AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660

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Combined performance score

GTX 1660
30.17
+22.8%

GeForce GTX 1660 outperforms Radeon RX 6500 XT by 23% in our combined benchmark results.

General info

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

Place in performance ranking170203
Place by popularity4885
Value for money25.0422.47
ArchitectureTuring (2018−2021)Navi / RDNA2 (2020−2022)
GPU code nameTuring TU116Navi 24
Market segmentDesktopDesktop
Release date14 March 2019 (5 years old)19 January 2022 (2 years old)
Launch price (MSRP)$219 $199
Current price$252 (1.2x MSRP)$274 (1.4x MSRP)
Value for money

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 1660 has 11% better value for money than RX 6500 XT.

Technical specs

General performance parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. These parameters indirectly speak of performance, but for precise assessment you have to consider their benchmark and gaming test results. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores14081024
Core clock speed1530 MHz2610 MHz
Boost clock speed1785 MHz2815 MHz
Number of transistors6,600 million5,400 million
Manufacturing process technology12 nm7 nm
Power consumption (TDP)120 Watt107 Watt
Texture fill rate157.1180.2

Size and 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 4.0 x4
Length229 mmno data
Width2-slot2-slot
Supplementary power connectors1x 8-pin1x 6-pin

Memory

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 typeGDDR5GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount6 GB8 GB
Memory bus width192 Bit64 Bit
Memory clock speed8000 MHz18000 MHz
Memory bandwidth192.1 GB/s143.9 GB/s
Shared memory--

Video outputs and ports

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 DisplayPort1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI++

API support

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

DirectX12 (12_1)12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model6.56.6
OpenGL4.64.6
OpenCL1.22.2
Vulkan1.2.1311.3
CUDA7.5no data

Synthetic benchmark performance

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


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark performance 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 30.17
+22.8%
RX 6500 XT 24.56

GeForce GTX 1660 outperforms Radeon RX 6500 XT by 23% in our combined benchmark results.


Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark, part of Passmark PerformanceTest suite. 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.

Benchmark coverage: 25%

GTX 1660 11692
+22.9%
RX 6500 XT 9516

GeForce GTX 1660 outperforms Radeon RX 6500 XT by 23% in Passmark.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 17%

GTX 1660 71229
RX 6500 XT 76445
+7.3%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 7% in 3DMark Vantage Performance.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 17%

GTX 1660 21131
RX 6500 XT 22954
+8.6%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 9% in 3DMark 11 Performance GPU.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

GTX 1660 14055
RX 6500 XT 15712
+11.8%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 12% in 3DMark Fire Strike Graphics.

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.

Benchmark coverage: 14%

GTX 1660 80889
RX 6500 XT 91909
+13.6%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 14% in 3DMark Cloud Gate GPU.

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

Benchmark coverage: 8%

GTX 1660 524782
+47.4%
RX 6500 XT 356129

GeForce GTX 1660 outperforms Radeon RX 6500 XT by 47% in 3DMark Ice Storm GPU.

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04

Benchmark coverage: 3%

GTX 1660 120
+8.6%
RX 6500 XT 111

GeForce GTX 1660 outperforms Radeon RX 6500 XT by 9% in SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04.

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03

Benchmark coverage: 3%

GTX 1660 49
RX 6500 XT 140
+184%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 184% in SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03.

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02

Benchmark coverage: 3%

GTX 1660 9
RX 6500 XT 87
+906%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 906% in SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02.

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04

Benchmark coverage: 3%

GTX 1660 60
RX 6500 XT 150
+152%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 152% in SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04.

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01

Benchmark coverage: 3%

GTX 1660 40
RX 6500 XT 91
+125%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 125% in SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01.

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01

Benchmark coverage: 3%

GTX 1660 27
RX 6500 XT 58
+113%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 113% in SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01.

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01

Benchmark coverage: 3%

GTX 1660 63
RX 6500 XT 67
+6.2%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 6% in SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01.

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 energy-01

Benchmark coverage: 3%

GTX 1660 6
RX 6500 XT 60
+933%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 933% in SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 energy-01.

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 3dsmax-05

Benchmark coverage: 2%

GTX 1660 134
RX 6500 XT 157
+16.8%

Radeon RX 6500 XT outperforms GeForce GTX 1660 by 17% in SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 3dsmax-05.

