Hi there – choosing between the AMD Radeon RX 7900 XTX and Nvidia GTX 1660 Super can be confusing given their vast differences. As an experienced hardware analyst, allow me to walk you through how these two graphics cards stack up across all the key metrics – from performance and features to power, pricing, availability, and more.
I want to equip you with the nitty-gritty details so you can determine precisely which GPU best aligns with your gaming needs and budget. Whether you play at 1080p or 4K resolution, this guide has you covered! Let‘s dig in and compare what each card brings to the table.
Why Compare the 7900 XTX and 1660 Super?
You might wonder why we’re comparing the $999 flagship 7900 XTX versus the now several generations old $250 GTX 1660 Super in the first place.
It comes down to their opposing, yet equally interesting positions in the GPU landscape. On one end, the 7900 XTX represents the cutting edge of graphics technology – built for uncompromised 4K gaming with all the bells and whistles. Contrastly, the 1660 Super has remained a steadfast high value option for smooth 1080p performance at budget pricing.
This comparison helps us analyze the spectrums of the graphics card market in 2023 – from the extremely high-end down to solid mid-range value. Evaluating across vectors like architectural differences, feature sets, benchmark performance, power draw and thermal output presents an intriguing cross-section view!
Specification Overview
First, let’s set the stage by outlining key specifications of each card at a high level:
| Spec | Radeon RX 7900 XTX | GeForce GTX 1660 Super |
|---|---|---|
| Launch Date | November 2022 | October 2019 |
| GPU Architecture | RDNA3 (5nm) | Turing TU116 (12nm) |
| GPU Cores | 6144 | 1408 |
| Memory | 24GB GDDR6 | 6GB GDDR6 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 960 GB/s | 336 GB/s |
| TDP | 355W | 125W |
| Power Connectors | Triple 8-pin | Single 8-pin |
| MSRP | $999 | $229 |
Right away, we see massive differences in underlying architecture, graphics compute performance, memory configuration, power demands, and launch pricing. The 7900 XTX is playing in a totally separate arena!
But this high-level view just scratches the surface. Keep reading as we dive deeper across the various comparison points…
Performance Benchmarks
Without question, the RX 7900 XTX delivers massively faster raw gaming performance versus the GTX 1660 Super. Just how much faster may surprise you!
Let‘s analyze benchmark data from reliable sources like Tom‘s Hardware and TechPowerUp:
| Game @ 4K Settings | RX 7900 XTX (fps) | GTX 1660 Super (fps) | Performance Uplift |
|---|---|---|---|
| Red Dead Redemption 2 | 116 | N/A | N/A |
| Horizon Zero Dawn | 118 | 31 | 3.8x |
| Elden Ring | 110 | 38 | 2.9x |
| Fortnite | 244 | 57 | 4.3x |
Across newer graphically intensive titles at 4K resolution, the 7900 XTX provides nearly 4x higher frame rates on average compared to the 1660 Super! And the 1660 Super truly struggles to even handle 4K in some games, dipping into unplayable territory.
Let‘s consider now at 1080p:
| Game @ 1080p Ultra | RX 7900 XTX (fps) | GTX 1660 Super (fps) | Performance Uplift |
|---|---|---|---|
| CS:GO | 527 | 189 | 2.8x |
| GTA V | 152 | 75 | 2x |
| RDR2 | 132 | 66 | 2x |
The extreme computational horsepower and memory bandwidth of the 7900 XTX continue providing it over 2x higher fps even at the mainstream 1080p resolution.
So in summary – the RX 7900 XTX brings exponentially faster gaming performance to the table, demonstrating over 3-4x frames versus the GTX 1660 Super. This empowers incredibly smooth, high refresh-rate 4K gameplay while driving triple digit FPS even in the most demanding titles. Comparatively, the 1660 Super tops out at moderate 60 FPS in most games at 1080p.
Let’s break down what architectural differences actually drive this huge performance delta.
Architectural Design and Process Nodes
The RX 7900 XTX utilizes AMD’s brand new RDNA3 architecture produced on an advanced 5nm TSMC manufacturing node – representing the bleeding edge in 2023 graphics technology.
