What CPU do I need for the GeForce GTX 1660 Super?

In our model the Ryzen 5 1600 is the slowest processor that keeps the GeForce GTX 1660 Super 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 Super good for 1440p?

Only with reduced settings. It averages around 40 FPS at 1440p on high settings in our model, so it is better suited to 1080p, where it reaches about 57 FPS.

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

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 Super faster than the Radeon RX 590?

Yes. The GeForce GTX 1660 Super is about 8% faster at 1440p in our model (40 vs 37 FPS).

GeForce GTX 1660 Super CPU pairing and bottleneck

Model frame rate limits of 57, 40 and 21 FPS at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, assuming the processor never gets in the way.

The GeForce GTX 1660 Super is an entry-level 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 is 8% slower at 1440p.

Estimated FPS in Popular Games

Game (settings)	1080p	1440p	4K
Cyberpunk 2077 (High, no ray tracing)	~45	~30	~15
Fortnite (High, DirectX 12)	~75	~50	~25
Call of Duty: Black Ops 6 (High)	~65	~45	~25
Counter-Strike 2 (High)	~135	~95	~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	53
1440p	Ryzen 5 1600	37
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	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 5500	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-10600K	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 7 3800X	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Core i7-8700K	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 7 3700X	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 3600X	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-9600K	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 3600	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 3 3300X	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-10400	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-10400F	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Core i7-7700K	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 3500X	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 7 2700X	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Core i3-10100F	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-9400F	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 4600G	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Core i5-8400	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 4500	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 3 3100	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 2600	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Core i3-9100F	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu
Ryzen 5 1600	53 gpu	37 gpu	19 gpu

GeForce GTX 1660 Super Compared

RTX 3050 8GB vs GTX 1660 Super — The RTX 3050 8GB and GTX 1660 Super are effectively tied: within 4% of each other at every resolution.
GTX 1660 Super vs GTX 1070 — The GTX 1070 is about 10% faster than the GTX 1660 Super at 4K and 8% faster at 1440p.
GTX 1660 Super vs RX 580 8GB — The GTX 1660 Super is about 17% faster than the RX 580 8GB at 4K and 18% faster at 1440p.

Specifications

Manufacturer	NVIDIA
Series	NVIDIA GTX 16 Series
Video memory	6 GB
3DMark Time Spy (graphics)	5,663
PCI Express	3.0 ×16
Released	2019

GeForce GTX 1660 Super