Radeon 540X vs GeForce GTX 1660

VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 1660 with Radeon 540X, including specs and performance data.

GTX 1660
2019
6 GB GDDR5, 120 Watt
30.28
+712%

GTX 1660 outperforms 540X by a whopping 712% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking186708
Place by popularity39not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation48.22no data
Power efficiency17.305.11
ArchitectureTuring (2018−2022)GCN 4.0 (2016−2020)
GPU code nameTU116Lexa
Market segmentDesktopLaptop
Release date14 March 2019 (5 years ago)5 September 2018 (6 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$219 no data

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores1408512
Core clock speed1530 MHz980 MHz
Boost clock speed1785 MHz1046 MHz
Number of transistors6,600 million2,200 million
Manufacturing process technology12 nm14 nm
Power consumption (TDP)120 Watt50 Watt
Texture fill rate157.133.47
Floating-point processing power5.027 TFLOPS1.071 TFLOPS
ROPs4816
TMUs8832

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x8
Length229 mmno data
Width2-slotno data
Supplementary power connectors1x 8-pinNone

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount6 GB2 GB
Memory bus width192 Bit64 Bit
Memory clock speed2001 MHz1500 MHz
Memory bandwidth192.1 GB/s48 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 1x DisplayPortNo outputs
HDMI+-

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (12_1)12 (12_0)
Shader Model6.56.4
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL1.22.0
Vulkan1.2.1311.2.131
CUDA7.5-

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 1660 30.28
+712%
Radeon 540X 3.73

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GTX 1660 11670
+712%
Radeon 540X 1437

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 1660 21064
+414%
Radeon 540X 4097

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GTX 1660 71229
+517%
Radeon 540X 11545

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 1660 14164
+410%
Radeon 540X 2779

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1660 81755
+439%
Radeon 540X 15167

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD83
+337%
19
−337%
1440p49
+717%
6−7
−717%
4K26
+767%
3−4
−767%

Cost per frame, $

1080p2.64no data
1440p4.47no data
4K8.42no data

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 71
+689%
9
−689%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 65−70
+306%
16
−306%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 59
+392%
12
−392%
Battlefield 5 95−100
+1138%
8−9
−1138%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 73
+813%
8−9
−813%
Cyberpunk 2077 58
+729%
7−8
−729%
Far Cry 5 65−70
+871%
7−8
−871%
Far Cry New Dawn 75−80
+670%
10−11
−670%
Forza Horizon 4 160−170
+650%
21−24
−650%
Hitman 3 69
+527%
11
−527%
Horizon Zero Dawn 306
+1077%
24−27
−1077%
Metro Exodus 144
+526%
23
−526%
Red Dead Redemption 2 112
+489%
19
−489%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 100−110
+650%
14−16
−650%
Watch Dogs: Legion 227
+440%
40−45
−440%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 123
+1018%
10−12
−1018%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 42
+1300%
3−4
−1300%
Battlefield 5 95−100
+1138%
8−9
−1138%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 67
+738%
8−9
−738%
Cyberpunk 2077 47
+571%
7−8
−571%
Far Cry 5 65−70
+871%
7−8
−871%
Far Cry New Dawn 75−80
+670%
10−11
−670%
Forza Horizon 4 160−170
+650%
21−24
−650%
Hitman 3 67
+644%
9−10
−644%
Horizon Zero Dawn 287
+1004%
24−27
−1004%
Metro Exodus 113
+565%
17
−565%
Red Dead Redemption 2 79
+464%
14
−464%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 110
+450%
20
−450%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 60−65
+327%
14−16
−327%
Watch Dogs: Legion 214
+410%
40−45
−410%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 65−70
+491%
10−12
−491%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 37
+1133%
3−4
−1133%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 49
+513%
8−9
−513%
Cyberpunk 2077 40
+471%
7−8
−471%
Far Cry 5 65−70
+871%
7−8
−871%
Forza Horizon 4 98
+345%
21−24
−345%
Hitman 3 59
+556%
9−10
−556%
Horizon Zero Dawn 93
+258%
24−27
−258%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 95
+459%
17
−459%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 57
+470%
10
−470%
Watch Dogs: Legion 29
−44.8%
40−45
+44.8%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 81
+575%
12
−575%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 55−60
+714%
7−8
−714%
Far Cry New Dawn 45−50
+667%
6−7
−667%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 30−35
+967%
3−4
−967%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 27
+800%
3−4
−800%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 34
+1033%
3−4
−1033%
Cyberpunk 2077 24
+1100%
2−3
−1100%
Far Cry 5 35−40
+775%
4−5
−775%
Forza Horizon 4 170−180
+5700%
3−4
−5700%
Hitman 3 39
+388%
8−9
−388%
Horizon Zero Dawn 67
+644%
9−10
−644%
Metro Exodus 59
+743%
7−8
−743%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 67
+738%
8−9
−738%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 40−45
+1233%
3−4
−1233%
Watch Dogs: Legion 187
+713%
21−24
−713%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 53
+657%
7−8
−657%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 30−33
+1400%
2−3
−1400%
Far Cry New Dawn 24−27
+1100%
2−3
−1100%
Hitman 3 21
+950%
2−3
−950%
Horizon Zero Dawn 63
+800%
7−8
−800%
Metro Exodus 44 0−1
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 35
+775%
4−5
−775%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 18−20
+533%
3−4
−533%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 15
+650%
2−3
−650%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 17
+1600%
1−2
−1600%
Cyberpunk 2077 10 0−1
Far Cry 5 16−18
+750%
2−3
−750%
Forza Horizon 4 50
+2400%
2−3
−2400%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 36
+800%
4−5
−800%
Watch Dogs: Legion 12
+1100%
1−2
−1100%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 26
+420%
5−6
−420%

This is how GTX 1660 and Radeon 540X compete in popular games:

  • GTX 1660 is 337% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 1660 is 717% faster in 1440p
  • GTX 1660 is 767% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Forza Horizon 4, with 1440p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 1660 is 5700% faster.
  • in Watch Dogs: Legion, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the Radeon 540X is 45% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 1660 is ahead in 62 tests (98%)
  • Radeon 540X is ahead in 1 test (2%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 30.28 3.73
Recency 14 March 2019 5 September 2018
Maximum RAM amount 6 GB 2 GB
Chip lithography 12 nm 14 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 120 Watt 50 Watt

GTX 1660 has a 711.8% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 6 months, a 200% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 16.7% more advanced lithography process.

Radeon 540X, on the other hand, has 140% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1660 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon 540X in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 1660 is a desktop card while Radeon 540X is a notebook one.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
GeForce GTX 1660
AMD Radeon 540X
Radeon 540X

Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


4.1 5330 votes

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3.8 317 votes

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Questions & comments

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