GeForce GTX 1660 vs GeForce GTX 980
On raw speed the GeForce GTX 1660 comes out dramatically faster — about 43% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.
Market Value Leader
GeForce GTX 1660 is the clear winner, offering 1306.1% better value than GeForce GTX 980.
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GeForce GTX 1660 vs GeForce GTX 980: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1660 vs GeForce GTX 980
The GeForce GTX 1660 is dramatically faster, around 43% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 1660 currently lists from $77 EUR, $680 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 980 at $757 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1660 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 1306%. The GeForce GTX 1660 is trading below its $219 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 980 still sits about $208 EUR above its $549 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 120W against 165W, the GeForce GTX 1660 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern Turing architecture on a TSMC 12nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce GTX 1660 carries 6GB versus 4GB on the GeForce GTX 980. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce GTX 980's memory is also faster — 224 GB/s versus 192 GB/s (256-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1660 is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 (Turing vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1660 or GeForce GTX 980?
The GeForce GTX 1660 is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce GTX 980 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1660 better than the GeForce GTX 980?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1660 or the GeForce GTX 980?
Is the GeForce GTX 980 worth the extra $680 EUR over the GeForce GTX 1660?
Does the GeForce GTX 1660 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1660 or GeForce GTX 980?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,408 | 2,048✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,530 MHz✓ | 1,126 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,785 MHz✓ | 1,216 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB✓ | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 256-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps✓ | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 192 GB/s | 224.3 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1660 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 120 W✓ | 165 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | Mar 2019 | Sep 2014 |