Is the GTX 660 Worth Buying for $45? Gaming Benchmarks and Review

Is the GTX 660 Worth Buying for $45? Gaming Benchmarks and Review

Table of Contents

1. Introduction
2. Specs and Features of the GTX 660
3. Performance in Modern Games
4. Benchmark Results
5. Pros and Cons of the GTX 660
6. Is the GTX 660 Worth Buying?
7. Conclusion

Introduction

The GTX 660, released in September 2012, was once a highly sought-after graphics card for gamers. As technology has advanced over the past seven years, more powerful mid-range hardware has come and gone. However, the GTX 660 has managed to remain in the conversation. In this article, we will examine how this mid-range king of 2012 holds up in terms of performance and whether it is worth considering as a budget-friendly option.

Specs and Features of the GTX 660

The GTX 660, specifically the EVGA GTX 660 Superclocked edition, is a Chunky card measuring nine and a half inches long. It features two DVI ports, an HDMI connector, a DisplayPort, and an SLI connector. With 960 CUDA cores clocked at 980 MHz, the card boosts to 1033 MHz. The cooling solution allows for higher clock speeds, and it requires a 6-Pin PCI power connector. The card comes with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory on a 192-bit bus, although some variants offer 3 GB of memory for a higher price. It supports OpenGL 4.5, Vulcan, and DirectX 12, as well as features like Physics, TXAA, and G-Sync.

Performance in Modern Games

To gauge the performance of the GTX 660 in modern games, we tested it on a system featuring an overclocked i3 8350K CPU, 32 GB of DDR4 RAM, and an SSD for fast storage. In Battlefield 5 at low settings and 1080p resolution, we achieved a stable average of 45 frames per Second (fps). Lowering the resolution to 900p resulted in frame rates above 60 fps. Similarly, in Black Ops 4's blackout mode, the GTX 660 provided an average of 39 fps at low settings and 1080p, with occasional frame rate drops.

PlayerUnknown's Battlegrounds (PUBG) ran at an average of 44 fps on a mix of medium and low settings at 1080p. Despite some noticeable texture pop-in, the Game remained playable. Titanfall 2, a three-year-old game, ran at an average of 44 fps on a mix of low and medium settings at 1080p. Doom 2016 performed well on both Vulkan and OpenGL 4.5, with the GTX 660 achieving averages of 73 fps and 70 fps, respectively.

Benchmark Results

In various synthetic tests, the GTX 660 showed decent performance. In Ashes of the Singularity, it achieved an average of 44.7 fps, compared to 79.4 fps on a GTX 1060. In Universe Sandbox 2's Earth and Moon simulation at 1080p, the card averaged 97.6 fps, while the GTX 1060 reached 155.6 fps. Despite its age, the GTX 660 held its own in these tests, although it clearly lags behind more modern cards.

Pros and Cons of the GTX 660

Pros:

• Can provide playable 1080p gaming on a budget
• Affordable option for entry-level PC gaming
• Supports modern features like OpenGL 4.5, Vulcan, and DirectX 12
• Solid performance in older games

Cons:

• Limited VRAM capacity (2 GB) may limit performance in newer games
• Draws more power and generates more heat compared to newer cards
• Kepler microarchitecture shows signs of age
• More modern options offer better performance and power efficiency

Is the GTX 660 Worth Buying?

The GTX 660, with its affordable price tag of $45, offers playable 1080p gaming on a tight budget. However, considering the availability of more modern options like the GTX 1050 or older 900 series cards, it may be wiser to invest in those instead. Not only do they offer better performance, but they also provide greater power efficiency and less noise. Additionally, Kepler microarchitecture has not aged as well as Maxwell. Nevertheless, if you have a very limited budget and need a graphics card to complete your budget 1080p 30fps PC, the GTX 660 is still a viable option. Just keep an eye out for deals on newer hardware.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the GTX 660 remains a respectable mid-range graphics card after seven years. It performs decently in modern games, although it may struggle with newer titles due to its limited VRAM capacity. If you are on a tight budget and aim for playable 1080p gaming, the GTX 660 is worth considering. However, if you have the means, investing in more modern options would provide a better gaming experience.