PRICE
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
VERDICT
REASONS TO BUY
REASONS TO AVOID
When it comes to budget GPUs, it doesn’t get any better than the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. Though there are some other graphics cards that get close, most notably the GTX 1660 Super, the 1660 Ti is still the budget king.
How are you able to get the 1660 Ti’s performance at this price? Nvidia took its Turing architecture and stripped everything out, like RT and Tensor cores which are responsible for RTX and DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) technologies, and left the bare essentials. So, you don’t get any of the bells and whistles, but you get the same base performance of the RTX GPUs. In essence, you end up with the perfect balance between performance and price.
This balance makes the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti ideal for budget gamers trying to get Nvidia Turing performance in their budget build. It still has, after all, more than enough power to be included in our best graphics cards guide. But, there are a number of 1660 Ti models from different manufacturers and it can be tough figuring out which one is best, especially since there’s no Founder’s Edition and prices differ drastically between the different cards. So, we’ve gathered our top choices here to help you find the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti card.
1. PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC
The best GeForce GTX 1660 Ti graphics card
Specifications
Stream Processors: 1,536
Core Clock: 1,500MHz (1,815MHz boost)
Memory: 6GB GDDR6
Memory Speed: 12Gbps
Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin
Outputs: 2 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0, 1 x DVI
Reasons to buy
+ Affordable
Much faster than GTX 1060
Reasons to avoid
- GDDR6 is limited to 12Gbps speeds
The PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC may not look like much, being tiny and all. But, this one’s small yet mighty, packing a punch with its 70MHz factory overclock and solid specs. This card delivers the dream of 1440p Ultra quality gameplay at 60 fps, and it’s guaranteed to blow you away. If that isn’t enough, all of this performance will cost less than 300 smackers. This is the one of the best bang-for-your-buck graphics cards you’ll find right now; your wallet will thank you.
Read the full review: PNY GeForce GTX 1660 Ti XLR8 Gaming OC
2. Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC
Maximum chill
Specifications
Stream Processors: 1,536
Core Clock: 1,530MHz (1,890MHz boost)
Memory: 6GB GDDR6
Memory Speed: 12Gbps
Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin
Outputs: 2 x DisplayPort 1.4, 2 x HDMI 2.0
Reasons to buy
+ Readily overclockable Runs incredibly cool
Reasons to avoid
- Nearly as expensive as the Nvidia RTX 2060
If you’re looking to max out the performance of the GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, then the Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC might just be the card for you. It’s an ace in our book, especially considering that it delivers the highest factory overclock we’ve seen on this mid-range graphics card yet. In addition, its enormous heatsink and triple axial fans keep this card running a full 10C cooler than most of its rivals. Thanks to its extreme cooling system, overclocking this card is a breeze.
To save money on Asus products, check out our Asus voucher codes.
Read the full review: Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Ti OC review
3. Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC
Your average, mid-range graphics card with a few tricks
Specifications
Stream Processors: 1,536
Core Clock: 1,500MHz (1,845MHz boost)
Memory: 6GB GDDR6
Memory Speed: 12Gbps
Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin
Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0
Reasons to buy
+ Excellent airflow 1,845MHz factory overclock
Reasons to avoid
- More expensive than basic models
Prefer a more middle of the road Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 card? The Gigabyte GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Windforce OC is the nearest thing you can find to the average GeForce GTX 1660 Ti. It’s only packed with a middle-of-the-road dual-fan cooler. However, Gigabyte offsets that by utilizing 3D molded curves on its fan blades for an extremely effective airflow, which is further improved by the graphics card’s fans also spinning in alternate directions. Rounding its features out is a 1,845MHz boost clock. This card undoubtedly delivers more performance for not much more cash.
4. Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC
Mini-sized form factor
Specifications
Stream Processors: 1,536
Core Clock: 1,500MHz (1,815MHz boost)
Memory: 6GB GDDR6
Memory Speed: 12Gbps
Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin
Outputs: 1 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b, 1 x DVI
Reasons to buy
+ Perfect for tiny PC builds Low starting price
Reasons to avoid
- Limited cooling potential
Besides being one of the best Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Ti available, Palit GeForce GTX 1660 Ti StormX OC is one of the most compact graphics cards ever designed, intended to fit in the tiniest of PC cases. Don’t let the small size fool you, however: this graphics card still packs all the power of a full-sized GTX 1660 Ti and then some, with a factory set 1,815MHz boost clock. Best of all, you won’t have to pay extra for this mini GeForce GTX 1660 Ti, so it will also save you some silver.
5. MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G
Stylish and affordable
Specifications
Stream Processors: 1,536
Core Clock: 1,500MHz (1,875MHz boost)
Memory: 6GB GDDR6
Memory Speed: 12Gbps
Power Connectors: 1 x 8-pin
Outputs: 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0
Reasons to buy
+ Fully customizable RGB lighting High-performance out of the box
Reasons to avoid
- A bit pricey
Just because it’s a mid-range card doesn’t mean it can’t also be trendy. If you’re building a cool-looking and immersive gaming rig, the MSI GeForce GTX 1660 TI Gaming X 6G is easily the best looking of the bunch, with a stylish aesthetic and fully programmable RGB lighting. You can personalize how it glows in sync with an MSI motherboard, which only enhances your immersion in the game. As far as performance, this card also delivers a solid one, which it couples with a Twin Frozr cooler to keep things chilled.
- Find the best processors to go with this budget graphics card
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Michelle Rae Uy
Contributor
Michelle Rae Uy is the former Computing Reviews and Buying Guides Editor at TechRadar. She's a Los Angeles-based tech, travel and lifestyle writer covering a wide range of topics, from computing to the latest in green commutes to the best hiking trails.She's an ambivert who enjoys communing with nature and traveling for months at a time just as much as watching movies and playing sim games at home. That also means that she has a lot more avenues to explore in terms of understanding how tech can improve the different aspects of our lives.
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