Best CPU For GTX 1660 Super, 1660 Ti & GTX 1600

Take a look at some of the Best CPU For GTX 1660 Super, 1660 Ti & GTX 1600 listed here, and grab the best one.

The GeForce GTX 1660 Super and GTX 1660 Ti are two of NVIDIA’s value-oriented graphics cards from 2019. Both use the same 12nm TU116 GPU and features 6 GB of GDDR6 memory. The more affordable ‘Super’ variant has a lower memory bandwidth, with some CUDA cores, texture mapping units, and render output units disabled.

The GTX 16-series is based on the same Turing architecture as the RTX 20-series of graphics cards, such as the mid-range RTX 2060 and high-end RTX 2080 Ti. However, it omits the specialized Tensor and RT cores entirely, meaning there’s no support for hardware-accelerated raytracing and DLSS image upscaling.

Considering that the GTX 1660 Super and GTX 1660 Ti reside in the entry-level price segment, they still are very respectable choices for 1080p High gaming. Both manage to match the performance of one of NVIDIA’s most successful mid-range Pascal GPUs, GeForce GTX 1070, and even outperform it on the latest AAA titles.

Although the GTX 1660 Super or 1660 Ti works just fine with older platforms, it’s best to grab the best processors to make the most of its graphical prowess. Fortunately, it’s easy to find a reasonably affordable CPU that doesn’t cause system bottlenecks or slow down the Turing card’s gaming performance.

To help you find the best CPU for GTX 1660 Super and 1660 Ti, we have cut things down to a shortlist of popular desktop processors that are currently available on the market. Read on to discover the options one by one.

Best CPUs for GTX 1660 Super, 1660 Ti & GTX 1600 (Reviews)

There are some compelling options from Intel and AMD in the mainstream desktop processor market. We have made our picks from both ends so that you get to choose the best CPU for 1660 Super or 1660 Ti depending on your personal preference.

1. AMD Ryzen 5 3600

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Core & Thread Count: 6C / 12T
Base Clock Frequency:6 GHz
Boost Clock Frequency:2 GHz

L3 Cache: 32 MB
TDP: 65 W
Socket: AM4

Overclocking Support: Yes

The Ryzen 5 3600 is one of AMD’s most popular Ryzen chips to this date. Based on the Zen 2 architecture, it outperforms the Zen+ Ryzen 5 2600 in every single and multi-threaded benchmark by a significant margin and comes close to matching 9th-gen Intel Core i7 processors.

For those wondering, the higher core clocks and Zen 2’s 15% IPC gain over its predecessor are the reasons why the Ryzen 5 3600 offers such a performance boost. With six cores, twelve threads, and a boost clock of up to 4.2 GHz, this chip is a solid performer in both games and productivity applications.

If you are targeting high refresh rate eSports gaming, the R5 3600 is the best CPU for 1660 Ti. You can later swap out the Turing card with up to an Ampere-based RTX 3070 and still enjoy the latest AAA games on higher settings at higher resolutions without running into bottlenecks.

The Ryzen 5 3600 works across two generations of AM4 motherboard chipsets. You can drop the CPU in an affordable B550 board and still have full access to overclocking. Alternatively, using it with a beefy X570 board will allow the processor to reach its full potential and unlock more advanced overclocking options.

It’s worth mentioning that the R5 3600 supports PCIe 4.0, meaning you have upgrade paths open to super-fast NVMe storage and current-gen GPUs. Despite packing so much power, the processor only has a 65 W TDP rating, but that’s only on stock settings.

Considering it even comes with a stock Wraith cooler, the Ryzen 5 3600 offers incredible value for the price. Now that the Zen 3-based R5 5600X exists, you can find the 3600 for less than or close to $200 these days.

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Pros	Cons
Fantastic value for money	Older Zen 2 architecture
Can run every AAA game	The bundled cooler is average
Supports PCI Express 4.0

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2. Intel Core i5-11400F

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Core & Thread Count: 6C / 12T
Base Clock Frequency:6 GHz
Boost Clock Frequency:4 GHz

L3 Cache: 12 MB
TDP: 65 W
Socket: LGA 1200

Overclocking Support: No

The Intel Core i5-11400F breaks AMD’s long-standing dominance in the sub-$200 price segment, offering high-performance gaming for not a lot of money. It’s a better alternative to the Ryzen 5 3600, simply because AMD chose not to release a Zen 3-based successor.

