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GeForce GTX 1660 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

Quick Verdict

The GeForce GTX 1660 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti trade blows on raw performance, landing within a few percent of each other. That said, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti is the smarter buy on value β€” $40 USD less for the performance on offer.

Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)

VS
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 980 Ti
Price
$110 USDβœ“
Performance
10/100βœ“
VRAM
6 GB GDDR5βœ“
Key Specs Advantage
+100% CUDA Cores (2,816 vs 1,408)
+100% Memory Bus (384-bit vs 192-bit)
+75% Bandwidth (336.5 GB/s vs 192 GB/s)

GeForce GTX 1660 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 1660 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

The GeForce GTX 1660 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti post nearly the same score in our performance index, so neither holds a meaningful raw-speed advantage. Both are best suited to entry-level 1080p gaming.

Price & Value

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti currently lists from $110 USD, $40 USD less than the GeForce GTX 1660 at $150 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti offers the better performance-per-dollar (~36% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is trading below its $649 USD MSRP β€” a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 1660 is trading below its $219 USD MSRP β€” a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

At 120W against 250W, 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.

Memory & Bandwidth

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti's memory is faster β€” 337 GB/s versus 192 GB/s (384-bit vs 192-bit bus) β€” which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Generation & Longevity

The GeForce GTX 1660 is roughly 4 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti (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 Ti?

Choose the GeForce GTX 1660 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti stretches your money further for near-identical performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 1660 better than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

They're very close on raw performance. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti edges ahead on value, so price and availability should decide it.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1660 or the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at entry-level 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the GeForce GTX 1660 worth the extra $40 USD over the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce GTX 980 Ti comes out ahead.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1660 or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

Choose the GeForce GTX 1660 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti stretches your money further for near-identical performance.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1660 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1660GeForce GTX 980 Ti
ArchitectureTuringMaxwell
Process NodeTSMC 12nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)1,4082,816βœ“

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1660 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1660GeForce GTX 980 Ti
Base Clock1,530 MHzβœ“1,000 MHz
Boost Clock1,785 MHzβœ“1,075 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1660 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1660GeForce GTX 980 Ti
VRAM Capacity6 GB6 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus192-bit384-bitβœ“
Memory Speed8 Gbpsβœ“7 Gbps
Bandwidth192 GB/s336.5 GB/sβœ“

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1660 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1660GeForce GTX 980 Ti
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP120 Wβœ“250 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedMar 2019Jun 2015