GeForce GTX 1660 Super AIB List, Specs, Comparisons & Data

MSI 1660S Gaming XNvidia’s original GeForce GTX 1660 took a back seat to its more powerful and popular sister model, the GTX 1660 Ti. However, in 2020, both the original GTX 1660 and the GTX 1660 Ti were effectively superseded by the GTX 1660 Super.

The GTX 1660 Super (also known as GTX 1660S) launch MSRP was $229 – about the same price point as the GTX 1660 ($219) but is about 10% faster than the non-Super and only about 5% slower than the Ti.

Although the GTX 1660 Super uses the same TU116 chip as the 1660 non-Ti, the 6 GB VRAM is now GDDR6 instead of GDDR5, which significantly boosts memory bandwidth from 192GB/s to 336 GB/s – enough to significantly boost gaming performance. This placed the Super variant between the budget and mainstream GPU categories in 2020.

GTX 1660 Super: Relative Performance

Compared to previous generations, the GTX 1660S is around 30% faster than the GTX 1060 6 GB, and AMD’s 25% faster than the Radeon RX 580, making it a suitable upgrade for owners of these graphics cards.

For a quick look at performance, this is how the GTX 1660S stacks up in the 3DMark DX12 Time Spy benchmark:

3DMark Time Spy chart 1660 Super

All games are different but for the most part, this is quite representative of what you get. All in all, the GTX 1660S is a great choice for 1080p gaming. While it can’t compete with the upper mid-range GPUs at 1440p, most games will run well enough even at 1440p if you don’t mind lowering the detail settings.

List of GTX 1660 Super Graphics Cards (AIBs)

The GTX 1660S is a mainstream video card that does not come in souped-up water-cooled custom designs. Most manufacturers use tried and tested, basic designs that are used for other GPUs in the same performance and TDP category.

Note that we do not list the memory (VRAM) clocks separately as none differ from the default 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective), and total memory bandwidth of 336 GB/s.

Asus GTX 1660 Super Cards

CardBoost Clock
(% OC)
Length /
Slots
OutputsReview(s)
asus 1660S dual
Asus Dual GTX 1660
Super Evo
1785 MHz242 mm/9.5 in
Triple-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
LegitReviews
asus 1660S dual
Asus Dual GTX 1660 Super Evo Advanced
1800 MHz
(+0.8%)
242 mm/9.5 in
Triple-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-
asus 1660S dual
Asus Dual GTX 1660
Super Evo OC
1830 MHz
(+2.5%)
242 mm/9.5 in
Triple-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
PCWorld
asus 1660S dual mini
Asus Dual GTX 1660 Super Mini
1785 MHz197 mm/7.8 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-
asus 1660S dual mini
Asus Dual GTX 1660
Super Mini OC
1830 MHz
(+2.5%)
197 mm/7.8 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-
asus 1660S phoenix
Asus Phoenix GTX 1660 Super
1785 MHz174 mm/6.9 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
TechPowerup
asus 1660S phoenix
Asus Phoenix GTX 1660
Super OC
1800 MHz
(+0.8%)
174 mm/6.9 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-
asus 1660S strix
Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Super
1785 MHz243 mm/9.6 in
Dual-slot
2x HDMI 2.0
2x DP 1.4a
-
asus 1660S strix
Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660
Super Advanced
1815 MHz
(+1.7%)
243 mm/9.6 in
Dual-slot
2x HDMI 2.0
2x DP 1.4a
-
asus 1660S strix
Asus ROG Strix GTX 1660 Super OC
1845 MHz
(+3.4%)
243 mm/9.6 in
Dual-slot
2x HDMI 2.0
2x DP 1.4a
-
asus 1660S tuf
Asus TUF GTX 1660
Super
1785 MHz206 mm/8.1 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-
asus 1660S tuf
Asus TUF GTX 1660 Super OC
1815 MHz
(+1.7%)
206 mm/8.1 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
techporn.ph
asus 1660S tuf x3
Asus TUF X3 GTX 1660
Super
1785 MHz264 mm/10.4 in
Triple-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-
asus 1660S tuf x3
Asus TUF X3 GTX 1660
Super OC
1815 MHz
(+1.7%)
264 mm/10.4 in
Triple-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-

ASUS Dual GeForce GTX 1660 Super MiniAsus effectively offers six different versions of the 1660S with factory OC settings ranging from none to 3.4%. One of the latest additions from Asus is the Dual Mini – a compact graphics card made to fit Mini-ITX builds and even an Intel NUC 9 kit. That is not to say that cooling will be insufficient, as this design is used all the way up to the powerful RTX 2070S. Cooling the GTX 1660S – a GTX 1660 GPU paired with GDDR6 – is not nearly as demanding, so the small format should be more suitable for this GPU.

