The GeForce RTX 4060 is a major upgrade from the GTX 1660 Super: Tom’s Hardware measured about 95% higher rasterized performance in its comparison suite. It also adds ray tracing, DLSS, Frame Generation and AV1 encoding, while using a similar rated power budget. The GTX 1660 Super still works for basic 1080p gaming, but makes sense today chiefly as a substantially cheaper used card. Whether the RTX 4060 is worth buying depends on its actual price and the games and features you need.
RTX 4060 vs. GTX 1660 Super specifications
These are reference specifications; board-partner cards can differ in clock speed, cooling, dimensions, connectors and power limits. The GTX 1660 Super figures are listed in NVIDIA’s comparison data and MSI’s specification for its Gaming model; RTX 4060 figures are from NVIDIA’s product and launch pages.
| Specification | GeForce RTX 4060 | GeForce GTX 1660 Super |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Turing |
| CUDA cores | 3,072 | 1,408 |
| Reference boost clock | 2.46 GHz | 1.785 GHz |
| Memory | 8GB GDDR6 | 6GB GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 128-bit | 192-bit |
| Dedicated ray-tracing cores | Yes | No |
| Tensor cores | Yes | No |
| DLSS Super Resolution | Supported in compatible games | No |
| DLSS Frame Generation | Supported in compatible games | No |
| AV1 hardware encoding | Yes | No |
| Rated GPU power | 115W nominal TGP | 125W for MSI Gaming model |
| Release period | June 2023 | October 2019 |
| Intended gaming target | Primarily 1080p | 1080p |
Sources: NVIDIA RTX 4060 specifications, NVIDIA RTX 4060 guide, NVIDIA graphics-card comparison and MSI GTX 1660 Super Gaming specifications.
How much faster is the RTX 4060 in games?
1080p rasterized gaming
In Tom’s Hardware’s GPU hierarchy comparison, the RTX 4060 delivered approximately 95% higher rasterized frame rates than the GTX 1660 Super—nearly twice the performance in that particular test suite. This is not a promise of twice the FPS in every game. Results vary with the game engine, graphics settings, CPU and test system.
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For a GTX 1660 Super owner, that difference can mean higher settings, smoother performance in demanding games or more headroom for a high-refresh 1080p display. In older or lightweight titles, the GTX 1660 Super may already meet the player’s frame-rate target, so the practical improvement can feel smaller. At very high frame rates, a CPU bottleneck can also narrow the visible gap.
1440p and demanding games
The RTX 4060 can run games at 1440p with settings adjusted to suit the title, but it is primarily a 1080p card. Its 8GB of VRAM and 128-bit memory interface are compromises in demanding games, especially with high-resolution textures or ray tracing. Tom’s Hardware highlighted these limitations in its RTX 4060 review. If high-end 1440p or 4K gaming is the goal, compare higher-memory cards rather than treating the 4060 as a long-term answer for every setting.
Ray tracing, DLSS and generated frames
The 1660 Super lacks dedicated RT and Tensor cores and does not support NVIDIA DLSS. The RTX 4060 can use hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS Super Resolution in supported games. These features are separate from its ordinary rasterized performance: ray tracing adds rendering effects and can reduce frame rates, while Super Resolution reconstructs an image from a lower internal render resolution.
Rank #2
- Powered by NVIDIA DLSS3, ultra-efficient Ada Lovelace arch, and full ray tracing
- 4th Generation Tensor Cores: Up to 4x performance with DLSS 3 vs. brute-force rendering
- 3rd Generation RT Cores: Up to 2x ray tracing performance
- OC Mode: 2535 MHz (Boost Clock) / Default Mode: 2505 MHz (Boost Clock)
- Axial-tech fan design features a smaller fan hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure
DLSS Frame Generation, also limited to compatible games, creates additional displayed frames; those are not equivalent to the same number of independently rendered frames. Its usefulness depends on the game, settings and underlying frame rate, and it can add latency or visual artifacts. It is generally a better fit for single-player play than for competitive games where responsiveness is paramount. Players seeking lower latency may prefer native rendering or Super Resolution without Frame Generation. NVIDIA details supported RTX features on its RTX 4060 product page.
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Tom’s Hardware’s performance comparison is a rasterization result, not a Frame Generation multiplier: RTX 4060 benchmark comparison.
Why the narrower memory bus does not make the GTX 1660 Super faster
The GTX 1660 Super has a 192-bit memory bus, wider than the RTX 4060’s 128-bit bus. Bus width alone does not determine gaming performance. The newer card combines a different architecture, more CUDA cores, higher reference clocks, a larger L2 cache and newer memory-management techniques; it also has dedicated hardware for ray tracing and AI-assisted features. Those advantages outweigh the older card’s wider bus in the overall performance comparison.