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 HD86
+32.3%
65
−32.3%
1440p48
+60%
30
−60%
4K28
+75%
16
−75%

Performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 71
−1.4%
72
+1.4%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 55−60
+16.3%
45−50
−16.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 59
+15.7%
51
−15.7%
Battlefield 5 90−95
+17.5%
80−85
−17.5%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 112
+72.3%
65−70
−72.3%
Cyberpunk 2077 58
+7.4%
54
−7.4%
Far Cry 5 100
−2%
102
+2%
Far Cry New Dawn 95
−2.1%
97
+2.1%
Forza Horizon 4 132
+61%
80−85
−61%
Hitman 3 110
+48.6%
70−75
−48.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn 82
+7.9%
76
−7.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2 73
+82.5%
40−45
−82.5%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 93
+9.4%
85
−9.4%
Watch Dogs: Legion 78
+5.4%
74
−5.4%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 55−60
+16.3%
45−50
−16.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 42
−2.4%
43
+2.4%
Battlefield 5 90−95
+17.5%
80−85
−17.5%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 85
+30.8%
65−70
−30.8%
Cyberpunk 2077 47
+38.2%
34
−38.2%
Far Cry 5 92
+0%
92
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 89
+0%
89
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 123
+50%
80−85
−50%
Hitman 3 90
+21.6%
70−75
−21.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn 61
+5.2%
58
−5.2%
Metro Exodus 57
+9.6%
52
−9.6%
Red Dead Redemption 2 40
+0%
40−45
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 78
+20%
65
−20%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 102
+10.9%
92
−10.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion 66
+13.8%
58
−13.8%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 55−60
+16.3%
45−50
−16.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 37
+19.4%
31
−19.4%
Battlefield 5 90−95
+17.5%
80−85
−17.5%
Cyberpunk 2077 40
+33.3%
30
−33.3%
Far Cry 5 86
+0%
86
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 82
+0%
82
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 98
+19.5%
80−85
−19.5%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 57
+5.6%
54
−5.6%
Watch Dogs: Legion 29
+16%
25
−16%

1440p
High Preset

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 57
+50%
35−40
−50%
Hitman 3 57
+39%
40−45
−39%
Horizon Zero Dawn 40
−5%
42
+5%
Metro Exodus 33
+83.3%
18
−83.3%
Red Dead Redemption 2 25
+31.6%
18−20
−31.6%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 48
+33.3%
36
−33.3%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 30−35
+22.2%
27−30
−22.2%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 27
+17.4%
23
−17.4%
Battlefield 5 65−70
+20%
55−60
−20%
Cyberpunk 2077 24
+41.2%
17
−41.2%
Far Cry 5 59
+3.5%
57
−3.5%
Far Cry New Dawn 59
+3.5%
57
−3.5%
Forza Horizon 4 76
+52%
50−55
−52%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 35−40
+34.5%
27−30
−34.5%
Watch Dogs: Legion 19
+0%
19
+0%

4K
High Preset

Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 32
+68.4%
18−20
−68.4%
Hitman 3 31
+34.8%
21−24
−34.8%
Horizon Zero Dawn 11
−9.1%
12
+9.1%
Metro Exodus 20
+81.8%
11
−81.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2 16−18
+23.1%
12−14
−23.1%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 24
+50%
16
−50%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 35
+25%
28
−25%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 20−22
+33.3%
14−16
−33.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 15
+150%
6
−150%
Battlefield 5 35−40
+24.1%
27−30
−24.1%
Cyberpunk 2077 10
+150%
4
−150%
Far Cry 5 30
+30.4%
23
−30.4%
Far Cry New Dawn 31
+55%
20
−55%
Forza Horizon 4 50
+42.9%
35−40
−42.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion 12
+20%
10
−20%

This is how GTX 1660 and RX 6500 XT compete in popular games:

1080p resolution:

  • GTX 1660 is 32.3% faster than RX 6500 XT

1440p resolution:

  • GTX 1660 is 60% faster than RX 6500 XT

4K resolution:

  • GTX 1660 is 75% faster than RX 6500 XT

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

  • in Assassin's Creed Valhalla, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 1660 is 150% faster than the RX 6500 XT.
  • in Horizon Zero Dawn, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the RX 6500 XT is 9.1% faster than the GTX 1660.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 1660 is ahead in 56 tests (82%)
  • RX 6500 XT is ahead in 6 tests (9%)
  • there's a draw in 6 tests (9%)

Advantages and disadvantages


Performance score 30.17 24.56
Recency 14 March 2019 19 January 2022
Cost $219 $199
Maximum RAM amount 6 GB 8 GB
Chip lithography 12 nm 7 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 120 Watt 107 Watt

The GeForce GTX 1660 is our recommended choice as it beats the Radeon RX 6500 XT in performance tests.


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

User ratings

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660
GeForce GTX 1660
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Radeon RX 6500 XT

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