The world of graphics cards is a rapidly evolving landscape, with new technologies and innovations emerging at an incredible pace. As a result, it can be difficult for enthusiasts and gamers to keep up with the latest developments and determine which graphics cards are truly worth their investment. Two of the most popular and widely-used graphics cards on the market today are the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660. But the question on everyone’s mind is: which one is better?
The GTX 1070: A Veteran Of The Graphics Card Wars
The GTX 1070 is a high-performance graphics card that was released in 2016 as part of NVIDIA’s Pascal generation of graphics cards. At the time of its release, it was considered one of the most powerful consumer-grade graphics cards on the market, and it quickly became a favorite among gamers and enthusiasts.
The GTX 1070 boasts an impressive specifications sheet, with 1920 CUDA cores, 120 texture units, and 64 ROP units. It also has a base clock speed of 1506 MHz and a boost clock speed of 1683 MHz, making it more than capable of handling demanding games and applications at high resolutions and frame rates.
In terms of memory, the GTX 1070 comes with 8GB of GDDR5 memory, which provides a significant amount of bandwidth for handling complex graphics and textures. It also has a memory bus width of 256 bits, which helps to further improve performance.
One of the key features of the GTX 1070 is its support for NVIDIA’s SLI (Scalable Link Interface) technology, which allows users to combine multiple graphics cards in a single system to achieve even greater levels of performance. This makes it an attractive option for enthusiasts who want to push their systems to the limit.
Vulkan And DX12 Support
The GTX 1070 also supports Vulkan and DX12, two of the most popular graphics APIs on the market. Vulkan is an open-standard API that provides a high-performance, low-overhead alternative to traditional graphics APIs like DirectX and OpenGL. DX12, on the other hand, is a proprietary API developed by Microsoft that provides a range of advanced features and performance improvements.
Support for both Vulkan and DX12 makes the GTX 1070 an excellent choice for gamers who want to take advantage of the latest graphics technologies and get the most out of their games.
The GTX 1660: A New Challenger Emerges
Fast forward to 2019, and NVIDIA has released a new generation of graphics cards, including the GTX 1660. This mid-range graphics card is designed to provide a balance of performance and affordability, making it an attractive option for gamers who want a high-quality graphics card without breaking the bank.
The GTX 1660 has a slightly reduced specifications sheet compared to the GTX 1070, with 1408 CUDA cores, 88 texture units, and 48 ROP units. It also has a base clock speed of 1530 MHz and a boost clock speed of 1785 MHz, making it slightly faster than the GTX 1070.
In terms of memory, the GTX 1660 comes with 6GB of GDDR6 memory, which provides a significant amount of bandwidth for handling demanding graphics and textures. It also has a memory bus width of 192 bits, which helps to further improve performance.
One of the key features of the GTX 1660 is its support for NVIDIA’s Turing architecture, which provides a range of advanced features and performance improvements compared to the Pascal architecture used in the GTX 1070. These include improved AI-enhanced graphics, real-time ray tracing, and variable rate shading.
Affordability And Power Efficiency
One of the main advantages of the GTX 1660 is its affordability. With a launch price of around $229, it is significantly cheaper than the GTX 1070, which launched at around $379. This makes it an attractive option for gamers who want a high-quality graphics card without breaking the bank.
The GTX 1660 is also more power-efficient than the GTX 1070, with a TDP of 125W compared to the GTX 1070’s TDP of 150W. This makes it a more attractive option for users who want to build a system that is both powerful and efficient.
Performance Comparison
So how do the GTX 1070 and GTX 1660 compare in terms of performance? To answer this question, we’ll take a look at some benchmark results from popular games and applications.
| Game/Application | GTX 1070 FPS | GTX 1660 FPS |
|---|---|---|
| Assassin’s Creed Odyssey (1080p) | 60-70 | 55-65 |
| The Witcher 3 (1080p) | 80-90 | 70-80 |
| Fortnite (1440p) | 100-110 | 90-100 |
| 3DMark Fire Strike (1080p) | 18,000-20,000 | 15,000-17,000 |
| Unigine Heaven 4.0 (1080p) | 50-60 | 40-50 |
As you can see from the benchmark results, the GTX 1070 generally outperforms the GTX 1660 in most games and applications, particularly at higher resolutions and detail settings. However, the GTX 1660 is still a very capable graphics card that is more than able to handle demanding games at high frame rates.
Conclusion
So, is the GTX 1070 better than the GTX 1660? The answer is a resounding yes. While the GTX 1660 is a very capable graphics card that offers excellent performance and value, the GTX 1070 is simply a more powerful and feature-rich option.
That being said, the GTX 1660 is still a great choice for gamers who want a high-quality graphics card without breaking the bank. Its affordability, power efficiency, and support for NVIDIA’s Turing architecture make it an attractive option for users who want a balance of performance and value.