This provides major advantages in transistor density, power efficiency, and clock speeds over the 1660 Super’s now over 3 year old Turing design on 12nm.
Specifically, RDNA3 and the 5nm process gifts the RX 7900 XTX 96 high-efficiency Compute Units. That’s 6x more than the 1660 Super’s 16 CU’s built on 12nm. More compute units directly scale gaming and graphics workloads across the copious 6144 cores inside the 7900 XTX.
So in short, AMD leveraging the latest architecture on state-of-the-art 5nm fabrication unlocks performance and efficiency heights that a relic like Turing on 12nm cannot match despite its time-tested stability. The RX 7900 XTX represents the pinnacle and full potential of what cutting-edge GPU technology offers in 2023.
Ray Tracing, Upscaling, and Advanced Features
Both graphics cards provide baseline support for modern rendering techniques like variable rate shading – giving them fantastic performance/watt in traditional gaming workloads.
But the RX 7900 XTX goes far beyond here into the future of graphics…with dedicated ray tracing hardware enabling photorealistic lighting, reflections, and shadows. This immerses gamers into previously unseen levels of visual realism. AMD also equips the card with cutting-edge AI upscaling via FSR 3 to intelligently boost frames.
And we can’t forget about the RX 7900 XTX’s 96MB of Infinity Cache – a revolutionary design housing critical data closer to the GPU die itself rather than off-chip memory to massively reduce latency.
The GTX 1660 Super released years before ray tracing and modern upscaling became widespread, so it unsurprisingly lacks support. And while still capable for conventional gaming, the absent future-forward features demonstrate its age in an evolving landscape.
For those wanting to experience titles like Cyberpunk with jaw-dropping visual fidelity, the RX 7900 XTX really has no rival or equal among consumer gaming cards.
Power Consumption and Heat
Cranking out such incredible next-gen performance requires plenty of power.
Under full load, the RX 7900 XTX can consume over 420 watts which must be dissipated as heat from its dense 5nm chip.
RX 7900 XTX power consumption – TechPowerUp
Comparatively, the much humbler GTX 1660 Super tops out around 170 watts saving lots of electricity and requiring far simpler cooling solutions:
GTX 1660 Super power – TPU
So if your PC build has tight thermals or power constraints, the 1660 Super would certainly be the wise pick. But for most gamers, the 7900 XTX‘s incredible performance justifies this 2.5x power appetite. Just ensure ample case airflow and quality components!
Pricing and Availability
As a chart-topping $999 flagship, RX 7900 XTX pricing remains firmly situated in the high-end enthusiast bracket. Supply has largely caught up with demand in recent months, but deals aren‘t always easy to find.
Street prices currently hover around $850 at popular retailers:
RX 7900 XTX on Newegg – $829
In contrast, GTX 1660 Super pricing has become especially attractive from an inflation-adjusted standpoint – now routinely selling under $250 brand new:
EVGA GTX 1660 Super – $229 on Amazon
View 1660 Super options on Newegg
If sticking to a strict budget, scoring a new 1660 Super for under $250 makes that GPU an exceptional value in early 2023. But for uncompromised 4K gaming, the $800+ RX 7900 XTX remains the go-to card on shelves today.
Bottom Line Recommendations
So where does this extensive comparison of the RX 7900 XTX vs. GTX 1660 Super leave us?
While absurdly overpowered for 1080p gaming, the RX 7900 XTX represents the cutting-edge of performance, visuals, and features for those playing at 4K resolution or 240/360hz displays. Nothing else touches its power profile to enable triple-A eye candy.
But if still gaming at 1080p without chasing bleeding-edge graphics, the GTX 1660 Super keeps impressing with its balanced price-to-performance that continues holding up smoothly for eSports and modern titles moderately above 60 fps. And it sips power rather than guzzling it down!
Either graphics card option carries merits depending on your exact gaming requirements and budget flexibility in 2023. I hope mapping out all the nitty-gritty technical differences across the CPU hierarchy assists your buying decision! Let me know if you have any other questions.
