The RX 580 vs GTX 1660 Super debate really heated up a few years ago when these cards came out. But maybe you weren’t following their release at the time, or you didn’t have the money to upgrade your PC.
But today is the day. Your system is crying for an upgrade, and you’ll get it the GPU it deserves. You sit in front of your PC, ready to purchase, but what should you do first? Which one should you buy?
GPUs are an essential part of any PC. With newer generations getting faster and pricier, many people look to older generations of graphics cards to find an affordable GPU that will meet their needs.
In this review, we’ll compare the Radeon RX 580 and the GTX 1660 Super. We’ll be looking at price, performance, and other factors, so that by the end of this article, you’ll know which one is best for you. Let’s go!
AMD Radeon RX 580 vs. GTX 1660 Super: Side-by-Side Comparison
Before buying, you need to know the basics. While some of these specs may be hard to understand if you’re not well informed, you’ll see how they come into play when we talk about the performance and price of these GPUs.
| AMD Radeon RX 580 | Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super | |
|---|---|---|
| Graphics Processor | Polaris 20 | TU116 |
| Cores | 2304 | 1408 |
| ROPS | 32 | 48 |
| Memory Size | 8 GB | 6 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | 192-bit |
| Outputs | 1x HDMI 2.0b, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a |
| Base Clock | 1257 MHz | 1530 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1340 MHz | 1785 MHz |
| TDP | 185 W | 125 W |
| Bandwidth | 256.0 GB/s | 336.0 GB/s |
| Price | $159,99 | $321,08 |
AMD Radeon RX 580 vs. GTX 1660 Super: What’s the Difference?
Now that we know the basics of the RX 580 and the GTX 1660 Super, you’ve probably noticed one big difference between them: the price. Good catch! Overall, AMD tries to make its products more affordable, while Nvidia tends to make them as robust as possible.
Below, we’ll compare their performance in mainstream games and many other things you should know before deciding. Let’s get into it!
Performance
Most of us buy graphic cards because we want to play games. And the main thing that gamers care about in terms of performance is how smooth the gameplay will be, how many FPS the card will output, and how much they can max out the graphics.
So, it’s crucial to keep in mind the performance of these two GPUs in real-life situations. The best way to do this is through classic benchmarks like 3DMark, Passmark, and MSI AfterBurner.
- DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI video port interface
- AMD Radeon RX580 chipset
- Mining hashrate in the range of 25-30MH/S
These programs put your card through a triathlon of tests to see just how much it can handle. So, let’s see what the RX 580 and the GTX 1660 Super can do!
Believe it or not, while the RX 580 seems the better option because of its high VRAM, which should allow it to process heavy graphics better, it ends up coming second. Here, you’ll see the importance of other features come into play.
For example, the Passmark benchmark pushes cards to the max in different versions of the Direct3D software, taking them to the limit with extremely high resolutions. Here, the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super surpasses the AMD Radeon RX 580 by a staggering 43.3%.
Now, this difference in benchmark performance doesn’t always carry over to gaming scenarios. However, we found that in games such as Assassin’s Creed Valhalla, Call of Duty: Modern Warfare, and Cyberpunk 2077, using FHD high presets, the GTX 1660 Super has a 40% advantage in frame rate over the RX 580.
So, after trying out both GPUs through different quality tests and high resolutions, the GTX 1660 Super is clearly the winner. This makes sense, considering it came out in 2019, while the RX 580 came out in 2017.
Features
Now that we know how well both cards perform in benchmarks and games, let’s look at other factors that might make you lean one way or the other.
Memory
Memory size is vital in a GPU because it heavily affects its performance. If your graphics card lacks memory, the maximum resolution it can process and other graphic settings will be limited. Also, the bigger the memory size, the longer the usable life of your card will be.
You need at least 4 GB in your GPU for 1080p gaming. 6 GB is perfect if you want to set texture quality to high or ultra. If you’re looking for 1440p gaming and upwards, then a minimum of 8-12 GB is advisable.
