According to the claims of many users who prefer resource-intensive dynamic games, a video adapter based on the NVidia GeForce 660 chip is the cheapest device that can not only launch, but also provide an opportunity to play comfortably on the minimum application settings. It is worth noting that most modern games in the system requirements recommend that the user have a video card based on a GTX 660 chip and above. In this article, the reader will get to know this product better, learn the technical specifications and, thanks to the feedback from the owners, draw their own conclusions on the representative of the gaming class in the computer components market.
Market positioning of products based on the GeForce 660
As expected from the manufacturer, there are two chip modifications on the market. This is the GTX 660 and its improved modification is the GTX 660 Ti. However, unlike other NVidia products, these video cards are not built on a single chip, respectively, according to the statements of many professionals, in fact they are different products. All this looks rather strange, but if you focus on the cost of the video cards of the GeForce 660 line, it turns out that it is minimal for the High-End class, and performance is maximum for the budget class.
That is, the manufacturer decided once again to erase the line between the two classes of video adapters, creating a semblance of a transition model. A few years ago, NVidia had already set up such an experiment using the 6800 GS 256-bit graphics card as an example, and the results exceeded all expectations. Apparently, the manufacturer decided to repeat the forgotten success in sales.
Chip-based graphics cards specifications
To make it easier for the reader to understand the difference and similarities between the two video adapters, he is invited to see the characteristics in the form of a comparison on the NVidia GeForce 660 chip:
- The lite version of the GTX 660 has its own GK106 core, while the GTX 660 Ti uses the base of the gaming segment - GK104.
- Although the chips were created according to the same technical process, their crystals are significantly different. The GTX 660 chip has an area of 221 mm 2 and 2540 million transistors, and the Ti modification has 294 mm 2 and 3500 million transistors.
- The number of stream processors in the GeForce 660 is only 960 pieces, while the Ti model has 1344 pieces.
- The frequency of the graphics core of the GeForce 660 is 908 MHz (in the 1033 MHz Boost mode), while the GTX 660 Ti has a lower frequency: 915 MHz (1097 MHz Boost).
- But the characteristics of the memory are identical: the 192-bit GDDR5 bus with a capacity of 2048 MB is used, which has an effective frequency of 6008 MHz.
Mobile version of the graphics core
And if everything is clear with video adapters for personal computers (the lower segment is not able to exceed the performance of the line up), then with discrete graphics cards NVidia GeForce 660 for mobile devices, a completely different picture is observed. In the race for high performance in games, the manufacturer, apparently, was very carried away by the characteristics of the AMD 6950M chip. Trying to beat a competitor, NVidia released a GTX 660M mobile chip in the lab, which outperforms its older brother GTX 570M.
Due to the fact that the problem was discovered after the presentation of Asus and HP laptops with new video cards, the new gaming chip did not return to the laboratory. As a result, the buyer was the winner, who acquired an entry-level gaming laptop and discovered untapped potential in it. As the owners note in their reviews, the mobile video card is able to cope with the resolution of FullHD with resource-intensive toys Metro 2033 and Crysis 2 (at maximum settings).
First acquaintance with a video adapter
Unlike other products of the NVidia product line, the GeForce 660 graphics card is present in retail sales in some countries. Some sources claim that the manufacturer himself sells stale products at well-known world auctions, while others claim that it is distributors who specifically create excitement among buyers. In any case, with a special desire, you can find a reference board with the NVidia logo in retail. But the improved modification of the GeForce 660 Ti in retail is not available.
The boxed video card (OEM) is supplied and does not have any supporting documentation. Even the marking that the device belongs to the 660 series is missing on the grille. Just removing the cooler’s protective cover, you can see the markings and make sure that the video card is original. A user on a printed circuit board can detect 6 free slots for video memory. Apparently, this was done with a margin for the future.
Appearance and cooling system
At first glance, the video adapter looks a lot like a representative of the High-End class, but upon a detailed examination it turns out that the manufacturer simply increased the length of the cooling system casing, and the printed circuit board has a standard size for a budget class. On the one hand, this solution made it possible to improve the flow of air into the fan turbine (it is taken from both sides). But, as practice shows, part of the cold stream dissipates before it hits the radiator grill, thereby reducing the cooling efficiency.
The NVidia GeForce 660 graphics card itself is well assembled: the manufacturer assembled the power elements together and placed them on the front of the device. There are questions about mounting the heatsink on the chip and memory chips (they are not tight), but the situation can be fixed by installing spring-loaded screws. In general, the impression of the cooling system is good.
Performance of the original NVidia video adapter
If the reader thinks that the representative of the initial game class without modifications by well-known manufacturers in the market of computer components cannot show high performance, then he is mistaken. The reference NVidia GeForce 660 graphics card fits perfectly into all performance graphics, taking the place between similar video adapters based on the same chip (Asus, Gigabyte, Zotac, EVGA and others).
But overclocking the video card, things are not the best way. The usual increase in the frequency of the graphics core by 3% leads to overheating of the crystal, which gives the "Windows death window" and reboots the computer. Definitely the whole problem is in the cooling system. Therefore, fans to increase system performance through overclocking should look at the GTX 660 chips from other manufacturers.