Asus GeForce GTX 1660 Super Overclocked 6GB Phoenix

An even more compact version is found in Asus’ Phoenix lineup, which was also used for the previous-gen Pascal GTX cards. Like other cards in the series, it’s a short, single-fan card, but this one actually has a bit more height to it than some other ITX-oriented GTX 1660S cards. Asus ships this card either with stock clocks or with a minor factory overclock (indicated by OC in the name). At 1800 MHz (instead of 1785 MHz), this is an OC of less than 1% and not something you should pay extra for, in our humble opinion.

One of the more interesting features of this card is that it is dust-resistant with an IPX5 rating. This does not mean that it’s fully dust-proof (an impossible achievement for a graphics card), but it does have some protection that should help ensure a long life span.

MSI GTX 1660 Super Cards

CardBoost Clock
(% OC)
Length /
Slots
OutputsReview(s)
MSI 1660S Aero ITX
MSI GTX 1660 Super
Aero ITX
1785 MHz179 mm/7.0 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-
MSI 1660S Aero ITX
MSI GTX 1660 Super
Aero ITX OC
1815 MHz
(+1.7%)
179 mm/7.0 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-
MSI 1660S Gaming
MSI GTX 1660 Super
Gaming
1785 MHz247 mm/9.7 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
-
MSI 1660S Gaming
MSI GTX 1660 Super
Gaming X
1830 MHz
(+2.5%)
247 mm/9.7 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
TweakTown
TomsHardware
Guru3D
MSI 1660S Gaming
MSI GTX 1660 Super
Gaming Plus
1785 MHz248 mm/9.8 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
-
MSI 1660S Gaming
MSI GTX 1660 Super
Gaming Z Plus
1830 MHz
(+2.5%)
248 mm/9.8 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
-
MSI 1660S Ventus
MSI GTX 1660 Super
Ventus
1785 MHz231 mm/9.1 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
-
MSI 1660S Ventus
MSI GTX 1660 Super
Ventus OC
1815 MHz
(+1.7%)
231 mm/9.1 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
-
MSI 1660S Ventus XS
MSI GTX 1660 Super
Ventus XS
1785 MHz204 mm/8.0 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
TechPowerup
MSI 1660S Ventus XS
MSI GTX 1660 Super
Ventus XS OC
1815 MHz
(+1.7%)
204 mm/8.0 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
Guru3D

MSI GTX 1660 Super VENTUS XS OC

Another interesting and similarly compact alternative to single-fan alternatives is MSI’s Ventus XS 6G OC. It’s slightly bulkier overall than single-fan cards overall, but quite a bit shorter than full-size cards. In any event, it should be a good fit for most gaming machines – and not just physically.

Like most of the best GTX 1660 Super graphics cards, the Ventus is available with a factory OC. In the overclocked version, MSI has increased the boost clock to 1815 MHz, which isn’t the highest overclock from the standard 1785 MHz.

What makes this card an interesting option in our view is the competent cooling solution in spite of its small measurements. MSI has also included a rigid backplate.

At the more premium end of the spectrum, MSI offers a factory overclocked Gaming X version of the GTX 1660S. However, if you prefer to experiment yourself – or don’t want to pay extra – there’s also a non-X model available (if you manage to find one, as they appear to be a very rare breed).

The Gaming X has a boost clock of 1,830 MHz out of the box, and it is likely possible to further stretch those values using MSI’s excellent Afterburner overclocking tool. To keep performance consistent and temperatures low, MSI has equipped this card with the Twin Frozr 7 Thermal Design, which consists of two fans that cool a rather sizeable heatsink.

This identical cooling solution with RGB accents is also used on other, considerably more expensive cards. It takes up a little bit more than two PCI slots, however, so it might be a tight fit for small form factor PC builds.

EVGA GTX 1660 Super Cards

CardBoost Clock
(% OC)
Length /
Slots
OutputsReview(s)
EVGA 1660S Black
EVGA GTX 1660 Super
Black
1785 MHz190 mm/7.5 in
Triple-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-
EVGA 1660S SC Ultra
EVGA GTX 1660 Super
SC Ultra
1830 MHz
(+2.5%)
202 mm/8.0 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
KitGuru
AnandTech
TechPowerup
EVGA 1660S SC Ultra
EVGA GTX 1660 Super
SC Ultra Black
1785 MHz202 mm/8.0 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
1x DP 1.4a
1x DVI
-

EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Super Sc Ultra GamingThe EVGA GeForce GTX 1660 Super SC Ultra is one of two different GTX 1660S designs from EVGA. One is a single-fan ITX-size card simply called “Black,” which is normally EVGA naming for cards that ship with standard clock frequencies. The Super Sc Ultra is also available in a “Black” version with standard clocks in addition to a model overclocked to 1830 MHz (from the default 1785 MHz).

Compared to the ASUS Strix and MSI Gaming X, this card is much more compact, but the dual-fan cooler is more effective than all of the single-fan varieties in the market.

