As gaming and graphics design become more intricate, the need for powerful yet reliable graphics cards continues to rise. Two popular options on the market are AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT and Nvidia GTX 1660 Super. Both graphics cards are renowned for their superior performance, but which one best fits your needs?
We will compare and contrast AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT and Nvidia GTX 1660 Super to help you decide when shopping for a graphics card. Our handy guide delves into their specs, features, and performance to see which card fits your needs.
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT vs Nvidia GTX 1660 Super: Side By Side Comparison
| Specification | AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT | Nvidia GTX 1660 Super |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | RDNA 2 | Turing |
| Process | 7nm | 12nm |
| Stream Processors | 2560 | 1408 |
| Base Clock | 2321 MHz | 1530 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 2581 MHz | 1785 MHz |
| Memory | 12GB GDDR6 | 6GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 192-bit |
| Memory Speed | 16 Gbps | 14 Gbps |
| Thermal Design Power | 230W | 125W |
| Power Connectors | 8-pin + 6-pin | 8-pin |
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT vs. Nvidia GTX 1660 Super: What’s the Difference?
RX 6700 XT and Nvidia GTX 1660 Super are two popular graphics cards designed for gaming, respectively. While both cards offer impressive specs, they differ in some ways. Let’s take a closer look at both graphics cards by going through their differences.
Architecture
Their architectures distinguish AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT and Nvidia GTX 1660 Super. The Radeon RX 6700 XT utilizes RDNA 2, while the GTX 1660 Super relies on Turing. RDNA 2 is a more modern and efficient architecture than Turing, featuring hardware-based ray tracing, which is not present in Turing.
As such, gamers and graphics users will experience better results from the Radeon RX 6700 XT than from its counterpart, GTX 1660 Super.
- 12GB GDDR6 RAM
- Boost Clock up to 2615MHz
- Up to 1278Gbps memory bandwidth
- AMD RDNA 2 architecture
- 40 compute units
Performance
When it comes to gaming performance, there is no contest here. AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT outclasses the Nvidia GTX 1660 Super. This card boasts more stream processors, clock speed, and memory bandwidth, resulting in faster gameplay even at higher resolutions.
Additionally, the RX 6700 XT supports ray tracing and variable-rate shading to provide more realistic lighting and improved performance. However, the Nvidia GTX 1660 Super remains a budget-friendly alternative with impressive gaming capabilities at its price point.
If you’re searching for top-of-the-line gaming performance, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT is your best bet; otherwise, Nvidia GTX 1660 Super could still benefit your budget.
Process
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT utilizes a 7nm manufacturing process, while the Nvidia GTX 1660 Super utilizes 12nm. This difference makes the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT more energy-efficient and capable of offering better performance than its Nvidia counterpart.
Due to its smaller node size, RX 6700 XT allows for more transistors to be fitted onto each chip for improved efficiency and overall performance.
Power Connectors
Both GPUs have different power connectors. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT requires an 8-pin and 6-pin connection, which is standard for high-end graphics cards. On the other hand, the Nvidia GTX 1660 Super only requires a single 8-pin power connector, making it more energy-efficient. Meanwhile, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT features additional connectors which supply more energy to its graphics card. The result? Higher clock speeds and improved performance.
However, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT draws more power and generates more heat than the Nvidia GTX 1660 Super. Ultimately, your choice between these two graphics cards depends on your specific requirements as well as the power supply capabilities of your system.
Stream Processors
The difference in stream processors is one of the primary distinguishing characteristics between these two graphics cards, substantially impacting their performance capabilities. The RX 6700 XT boasts 2560 stream processors, while the GTX 1660 Super has 1408. The RX 6700 XT can process more data simultaneously than its GTX 1660 Super counterpart, improving overall performance. Furthermore, its faster clock speed further enhances its capacity for handling complex graphics and high-resolution displays. Overall, the RX 6700 XT provides more power for users who require top-end graphics processing power.
Memory Speed
Switching to memory speed, the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT has a major advantage over the Nvidia GTX 1660 Super. The RX 6700 XT features GDDR6 memory with a clock speed of 16 Gbps, while the GTX 1660 Super has only 14 GB/s GDDR6 memory.