This 6-core 12-thread Rocket Lake processor can be found cheaper than the R5 3600 under normal circumstances. It manages to trounce over the popular Zen 2 mid-ranger in almost every scenario, whether it’s gaming or content creation workloads. The i5-11400F even beats the 8C/16T Ryzen 7 3700X in some games, which is seriously impressive.

Fortunately, the Core i5-11400F does support up to DDR4-3200 modules, unlike its 10th Comet Lake predecessor. When paired with a B560-chipset motherboard, you can also remove the stock power limits and allow the CPU to reach its full potential. The bad news is that it doesn’t have an unlocked multiplier, so overclocking isn’t possible.

The i5-11400F has a stock 65 W TDP rating, but it can consume up to 125 W when boosting to its 4.4 GHz max turbo frequency. This is where the 14nm Rocket Lake CPU falls behind AMD’s more power-efficient 7nm Zen 2 and Zen 3 offerings. Though on an unrestrained power budget, the i5-11400F would be using close to 125 watts all the time. In that case, you shouldn’t be using the bundled stock cooler, which is terrible in the first place anyways.

With the i5-11400F and GTX 1660 Super or 1660 Ti in your system, you can expect a decent gaming experience at 1080p. The Intel processor can also handle a mid-range GeForce RTX 30-series or Radeon RX 6000-series GPU with ease and deliver a solid 1440p or 4K gaming performance. The Rocket Lake chip supports PCIe 4.0 as well.

At the time of writing, the i5-11400F has limited availability and is sold at shortage-induced prices. Thus, finding one close to retail price can be a challenge. We would also recommend keeping a close eye on the non-F Core i5-11400, which is the same processor with integrated Intel UHD graphics but costs a bit more.

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Pros	Cons
It performs better than the Ryzen 5 3600	Not overclockable
Competitive price-to-performance	Lackluster stock cooler
Supports PCIe 4.0 and Optane memory

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3. AMD Ryzen 3 3300X

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Core & Thread Count: 4C / 8T
Base Clock Frequency:8 GHz
Boost Clock Frequency:3 GHz

L3 Cache: 16 MB
TDP: 65 W
Socket: AM4

Overclocking Support: Yes

If you are building a budget-focused gaming rig, the Ryzen 3 3300X would be an excellent addition. With four cores and eight threads, it offers a very competitive gaming experience when paired with an entry-level graphics card like the GTX 1660 Super or 1660 Ti.

The Ryzen 3 3300X is based on the same 7nm Zen 2 architecture as its more powerful Ryzen 5 sibling. It provides a significant gen-to-gen IPC (Instructions Per Clock) improvement over its first-gen Ryzen counterpart. The four cores run at a 3.8 GHz base clock rate and are capable of boosting up to 4.3 GHz.

You can expect decent performance in lightly threaded games and other applications from this entry-level processor. For reference, it shares the same core/thread count as the Core i7-7700K from Intel’s 7th-gen Kaby Lake CPU lineup.

When paired with a GeForce GTX 16-series or an RTX 20-series graphics card, the R3 3300X delivers frame rates nearly identical to the i7-7700K in intensive titles. It also matches the Ryzen 5 3600’s performance in some games, even with two missing cores. However, now that more games take advantage of more than four CPU cores and threads, you will start seeing bigger differences.

Despite being an entry-level Ryzen processor, the R3 3300X supports PCIe 4.0, also enabled on B550 and X570 motherboards. If your budget doesn’t allow it, you can drop the chip in an affordable B450 or X470 board instead, but it will limit your graphics card and NVMe storage to run at Gen 3 speeds. Fortunately, it won’t be a problem since the Turing cards use the PCIe 3.0 interface anyways.

The Ryzen 3 3300X is relatively power efficient and has a 65 W TDP rating, so you can stick with the included Wraith cooler. However, since the chip is a particularly great overclocker, you will need to invest in a better aftermarket cooler to push it to new heights.

Unfortunately, it seems like AMD isn’t producing any more of these CPUs due to the ongoing silicon shortage, so the stocks are very limited. Hence, make sure to place an order before it runs out.

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Pros	Cons
The best CPU for 1660 Super on a budget	Four cores can be a limiting factor soon
High overclocking headroom	Basic Wraith Stealth cooler
Incredible value	Limited stocks

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4. Intel Core i3-10100F

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Core & Thread Count: 4C / 8T
Base Clock Frequency:6 GHz

Boost Clock Frequency:3 GHz
L3 Cache: 6 MB
TDP: 65 W

Socket: LGA 1200
Overclocking Support: No

If the Ryzen 3 3300X is out of your reach, the Core i3-10100F is a good alternative from Intel. Sure it doesn’t deliver the same level of raw performance as the entry-level Zen 2 chip, but you can at least find it at retail price, in stock.