Gigabyte GTX 1660 Super Cards

CardBoost Clock
(% OC)
Length /
Slots
OutputsReview(s)
Gigabyte 1660S Super D6
Gigabyte GTX 1660
Super D6
1785 MHz226 mm/8.9 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
-
Gigabyte 1660S Super D6
Gigabyte GTX 1660
Super OC
1815 MHz
(+1.7%)
226 mm/8.9 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
-
Gigabyte 1660S Gaming
Gigabyte GTX 1660
Super Gaming
1785 MHz280 mm/11.0 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
-
Gigabyte 1660S Gaming
Gigabyte GTX 1660
Super Gaming OC
1860 MHz
(+4.2%)
280 mm/11.0 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
TechPowerup
Guru3D
Hexus
Gigabyte 1660S Mini ITX
Gigabyte GTX 1660
Super Mini ITX
1785 MHz170 mm/6.7 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
-
Gigabyte 1660S Mini ITX
Gigabyte GTX 1660
Super Mini ITX OC
1800 MHz
(+0.8%)
170 mm/6.7 in
Dual-slot
1x HDMI 2.0
3x DP 1.4a
-

GIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1660 SUPER 3X WindforceAlthough the GTX 1660 Super is a relatively frugal GPU with a 125W TDP, you can never go wrong with a more effective cooler. A triple-fan card is quite bulky though and won’t fit in compact PC cases. But if you have room to spare, an extra fan will improve cooling while in most cases producing less noise than dual-fan (and certainly single-fan) cards given the same load. You will also have better chances of overclocking thanks to the lower temperatures.

With the triple-fan Gaming OC model, Gigabyte has taken this philosophy to extremes – with excellent results. The 1660S Gaming OC has been widely praised by testers, even if the large cooler adds a bit too much to the price tag of this mainstream GPU.

Summary and Buyer’s Guide

Had the GTX 1660S been a more power-hungry and heat-generating card, a large and efficient cooling solution would be a bigger priority. Its TDP is however only 125 W, so you might question the need for a bulky triple-fan solution to cool this card. The MSI GTX 1660 Super Gaming X uses a tried and tested design with great-looking RGB highlights, but the ASUS Dual GeForce GTX 1660 Super Mini is also an attractive card. As a bonus, it’s usually less expensive and will fit in mini ITX gaming cases – or even an Intel NUC 9 kit.

  • If you care about aesthetics as well as performance – and don’t mind paying a bit more for features such as attractive RGB lighting – then the MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Super Gaming X 6G is one of a very limited amount of choices. What might make it a tough sell is the narrow price gap between this card and entry-level Ti cards that offer better performance.
  • If you want the best possible combination of an attractive price tag and good cooling performance, we will stick with our recommendation of the dual-fan ASUS GeForce GTX 1660 Dual Mini.
  • For a combination of value and an easy fit in compact builds using an mITX or mATX case, the Asus Dual Mini is still a great choice, but the single-fan Asus Phoenix usually costs less and the cooling solution is still sufficient.

All of these cards use trusted designs from major manufacturers, so reliability should not be an issue unless you are exceptionally unlucky. In terms of real-world performance, the difference between the cards will be small, but you may have more success overclocking cards with additional/more efficient fans. And last but not least: Also compare the GTX 1660S with other affordable cards to see which GPU offers the best price/performance ratio today. On average, however, the 1660S is one of the top choices among the more budget-oriented mid-range GPUs as of late 2020.

Jesper Berg
Jesper Berg

I got started with PC building in the 3dfx Voodoo era somewhere back in the 1990s, and have been writing for tech publications for a bit more than a decade. In other words old enough to have lost count of the times PC gaming has been pronounced dead.

14 Comments
  1. Interesting to see the different AIB versions of the GTX 1660 Super. Can you provide any information on the upgrade paths for these cards, especially for those who are currently running an older GTX 1060 or GTX 1070? How much of an upgrade is it compared to these older cards?

  2. Great post! I’m currently using a GTX 1060 and I’m really happy with it, but I’m thinking about upgrading to a GTX 1660 SUPER. What are your thoughts?

  3. How about if you just want the one making less noise? I suppose the triple fan one is the best option from this list if you have the room, but which one is the runner-up?

    Cheers

  4. What I wanted to see in the summary is, like the other thousands of users; “the best possible combination of an attractive price and good performance”.

    Unfortunately what I got is the “best possible combination of an attractive price tag and good cooling performance”. So I need to jump to another website who has the needed summary.

    In general the people are either looking for the best performance or the best budget with good/enough performance. The other conclusions are nice to have.

    PS: Best cooling doesn’t mean the best performance.

    • Hi Rutilicus,
      Thank you for the constructive criticism, this is very helpful! I will take this to heart and try to incorporate it in this and future articles.

      You are absolutely right that great cooling doesn’t automatically translate to great performance. Things like VRAM and GPU ASIC quality, power limit, etc. are also key factors. Though I would still consider cooling capacity a vital condition for making the most of the other factors (and keep noise to a minimum when done right).

  5. I think it is a well made review and I agree with your points.

  6. These editors don’t know shit!

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