Nvidia’s GTX 1060 has been the cornerstone of many a gaming PC during the last couple of years, however its time within the solar is slowly coming to an finish. Indeed, it was technically succeeded by Nvidia’s 16-series of GTX graphics playing cards earlier this 12 months when the GTX 1660 and GTX 1660 Ti arrived. Now, although, there’s one other 16-series card on the block: the GTX 1660 Super. But how a lot does the Super enhance on the previous 1060, and is it an honest improve? Let’s discover out with some candy bar charts.
GTX 1060 vs 1660 Super: How we check
Just like my GTX 1660 vs 1660 Super and GTX 1660 Super vs 1660 Ti comparability items this week, the goal right here is to see how effectively every card runs at a wide range of resolutions and graphics settings – primarily, 1920×1080 and 2560×1440.
To check every card, I paired them with my Intel Core i5-8600Ok CPU and 16GB of Corsair Vengeance 2133MHz RAM and put them by way of my common benchmarking suite, taking a mean body charge from both their very own built-in benchmarking instruments or from my very own repeated handbook gameplay exams. The games embrace Metro Exodus, The Witcher III, Final Fantasy XV, Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Total War: Three Kingdoms, Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, Monster Hunter: World and Forza Horizon 4.
For this explicit check, I’ve used Zotac’s GeForce GTX 1660 Super Twin Fan and the Asus GeForce GTX 1060 OC 9Gbps Edition (6GB). The latter isn’t really available for purchase any extra (and hasn’t been for a while), however when it was accessible it was one of many sooner GTX 1060 playing cards you may purchase. As a consequence, my GTX 1060 are most likely extra of a finest case state of affairs for this kind of card.
The Zotac GTX 1660 Super, then again, could be very a lot on the different finish of the spectrum, and is at the moment one of many least expensive 1660 Super playing cards you may at the moment purchase. It doesn’t deviate from Nvidia’s reference specification for the GTX 1660 Super, both, so these outcomes must be taken as extra of a baseline expertise quite than absolutely the pinnacle of 1660 Super efficiency. Still, with all that in thoughts, let’s get to these pretty charts.
GTX 1060 vs 1660 Super: 1080p benchmarks
Let’s begin the place each playing cards are most comfy: good previous 1920×1080 gaming. The GTX 1060 was as soon as our best graphics card alternative for this explicit class, and it nonetheless places up a fairly respectable battle over on High settings. On at this time’s crop of Ultra-fied games, nevertheless, it’s beginning to fall behind, typically averaging simply 40-45fps in most games – until you’re speaking Forza Horizon 4, after all, the place it’s nonetheless obtained loads of juice left.
In most instances, the GTX 1660 Super gives a tangible step up in efficiency right here, typically providing a full 60fps common, or one thing very near it. There are nonetheless some games that make it sweat a bit, after all, such because the ever-demanding Metro Exodus, Total War: Three Kingdoms and Assassin’s Creed Odyssey, however a mean of 53fps in Monster Hunter: World continues to be fairly darn playable in my eyes, even when it’s not hitting the identical 60-odd fps speeds as Shadow of the Tomb Raider, Final Fantasy XV and The Witcher III.
Move all the way down to High settings, nevertheless, and the GTX 1060 nonetheless places in an excellent exhibiting at 1080p. I haven’t included the games that have been already verging on 60fps right here (comparable to The Witcher III and Forza Horizon 4), however as you may see under, the GTX 1060 is greater than able to hitting that elusive body charge on just about each different game going right here – besides, after all, the beast that’s Metro Exodus.
In equity, even the GTX 1660 Super struggles with Metro right here, though its common body charge of 52fps is unquestionably a heck of quite a bit smoother than the GTX 1060’s 42fps. However, whereas the GTX 1660 Super nonetheless gives a close to 10 (and in some instances 15) fps enhance over the GTX 1060 at this explicit high quality setting, you’re solely going to have the ability to see these 70+fps speeds in case you have a excessive refresh charge monitor. Without one, all you’ll ever see is 60fps, which is just about what you’ll get on the GTX 1060 anyway.
In this mild, then, the GTX 1660 Super might be solely value investing in when you’re completely determined to play games on max settings at this decision (on which word it is best to actually simply get the extra highly effective and ever barely costlier GTX 1660 Ti as an alternative, if I’m being trustworthy), otherwise you need to take pleasure in these larger body charges.