Hot sale
The representative of the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 can rightfully be considered a national video adapter in the markets of the former Soviet Union. A worthy title to the product was provided by Taiwanese technologists who made small changes to the design of the video card's printed circuit board and installed a proprietary cooling system. On the market, the buyer can meet several modifications of the device based on this chip: with a capacity of 2 and 3 GB, as well as with an active cooling system consisting of two and three fans.
The changes affected primarily the batteries - all the heating elements were replaced by modern modules that are not amenable to heating (solid-state capacitors, ferrite controllers). The manufacturer also made changes to the distribution of the power phases of the GeForce 660, separating the power supply of the chip from the memory modules. The only drawback of the designers is the presence of several controllers (including memory chips for 3 Gb modifications) on the back of the printed circuit board - they are not cooled at all.
Gigabyte proprietary cooling system
Regardless of the model of the device, as well as the amount of RAM, all representatives of the Gigabyte GeForce 660 line (including the Ti modification) have two types of cooling systems: with two and three fans. Accordingly, the presence of three coolers indicates that the video adapter is ready to cope with overclocking. Opinions differ on this issue in the media. This is due to the presence of uncooled memory modules on the back of the printed circuit board (we are talking about modifications with 3 GB of memory).
In any case, the cooling system still copes with heating more efficiently than the NVidia reference device. The aluminum radiator isolates not only the graphics core and memory chips - almost the entire surface of the board is covered by its grill. For effective heat dissipation, the manufacturer used copper tubes, which are reduced to a contact pad. Owners have no complaints about the fans either: they are large, reliable, silent and do an excellent job of their task.
Performance and overclocking
A decent cooling system allowed the manufacturer of the Gigabyte GeForce GTX 660 graphics card to increase the frequency of the graphics core by almost 100 MHz. But, as the owners of this device note, this is far from the limit, and the crystal can continue to be overclocked to 1211 MHz, but as practice shows, the increase in performance in synthetic tests and games is not at all directly proportional to the increase in frequency. Accordingly, there is no point in increasing the frequencies.
The situation with the memory modules is not entirely clear - it is impossible to raise their frequencies even by 10 MHz. Artifacts (multi-colored squares) immediately appear on the screen. It turns out that the memory chips themselves at the hardware level simply can not work faster. It becomes clear what determines the affordable cost of the product in the domestic market (10,000 rubles) - the video card is productive, but has limitations in overclocking.
Game Class Representative
Quite different results await fans of Gigabyte products on the GeForce 660 Ti chip. Outwardly almost identical device, the same cooling system, preliminary factory overclocking, but completely different overclocking behavior. Even when operating at standard frequencies (915 MHz for the core and 6008 MHz for memory), the video adapter in games outperforms the representative of the High-End class - the NVidia GTX 580 model (it’s rather strange considering that the video cards have the same graphic core).
With overclocking, the NVidia GeForce 660 Ti is also better than the younger version. The crystal shows stable operation at a frequency of 1180 MHz, and the memory runs at 6800 MHz. No equipment failures or failures are observed. It turns out that the problem with overclocking the younger model is not at all in the cooling system, but in the hardware of the video card. True, for the prefix "Ti", and, accordingly, for overclocked performance, the buyer will have to pay 15,000 rubles in the store (one and a half times more than for the modification of the GTX 660).
Another worthy player in the market
The Asus GeForce 660 video adapter is also in demand in the domestic market, however, seeing its cost (12-13 thousand rubles), many buyers turn their attention to products from the cheap segment. But it is the Asus product that demonstrates the best performance among all competitors, both in normal operation and in overclocking. On the market, the buyer can meet two modifications of video cards from a Taiwanese manufacturer: TOP and OC. They differ only in the bundle - the TOP model comes with a free game (the buyer selects the option of interest from the list).
The standard frequency of the graphics core is 1020 MHz (overclocking 1212 MHz), but in games and synthetic tests this slight factory overclock somehow places the video card on top of the rating table of video adapters based on the GeForce GTX 660. Media reviews boil down to that performance is ensured by installed Hynix memory modules with a low response time (0.2 ns).
Asus cooling system
Taking the Asus video card in hand and feeling its weight, any potential buyer will understand what determines the high cost of this representative on the market. The non-ferrous metal in the production of the cooling system at the plant was clearly not spared. An aluminum heatsink covers the entire surface of the system board. Through its gratings copper tubes pass, which are brought together on the contact area with the crystal. Two huge fans create a powerful stream of air, which, passing through the grilles, is discharged outside the casing through the ventilation grill.
It is clear that not only the cooling system owes the high performance of the GeForce 660 chip. The characteristics of the device also play an important role: installing PWM controllers, replacing power phase distributors, ferrite cores, proprietary memory modules - all together, the video adapter made it more efficient.
Finally
On devices based on the GeForce 660 graphics chip, the reviews are twofold. On the one hand, affordable cost and good performance. On the other - a weak potential for overclocking. It is this modification of video cards that is better viewed in the context of the brand, and not to judge the performance of the chip performed by NVidia. After all, a product from Asus has proved to everyone on the market that intervention in a process can be fruitful. Here it is up to the buyer to decide: give preference to cheapness or high performance.