This difference in speed translates into higher bandwidth for the RX 6700 XT at 384 GB/s compared to 336 GB/s for the GTX 1660 Super’s 336 GB/s. Thus, more data can be handled simultaneously by the AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT than before in tasks requiring high memory bandwidth.
In conclusion, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT outperforms Nvidia GTX 1660 Super regarding memory speed, providing an edge in certain use cases.
Base Clock
A graphics card’s base clock is an important factor in its performance. For instance, AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT boasts a base clock speed of 2321 MHz, higher than the Nvidia GTX 1660 Super’s 1530 MHz base clock. Radeon RX 6700 XT can handle more complex tasks and applications without lagging or freezing. Its higher base clock speed results in faster loading times and smoother gameplay.
Additionally, the Radeon RX 6700 XT can be overclocked for even higher clock speeds, further improving its performance. Ultimately, the difference in base clock speeds between these graphics cards can substantially affect their efficiency and user experience.
Thermal Design Power
If you’re planning to use your graphics card for gaming or other demanding tasks, you have to get the TDP right. Thermal Design Power (TDP) is a GPU’s maximum power in watts. When selecting between AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT and Nvidia GTX 1660 Super, there is an obvious distinction in TDP between them.
RX 6700 XT has a TDP of 230 watts, while GTX 1660 Super has only 125 watts. This latter specification r means the GTX 1660 requires more electricity for full-capacity operation than RX 6700 XT, which produces more heat and could reduce performance significantly.
Memory Bus
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT and Nvidia GTX 1660 Super differ significantly regarding Memory Bus width. The former boasts 192 bits, while the latter’s 128 bits are limited.
RX 6700 XT boasts higher bandwidth, allowing faster data transfer between its graphics card and system memory. This feature is ideal for demanding games or applications needing faster memory access speeds.
Unfortunately, this wider Memory Bus consumes more power than its counterpart.
- Next-level graphics for AAA gaming
- Award-winning NVIDIA Turing architecture.
- Broadcast your gameplay to Twitch or YouTube
- Dedicated hardware encoder with Open Broadcaster Software (OBS).
- Capture and share videos, screenshots
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT vs. Nvidia GTX 1660 Super: 8 Must-Know Facts
- RX 6700 XT and Nvidia GTX 1660 Super are powerful graphics cards with different architecture, processes, power connectors, stream processors, memory speeds, base clock, TDP, and memory bus.
- The Radeon RX 6700 XT utilizes AMD’s RDNA 2 architecture, while the GTX 1660 Super relies on Nvidia’s Turing architecture.
- The RX 6700 XT is manufactured using a 7nm process, while the GTX 1660 Super utilizes Nvidia’s 12nm process.
- GTX 1660 Super only needs a single 8-pin connection, while RX 6700 XT requires an 8-pin and 6-pin power connector.
- The RX 6700 XT boasts 2560 stream processors, while the GTX 1660 Super only offers 1408. Furthermore, the RAM speed on the former is faster at 16 Gbps than 14 Gbps on the latter.
- The RX 6700 XT boasts a faster game clock of 2424 MHz than its GTX 1660 Super counterpart’s 1530 MHz.
- RX 6700 XT’s TDP of 230W is higher than that of the GTX 1660 Super at 125W.
- AMD RX 6700 XT costs more than GTX 1660 Super but offers superior performance for gaming and other graphics-intensive tasks.
AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT vs. Nvidia GTX 1660 Super: Which Is Better? Which One Should You Use?
The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT and Nvidia GTX 1660 Super are powerful graphics cards, each offering superior performance for gaming and other graphics-intensive applications. Although each has its advantages and drawbacks, the choice ultimately comes down to personal needs and preferences.
AMD’s RX 6700 XT offers superior performance in terms of architecture, memory speed, and stream processors, making it a great choice for high-end gaming and professional applications. On the other hand, Nvidia GTX 1660 Super offers better power efficiency and lower TDP, making it more budget-friendly with excellent value for money.
The image featured at the top of this post is ©Bk87/Shutterstock.com.