Ultimately, the choice between the GTX 1070 and GTX 1660 will depend on your specific needs and budget. If you want the absolute best performance and are willing to pay a premium for it, then the GTX 1070 is the clear winner. But if you’re looking for a more affordable option that still offers excellent performance and value, then the GTX 1660 is definitely worth considering.
Remember, the most important thing is to choose a graphics card that meets your needs and fits your budget. Whether you choose the GTX 1070 or GTX 1660, you can’t go wrong with either option.
Which GPU Is More Powerful, The GTX 1070 Or The GTX 1660?
The GTX 1070 is a more powerful GPU compared to the GTX 1660. The GTX 1070 was a high-end graphics card when it was released in 2016, and it still packs a punch today. It has 1920 CUDA cores, a base clock speed of 1506 MHz, and a boost clock speed of 1683 MHz. In contrast, the GTX 1660 is a mid-range graphics card released in 2019, with 1408 CUDA cores, a base clock speed of 1408 MHz, and a boost clock speed of 1680 MHz.
The GTX 1070’s higher CUDA core count and clock speeds give it a significant performance advantage over the GTX 1660. In gaming benchmarks, the GTX 1070 is typically 10-20% faster than the GTX 1660 at 1440p and 4K resolutions. However, it’s worth noting that the GTX 1660 is a more power-efficient GPU, with a TDP of 120W compared to the GTX 1070’s 150W TDP.
What Is The Main Difference Between The GTX 1070 And The GTX 1660?
The main difference between the GTX 1070 and the GTX 1660 is their architecture. The GTX 1070 is based on the Pascal architecture, while the GTX 1660 is based on the Turing architecture. The Turing architecture is more efficient and provides better performance per watt compared to the Pascal architecture. Additionally, the GTX 1660 has features like DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling) and ray tracing, which are not available on the GTX 1070.
The GTX 1660’s Turing architecture also provides better performance in certain workloads, such as AI-enhanced applications and games that use ray tracing. However, the GTX 1070’s Pascal architecture still provides excellent performance in traditional gaming workloads. Ultimately, the choice between the two GPUs depends on your specific needs and budget.
Is The GTX 1070 Still A Good Graphics Card?
Yes, the GTX 1070 is still a good graphics card, especially for 1440p and 1080p gaming. Although it’s an older GPU, it still provides excellent performance and can handle most modern games at high frame rates. Additionally, the GTX 1070 is often available at a lower price point than the GTX 1660, making it a more affordable option for those on a budget.
However, if you’re looking for a GPU that can handle 4K gaming or ray tracing, the GTX 1070 may not be the best choice. The GTX 1660 and other newer GPUs are better suited for these tasks. Additionally, the GTX 1070 may not support some of the latest graphics features, such as DLSS and variable rate shading.
What Is The Best GPU For 1440p Gaming?
The GTX 1070 and GTX 1660 are both suitable for 1440p gaming, but the GTX 1070 is generally the better choice. The GTX 1070’s higher CUDA core count and clock speeds give it a significant performance advantage over the GTX 1660 at 1440p resolutions. In most modern games, the GTX 1070 can handle 1440p at high frame rates with ultra graphics settings.
That being said, the GTX 1660 is still a good option for 1440p gaming, especially if you’re on a budget. It can handle 1440p at high frame rates with high graphics settings, although you may need to make some compromises on graphics quality.
What Is The Best GPU For ESports?
The GTX 1660 is generally the better choice for eSports, as it provides excellent performance at high frame rates with low latency. The GTX 1660’s Turing architecture is optimized for fast-paced games, and its low power consumption makes it a great option for laptops and small form factor PCs.
The GTX 1070 is also a good option for eSports, but it’s generally more expensive than the GTX 1660 and consumes more power. However, if you’re looking for the absolute best performance and don’t mind the higher price and power consumption, the GTX 1070 may be the better choice.
Can The GTX 1070 And GTX 1660 Handle Ray Tracing?
The GTX 1660 has limited ray tracing capabilities, but it can handle basic ray tracing tasks. However, it’s not suitable for high-quality ray tracing or complex ray tracing scenarios. The GTX 1070, on the other hand, does not support ray tracing at all.
If you want a GPU that can handle high-quality ray tracing, you’ll need to look at more expensive options like the RTX 2060 or RTX 3070. These GPUs have dedicated hardware for ray tracing and can handle complex ray tracing scenarios.
Which GPU Is More Power-efficient, The GTX 1070 Or The GTX 1660?
The GTX 1660 is significantly more power-efficient than the GTX 1070. The GTX 1660 has a TDP of 120W, while the GTX 1070 has a TDP of 150W. This makes the GTX 1660 a great option for laptops and small form factor PCs, where power consumption is a major concern.
The GTX 1660’s power efficiency is due to its more modern architecture and manufacturing process. The Turing architecture used in the GTX 1660 is more efficient than the Pascal architecture used in the GTX 1070, allowing it to provide similar performance at a lower power consumption.