What CPU do I need for the GeForce GTX 1660?

In our model the Ryzen 5 1600 is the slowest processor that keeps the GeForce GTX 1660 fully fed at both 1080p and 1440p. Anything faster leaves the card as the limit, which is what you want in a gaming PC.

Is the GeForce GTX 1660 good for 1440p?

Only with reduced settings. It averages around 37 FPS at 1440p on high settings in our model, so it is better suited to 1080p, where it reaches about 53 FPS.

Is 6GB of VRAM enough on the GeForce GTX 1660?

Not for recent games at high settings. 6GB means turning textures down in most titles from the last few years, even at 1080p.

Is the GeForce GTX 1660 faster than the Radeon RX 590?

They are effectively tied, within 0% at 1440p in our model. Price, memory (6GB against 8GB) and features should decide it.

GeForce GTX 1660 CPU pairing and bottleneck

Model frame rate limits of 53, 37 and 20 FPS at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, assuming the processor never gets in the way.

The GeForce GTX 1660 is one of the slowest graphics card in our database and best kept to 1080p at medium settings, or to lighter esports titles.

Its 6GB of memory forces texture settings down in most games released in the last few years.

Its closest AMD rival is the Radeon RX 590, which lands within a few percent of it at 1440p.

Estimated FPS in Popular Games

Game (settings)	1080p	1440p	4K
Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing)	~40	~30	~15
Fortnite (High, DirectX 12)	~70	~50	~25
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High)	~60	~45	~25
Counter-Strike 2 (High)	~125	~90	~50

Modelled estimates with a processor fast enough not to hold the card back, rounded to the nearest 5 FPS. Counter-Strike 2 is usually limited by the processor well before these figures. See the methodology for how they are produced.

The slowest CPU that will not hold it back

Resolution	Minimum processor	Estimated FPS
1080p	Ryzen 5 1600	49
1440p	Ryzen 5 1600	34
4K	Ryzen 5 1600	19

Notice how the requirement drops as resolution rises. At 4K this card is working so much harder per frame that a far slower processor keeps up without trouble. The search starts at four cores and eight threads: below that a game stutters whatever the average frame rate says.

The processors it lands closest to

The 24 processors whose frame rate limit sits nearest this card's, fastest first. The tag after each number says which part hits its limit first. For any other combination, use the calculator.

Processor	1080p	1440p	4K
Core i5-11400	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 5500	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-10600K	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 7 3800X	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Core i7-8700K	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 7 3700X	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 3600X	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-9600K	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 3600	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 3 3300X	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-10400	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-10400F	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Core i7-7700K	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 3500X	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 7 2700X	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Core i3-10100F	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-9400F	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 4600G	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-8400	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 4500	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 3 3100	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 2600	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Core i3-9100F	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 1600	49 gpu	34 gpu	19 gpu

Specifications

Manufacturer	NVIDIA
Series	NVIDIA GTX 16 Series
Video memory	6 GB
3DMark Time Spy (graphics)	5,071
PCI Express	3.0 ×16
Released	2019

GeForce GTX 1660