The i3-10100F offers four cores just like its predecessor, the Core i3-9100F. However, it has hyperthreading enabled this time around, with eight threads to spare. Although it’s the same as seen on the 3300X, gaming on this Comet Lake processor is more comparable to a Ryzen 3 3100. When using it with a GTX 1660 Super or 1660 Ti, the difference is even smaller.

It’s worth mentioning that the maximum memory frequency for the i3-10100F is locked to 2666 MHz on a B460 or H410 motherboard, which does have a slight hit on performance. The limit is lifted only when using a Z490-chipset board, but the combination doesn’t make any sense for a cheap gaming system.

The power requirement for the i3-10100F is reasonably low at 65 W, even though it’s based on a 14nm architecture. It doesn’t generate a lot of heat, so a budget third-party cooler would be more than enough to keep the CPU cool. Once again, we wouldn’t recommend using the crappy Intel heatsink and fan combo.

All in all, Intel’s Core i3-10100F is basically an old i7 processor, except you can get it way cheaper. If you are on a strict budget, it’s currently one of the best wallet-friendly CPUs to pair with an entry-level graphics card.

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Pros	Cons
Passable gaming performance	Four cores won’t be enough in the future
Low power consumption	Weak bundled cooler
Very affordable	No overclocking

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5. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

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Core & Thread Count: 6C / 12T
Base Clock Frequency:7 GHz
Boost Clock Frequency:6 GHz

L3 Cache: 32 MB
TDP: 65 W
Socket: AM4

Overclocking Support: Yes

If you plan to replace your GTX 1660 Super or GTX 1660 Ti with a more capable graphics card later down the road, it’s important to choose a processor that offers ample overhead for a next-gen GPU upgrade. The Ryzen 5 5600X from AMD is what you are looking for.

Based on the current Zen 3 microarchitecture and fabbed on TSMC’s 7nm process, the R5 5600X is a 6-core, 12-thread processor with serious single and multi-threading chops. Compared to the 3600X, it gets a 19% boost in IPC, which on its own makes up for a significant improvement. The CPU also has a higher boost clock of 4.6 GHz.

In gaming and productivity workloads, the Ryzen 5 5600X manages to outperform some of the last-gen HEDT processors from both AMD and Intel, which is unexpected from a mid-range CPU. Especially in gaming, it goes toe-to-toe with its higher-priced sibling, the 8C/16T Ryzen 7 5800X. Even Intel’s Comet Lake topper, the Core i7-10700K, falls victim to the 5600X’s shredding performance.

One of the best parts of opting for the AMD Ryzen platform is the motherboard selection. You can drop the 5600X into any B550 or X570-chipset board and still get access to PCIe 4.0, as well as CPU and DRAM tuning options. In case you can’t fit one of the newer boards in your budget, you can also use an older B450 or X470 board running the latest BIOS version.

Despite being a powerhouse, the 5600X comes with a mere 65W TDP rating, all thanks to the cutting-edge 7nm process. However, we would strongly discourage using the included low-profile Wraith cooler to avoid thermal throttling. A beefy tower cooler or AIO is recommended.

The AMD Ryzen 5 5600X is the most powerful processor on this list, but it also doesn’t break the bank. Though we consider it overkill for a system that uses a GTX 1660 Super or 1660 Ti for graphics, the 5600X will give you an open path for future GPU upgrades.

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Pros	Cons
Stellar performer in single and multi-threaded workloads	Costs more than its 3000-series counterpart
Power-efficient
Compatible with last-gen 500-series AM4 motherboards

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Best CPU for GTX 1660 Super, 1660 Ti FAQs

Q1. How important is a CPU for gaming?

Although it’s the GTX 16-series card that will do most of the heavy lifting in games, a subpar processor will cause a system bottleneck and restrict the GPU from reaching its maximum potential. That doesn’t necessarily justify purchasing a high-end, expensive chip, as different game engines tax the CPU differently.

If you want to play the latest and greatest AAA PC games, make sure to check the system requirements before you decide. However, it’s generally advisable to read written reviews or watch comparison videos from trusted and unbiased tech journalists and YouTubers for more insight.

Q2. Intel or AMD: What’s the best for a GTX 1660 Super or 1660 Ti?

