. Attempts to enable RTX in games through third-party mods result in FPS drops below 20.
Professional Tasks
CUDA Help, but Memory Falls Short
For basic tasks, the GTX 1660 Ti performs adequately:
- Video Editing in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro: rendering 1080p videos is smooth, but 4K materials are processed more slowly due to limited memory.
- 3D Modeling in Blender: medium complexity scenes (up to 5 million polygons) render in acceptable time, but for complex projects, it’s better to select a card with 8+ GB of memory.
- Scientific Calculations: support for CUDA and OpenCL allows using the GPU for machine learning or simulations, but performance lags behind modern alternatives.
Power Consumption and Heat Output
Modest Appetite
The card's TDP is 120W, making it one of the most energy-efficient models in its class. A 450W power supply (e.g., Corsair CX450) is sufficient for the build.
Cooling:
- Reference models with one fan are suitable for compact cases, but during prolonged loads, temperatures may reach 75-80°C.
- Models with two or three fans (ASUS Dual, MSI Gaming X) maintain temperatures in the 65-70°C range.
Case Recommendations: minimum length for installation is 200 mm (check the dimensions of the specific model). Ensure good ventilation: 2-3 case fans will reduce thermal stress.
Comparison with Competitors
Who Should GTX 1660 Ti Watch Out For?
In 2025, its main competitors are:
1. AMD Radeon RX 6600 ($220-250): 8 GB GDDR6, ray tracing support, FSR 3.0. Game performance is 10-15% higher, but drivers may be less stable.
2. Intel Arc A580 ($200): 8 GB GDDR6, good Vulkan support, but weak optimization for older DX11 projects.
3. NVIDIA RTX 3050 ($250-280): 8 GB GDDR6, DLSS 3.0, and RTX, but at a higher price.
Conclusion: The GTX 1660 Ti lags in technological advancement but wins on price (new models in 2025 cost $180-200).
Practical Tips
How to Avoid Problems?
- Power Supply: 450W with an 80+ Bronze certification (EVGA 450 BR, Be Quiet! System Power 9).
- Compatibility: The card works on PCIe 3.0 x16 but is compatible with PCIe 4.0/5.0 (without performance loss). Ensure your CPU (e.g., Ryzen 5 5600 or Core i5-12400F) does not create a bottleneck.
- Drivers: NVIDIA continues to release updates, but optimization for the latest games lags. Use Game Ready Driver with manual parameter adjustment.
Pros and Cons
✅ Pros:
- Low power consumption.
- Affordable price ($180-200).
- Support for FSR 2.0/3.0 via drivers.
- Quiet operation in models with improved cooling.
❌ Cons:
- 6 GB of memory is insufficient for modern AAA games at high settings.
- No hardware ray tracing.
- Limited support for new technologies (DLSS 3.0 is unavailable).
Final Verdict: Who Is GTX 1660 Ti Suitable For?
This graphics card is a choice for those who:
1. Play in 1080p: It will handle most 2025 projects at high settings as long as ultra graphics are not pursued.
2. Build a Budget PC: At $180-200, it is more appealing than many alternatives.
3. Work with Basic Professional Tasks: Video editing, simple 3D rendering.
However, if you're planning to play in 1440p or use ray tracing, consider the RX 6600 or RTX 3050. In 2025, the GTX 1660 Ti is a "workhorse" for those who value a balance between price and performance without excesses.