- 6GB GDDR6 RAM
- Super compact 6.83-inch card
- 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b
- Boost clock up to 1785MHz
- Memory clock up 14Gbps
In hindsight, building 8 GB of VRAM into the RX 580 was genius! Why? Because thanks to that decision, it can still run games such as Rainbow Six Siege, Battlefield 1, Call of Duty: Infinite Warfare, and Resident Evil without any problems.
Now, don’t dismiss the GTX 1660 Super so quickly, though. Even with only 6 GB of memory, it still runs most AAA games smoothly at 1080p, and outputs 60+ frames per second.
You can play any of these games in medium-high settings without any issues, but if you aim for higher resolutions or if you want to enjoy 4K gaming, you will need at least 12 GB of video memory. This means you’ll be looking at higher prices and newer GPUs.
Power Supply and Thermal Design Power (PSU & TDP)
Graphics cards are one of the most power-hungry components of any gaming PC. So, making sure that your power supply can output enough power to use any card safely is crucial. It’d be such a waste to buy a new GPU just to see it get fried by a bad PSU!
Most GPU testers recommend a PSU of 550W for the RX 580, which uses a single 8-pin power connector. On the other hand, a 450W PSU for the GTX 1660 Super should be enough. Note that the GTX also uses an 8-pin power connector.
Now, you also want to avoid sitting next to your PC and feeling like you can cook an egg on it. TDP refers to the maximum amount of power the thermal dissipators of your card can safely handle. It tends to match up with the maximum power your card will draw in a real-world scenario.
The RX 580 has a TDP of 185W, while the GTX 1660 Super’s is 125W. This means that you can expect the RX 580 to consume more power and heat up a little more.
Display Output
Your GPU’s display output ports determine how many displays you’ll be able to run on a single card. The Radeon RX 580 and the GeForce GTX 1660 Super both come with one HDMI 2.0 output, but the RX 580 comes with three DisplayPort 1.4. Meanwhile, the GTX 1660 Super has only one.
Price
The launch price for the RX 580 and the GTX 1660 Super was $229. Now, though, you can get the AMD Radeon RX 580 for $149 on Amazon. The Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 Super will still cost you about $229.
AMD Radeon RX 580 vs. GTX 1660 Super: 4 Must-Know Facts
- None of these graphic cards are ideal for 4K gaming.
- The GTX 1660 Super is 40% faster than the RX 580, but almost twice as expensive.
- The RX 580 came out on April 2017, while the GTX 1660 Super came out in October 2019.
- The GTX 1660 Super is a mid-range card that can efficiently run major titles at 1080p with high graphics presets at 60FPS.
AMD Radeon RX 580 vs. GTX 1660 Super: Which One Is Better? Which One Should You Use?
Now, the thousand-dollar question: Which one should I buy? And the answer is that it depends on how much money you’re willing to spend.
This is because the GTX 1660 Super tops the RX 580 in every benchmark, which is really what you’ll want to look at if you’re a gamer. It is a bit pricey compared to the RX 580, but this is the way to go if you want quality.
We are not saying that the RX 580 isn’t worth buying, though. On the contrary, if you’re a budget gamer and have no problem not playing every game with the highest graphics presets, go for the RX 580.
You should always choose the card that fits your PC better, considering things like TDP and how many displays you’ll want to connect to it. In the end, your decision is the one that really matters.
- Video Card RX 580
- DisplayPort, DVI, HDMI video port interface
- AMD Radeon RX580 chipset
- Mining hashrate in the range of 25-30MH/S
- GeForce GTX 1660 Super
- 6GB GDDR6 RAM
- Super compact 6.83-inch card
- 3 x DisplayPort 1.4, 1 x HDMI 2.0b
- Boost clock up to 1785MHz
- Memory clock up 14Gbps
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