For many years, Intel has been dominating the desktop processor market, leaving not much choice for consumers. That said, AMD with its Ryzen lineup of CPUs is now more relevant than ever before to budget gamers and enthusiasts alike.

The scripts have flipped overnight, making it very difficult for reviewers to recommend an Intel CPU over a competing unit from AMD as the best overall processor for gaming; at least at the time of writing. Yet, Intel’s mid-range picks are the de-facto winners since AMD can’t seem to keep up with high demands lately.

Since you are building a PC revolving around an entry-level GeForce GTX 16-series graphics card, the choice between Intel and AMD boils down to the price-to-performance ratio, where both companies provide some of the best mainstream desktop CPUs on the market.

For example, the six-core, twelve-thread Ryzen 5 3600 offers incredible performance for the price. Additionally, it is extremely power-efficient and supports overclocking on an affordable motherboard chipset. On Intel’s side, the similarly-equipped Core i5-11400F outperforms the R5 3600 in the same price segment, but it comes at the cost of high power consumption and a locked multiplier.

As you can see, both have their upsides and downsides, but it’s ultimately up to you to decide. Given that you will be GPU-limited in most modern games anyway, the performance between the following picks won’t be that different.

Q3. Is an Athlon or Pentium a viable pair for GTX 1660 or 1660 Ti?

The long-running AMD Athlon and Intel Pentium lineups of low-end processors have evolved over the years. The most recent Athlon CPU you can purchase is the dual-core multithreaded Athlon 3000G, which also has integrated Radeon Vega graphics. On Intel’s side, the Pentium Gold G6400 is the most recent addition. Like the Athlon 3000G, it only has two cores and four threads.

While the GTX 1660 Super and 1660 Ti will technically work with the following CPUs, two cores are simply not enough for modern games and are bound to cause irregular frame times, crashes, and outright refuse to run certain titles.

If your budget for a CPU is really that limited, we recommend looking for deals on previous-gen Ryzen 5 or Intel Core i5 processors in the used market instead. Do not waste your money on an Athlon or Pentium unless you are okay with a subpar gaming experience.

Tech Glossary

Core: On a multi-core processor, individual processing units are referred to as cores, each of which executes instructions. Consumer-grade CPUs carry anywhere from four to sixteen cores, with AMD’s Threadripper processors sporting up to 64 cores.

Thread: Threads refer to the highest level of CPU instructions for a particular program. Older processors with no support for simultaneous multithreading run one thread per core, but almost every current-gen Intel and AMD CPU get two threads per core, sharing vital resources within.
Clock Speed: It indicates the rate a processor is capable of executing instructions, generally measured in GHz. A CPU with a 4.2 GHz clock can process 4.2 billion instructions per second. Similar to the core and thread count, the clock speed is one of the most critical aspects of a CPU.
Cache: Every modern processor contains small, high-speed memory buffers for storing and executing instructions on-demand. There are three types of CPU caches, represented as L1, L2, and L3. L1 is the fastest and smallest segment, whilst L3 is the slowest and largest in the bunch.

TDP: It stands for Thermal Design Power, referring to the maximum amount of heat a CPU can produce (in watts) under full load. It also indicates how much power a processor draws from the power supply on its stock clock frequency.
Socket: A socket acts as an interface between the CPU and the motherboard. Intel’s current-gen Rocket Lake CPUs drop into an LGA (Land Grid Array) socket, which has appropriately placed pins on the board. AMD’s current-gen Zen 3 CPUs use PGA (Pin Grid Array), with the pins on the processor instead. They drop into the carefully arranged holes of the AM4 socket.

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Conclusion

In this guide, we have rounded up the best CPU for GTX 1660 Super and 1660 Ti in a succinct list. Our top picks include mainstream desktop processors from both Team Blue and Team Red. We have chosen the CPUs based on their price, performance, features, and how they pair with the GTX 16-series graphics cards.

If you have any questions, take a look at the above FAQ section or drop us a line in the comments. Plus, make sure to check out our buy links to get the best deal on the processors that we have included on the list.

Best CPU For GTX 1660 Super, 1660 Ti & GTX 1600

Best CPU For GTX 1660 Super, 1660 Ti & GTX 1600

Best CPUs for GTX 1660 Super, 1660 Ti & GTX 1600 (Reviews)

1. AMD Ryzen 5 3600

2. Intel Core i5-11400F

3. AMD Ryzen 3 3300X

4. Intel Core i3-10100F

5. AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Best CPU for GTX 1660 Super, 1660 Ti FAQs

Tech Glossary

Conclusion

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