GTX 1060 vs 1660 Super: 1440p benchmarks
Instead, it’s at 1440p the place the GTX 1660 Super stands out probably the most. Here, you may actually see and really feel the distinction over the ageing GTX 1060, because the graphs clarify under. Now, admittedly, even the GTX 1660 Super isn’t actually supposed as an Ultra settings sort of card at this decision, however whereas a whole lot of games merely descend into stuttering slideshows on the GTX 1060 right here, the GTX 1660 Super does, no less than, flip them into one thing vaguely playable. Of course, a mean body charge within the mid-40s is hardly ideally suited, however I’d abdomen a mean of 48fps in The Witcher III, for instance, whereas I positively wouldn’t make do with 37fps, for instance.
Moving all the way down to High, the GTX 1060 nonetheless places out some fairly respectable body charges right here, however we’re nonetheless taking a look at speeds within the 35-50fps area, quite than 45-60fps just like the GTX 1660 Super. Metro Exodus continues to be the bane of everybody’s lives right here, as is Total War: Three Kingdoms to some extent, however the 10fps positive factors supplied by the Super in games comparable to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Monster Hunter: World is actually fairly substantial – to not point out the virtually 20fps enhance you get in Shadow of the Tomb Raider.
There are, after all, nonetheless some games the place the GTX 1060 holds its personal towards the GTX 1660 Super, comparable to Final Fantasy XV. Here, every card’s common body charge was so comparable they felt virtually similar. The Super wasn’t a lot better at dealing with all of Nvidia’s additional results, both, which I hoped it’d given its sooner reminiscence banks. You’re additionally unlikely to see a lot of a distinction in older games like The Witcher III, too, as right here there was a distinction of simply 5fps – and to me, 52fps feels just about simply as easy as 57fps.
However, drop the settings all the way down to Medium and the GTX 1660 Super as soon as once more makes its presence felt. Here, Final Fantasy XV virtually hits that candy 60fps spot whereas the GTX 1060 continues to be limping alongside within the mid-40s, and Monster Hunter: World turns into a equally easy dino-hunting expertise in comparison with the GTX 1060’s even slower common of 41fps (and no, that’s not a mistake, the GTX 1060 actually did produce precisely the identical common body charge on MHW’s Mid settings because it did on High throughout testing).
Most importantly, the GTX 1660 Super is lastly capable of tame Metro Exodus at this decision (form of), whereas the GTX 1060 merely isn’t reduce out for it. The GTX 1060 nonetheless gives a near-60fps expertise in games comparable to Assassin’s Creed Odyssey and Total War: Three Kingdoms right here (which once more, will really feel precisely the identical because the GTX 1660 Super on a daily 60Hz monitor), however general, it’s positively beginning to present its age.
GTX 1060 vs 1660 Super: Conclusion
As you’d most likely count on from a next-gen graphics card, the GTX 1660 Super does provide a sizeable enchancment over the GTX 1060, however when you’re nonetheless taking part in games at 1080p on a normal 60Hz monitor, the variations aren’t going to be as huge as you may count on. Yes, it’s a way more competent card for enjoying games on Ultra high quality than the GTX 1060, however when you’re completely happy on High then the GTX 1060’s nonetheless obtained loads of life in it. As such, I’d solely say the 1660 Super was value upgrading to in case you have (or are eager about upgrading to) a excessive refresh charge monitor, otherwise you’re completely decided to play games on the very best doable settings – and if the latter is the case, then I’d strongly urge you to get the GTX 1660 Ti as an alternative – as my GTX 1660 Super vs 1660 Ti makes clear.
However, for these seeking to transfer as much as a 2560×1440 monitor within the close to future, then the GTX 1660 Super is unquestionably value contemplating – though once more, it is best to actually go for the GTX 1660 Ti right here, in my trustworthy opinion, because it solely prices one other £30 / $30 on high of the 1660 Super and provides you even sooner body charges for enjoying on High at this decision.
I ought to word, although, that you just most likely shouldn’t be upgrading your graphics card in any respect proper now, as a result of that bestest of finest offers holidays Black Friday is simply across the nook, throughout which you’ll virtually actually have the ability to choose up some form of GTX 16-series card for lots lower than it’s proper now.
