NVIDIA GTX 1660 Ti 6GB Graphics Card (Pre Owned)

NVIDIA's GTX 1660 Ti card launched in February 2019 and is built on the TU116 chip (6.6 billion transistors) a significant upgrade from the older GP106 Pascal chip (4.4 billion transistors) used in the GTX 1060. The card is built on the Turing architecture, the same architecture used in the RTX 20-series, but the RT Cores (ray-tracing) and Tensor Cores (DLSS) have been deliberately removed to keep the price down.

Even without ray-tracing, this card delivers impressive performance in standard rendering tasks. Its 120W TDP also makes it extremely power-friendly, allowing it to fit easily into systems with smaller PSUs. This makes it a popular choice among gamers looking for "strong performance without paying a high price."

Performance and Architecture

The GTX 1660 Ti features 1536 CUDA Cores and 96 Texture Mapping Units (TMUs). The base clock is around 1500 MHz and the boost clock goes up to 1770 MHz, while factory-overclocked variants (such as the Gigabyte OC, Palit StormX OC) can even reach 1800-1815 MHz.

Features like DirectX 12, OpenGL 4.6, the Vulkan API, and NVLink support (though SLI isn't supported on this card) keep it compatible with modern gaming technology. VR Ready and G-Sync support are also included, delivering a smooth and tearing-free gaming experience.

Memory and memory bandwidth

This card features 6GB of GDDR6 video memory, running at speeds of up to 12 Gbps (1500 MHz, 12000 MHz effective) over a 192-bit memory interface. This provides memory bandwidth of up to 288 GB/s, which is significantly better than the regular GTX 1660 (192 GB/s, GDDR5), though slightly lower than the later GTX 1660 Super (336 GB/s, faster GDDR6). This memory system smoothly handles most modern games at 1080p and offers decent performance at 1440p as well.

Display Output and Connectivity

The GTX 1660 Ti typically features 3x DisplayPort 1.4a, 1x HDMI 2.0b, and some models also offer DVI-D output. The card supports digital max resolutions up to 4K@60Hz and 7680x4320, and can connect up to 4 displays simultaneously. The PCI Express 3.0 x16 interface makes it easily compatible with any modern motherboard.

Cooling and Build

The card comes in a dual-slot design and measures between 210mm and 226mm in length, depending on the model. Most variants come with dual-fan cooling designs (e.g., Gigabyte WINDFORCE 2X, ZOTAC Dual Offset Fans, MSI Gaming X), which keep the card silent and cool under light to medium gaming loads.

Things to keep in mind during installation

Ensure the card is seated correctly in its PCIe x16 slot and the 8-pin power connector is connected. The recommended PSU is 450W, although the actual power draw is only around 120W, so this card should run smoothly with most standard PSUs. Download the legacy driver from NVIDIA's official website.

Who is this graphics card for?

The GTX 1660 Ti is an excellent choice for users who want strong gaming performance from 1080p to 1440p, even without ray-tracing, and at a lower power consumption. It's a good step-up for those upgrading from the older GTX 1060 6GB. For those confused between the GTX 1660, 1660 Super, and 1660 Ti, keep in mind—the 1660 Ti offers the most CUDA cores, while the 1660 Super comes with slightly better memory bandwidth, so real-world performance is quite close.

GTX 1660 Ti Specifications Table

GTX 1660 Ti Price (New vs Second-Hand)

Note: This card has been discontinued, so "new" units are now difficult to find, and most purchases are made on the second-hand market. Be sure to check the card's condition, fan bearings, and benchmark tests before purchasing.