Rank #3
- Powered by NVIDIA DLSS 3, ultra-efficient Ada Lovelace architechture, and full ray tracing
- 4th Generation Tensor Cores: Up to 4x performance with DLSS 3
- 3rd Generation RT Cores: Up to 2x ray tracing performance
- Powered by GeForce RTX 4060
- Integrated with 8GB GDDR6 128-bit memory interface
The RTX 4060 also has 8GB rather than 6GB of memory, which can help with newer games, textures, mods and ray-traced workloads. That is a relative advantage, not a guarantee that every future game will run comfortably at maximum settings. At 1440p, or in particularly demanding games, texture quality and other settings may need to be reduced.
Power, PSU and physical compatibility
The RTX 4060’s reference TGP is 115W. NVIDIA lists approximately 110W average gaming power in its RTX 4060 guide; Tom’s Hardware measured roughly 125–127W while gaming on its overclocked Asus test card. MSI lists 125W for its GTX 1660 Super Gaming model. These figures describe different measures and specific products, not a universal measurement of every system. The key upgrade benefit is much higher performance at a similar rated GPU power, rather than a dramatic drop in power use. See NVIDIA’s RTX 4060 guide and Tom’s Hardware power testing.
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Rank #4
- Powered by NVIDIA DLSS3, ultra-efficient Ada Lovelace arch, and full ray tracing
- 4th Generation Tensor Cores: Up to 4x performance with DLSS 3 vs. brute-force rendering
- 3rd Generation RT Cores: Up to 2x ray tracing performance
- OC edition: Boost Clock 2595 MHz (OC Mode)/ 2565 MHz (Default Mode)
- Axial-tech fan design features a smaller fan hub that facilitates longer blades and a barrier ring that increases downward air pressure
Do not assume that all cards share the same connector or dimensions. For example, MSI’s GTX 1660 Super Gaming specification lists one 8-pin connector and dimensions of 247 × 127 × 46 mm; RTX 4060 partner models vary. Check the specific card’s power connector, length, thickness and case clearance before buying. An older CPU can also limit the 4060, particularly at 1080p low settings, high refresh rates, or in large multiplayer, simulation, strategy and esports games.
Streaming and creator features
The RTX 4060 supports AV1 hardware encoding, which can be useful for video recording and streaming when the application and platform support AV1. NVIDIA identifies AV1 as an RTX 4060-family feature in its product announcement. The GTX 1660 Super remains usable for conventional H.264 and H.265 workflows, but it lacks this generation of AV1 encoding. The benefit you see depends on the software, encoder, bitrate, platform and output resolution; it is not a guaranteed improvement in every setup.
Independent reader supportYour contribution helps us test, update, and keep practical guides available for everyone.Prices and value: check the market, not just the model name
Prices are especially volatile for older and used graphics cards. TechSpot’s tracker showed a GTX 1660 Super value of $221 dated July 30, 2026, and an RTX 4060 value of $488 dated May 20, 2026. These are dated tracker values, not guaranteed current retail prices or comparable offers with established condition and stock status. The original launch prices were $229 for the GTX 1660 Super and $299 MSRP for the RTX 4060; those historical prices do not establish what either card should cost now.
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Sources: TechSpot GTX 1660 Super price tracker, TechSpot RTX 4060 price tracker, NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super launch announcement and NVIDIA RTX 4060 guide.
At the tracker values above, the RTX 4060’s price is more than twice the GTX 1660 Super’s while its raster performance is roughly twice as high in Tom’s Hardware’s suite. That is a comparison of those dated signals, not a universal value verdict. If the RTX 4060 is unusually expensive, compare current entry-level cards from NVIDIA and AMD, including options with more VRAM, and consider a used RTX 3060 12GB if its price and condition make sense. A GTX 1660 Super can be better value inside a low-cost used PC than as a standalone card near the price of faster modern GPUs.
Should you buy, keep or upgrade?
Choose an RTX 4060 if
- You want a large performance jump, play demanding newer games or want more headroom for 1080p high-refresh gaming.
- You want ray tracing, DLSS features or AV1 encoding and your games and software support them.
- You are buying a new card and its actual price compares well with current alternatives.
Keep the GTX 1660 Super if
- Your games run well at the settings and frame rates you want, especially if they are older, lightweight or esports titles.
- You do not need ray tracing, DLSS or AV1, and the cost of upgrading would be better spent elsewhere in the system.
Upgrade from a GTX 1660 Super if
- You are dissatisfied with current performance, need newer features, or are running into the limits of 6GB VRAM.
- The net cost after selling the old card is acceptable, and your CPU, PSU and case can support the new card.
Look beyond both cards if
- You are targeting high-end 1440p or 4K gaming, need at least 12GB of VRAM, or have creator workloads that demand more memory.
- The RTX 4060 is heavily marked up. Compare other current GPUs and check independent benchmarks for the games you play rather than assuming either of these older product generations is the best buy.
For a used GTX 1660 Super, ask about warranty and operating history where possible, and test for artifacts, crashes, excessive temperatures, fan noise and stability under sustained load. Used condition can change the value substantially.
Quick Recap
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