NVidia GeForce GTX 660 midrange graphics accelerator: specifications, technical specifications and features

The graphics adapter of the mid-level in 2012 with excellent parameters and acceptable energy efficiency is the NVidia GeForce GTX 660. The current performance, of course, does not look so impressive, but even before the integrated graphics level, this accelerator has not yet managed to slide. Also it is able to run most of the game applications, but with no maximum settings.

Segment of the market for this graphic accelerator

Выше в иерархии расположился NVidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti. The game accelerator of the average price level was the GTX 660. Above in the hierarchy is the NVidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti. The technical characteristics were much better, but it belonged to the same segment of the video card market. и GTX680. The premium segment at that time was occupied by the GTX670 and GTX680. The cost they had was much higher, as well as the level of performance. и GTX650 Ti Boost. Well, to the decisions of the initial game segment were GTX650, GTX650 Ti and GTX650 Ti Boost. с индексами HD7870 и HD7850. Direct competitors of the hero of this review from the AMD company were products of the Radeon line with the HD7870 and HD7850 indices. So in this material we will consider a typical mid-range video card for 2012.

Graphics processor specifications

GK106. To the generation of the graphic architecture "Kepler" belonged to NVidia GeForce GTX 660. The technical characteristics of its semiconductor crystal indicated a tolerance level of 28 nm, and the chip itself was marked GK106. The total number of transistors in this processor was 2540 million units. The core frequency could vary from 960MHz to 1033MHz, depending on the level of complexity of the task and the degree of heating of the GPU. Blocks for processing shaders in this adapter are 960 pieces, and they work at the frequency of the graphics processor. That is, this value can vary from 960MHz to 1033MHz. TMU в данном случае было равно 80 для каждого конвейера, а ROP – всего 24. The number of TMUs in this case was 80 for each pipeline, and the ROP for only 24.

RAM and related parameters

сочетании с наиболее распространенным типом ОЗУ на текущий момент должен функционировать рассматриваемый в данном материале адаптер — GDDR5. In conjunction with the most common type of RAM at the current moment, the adapter in question is GDDR5. ОЗУ в этом случае составляет 6ГГц. The recommended operating frequency of RAM chips in this case is 6 GHz. в данном случае с разрядность ю в 192 бита. The bus is the same RAM in this case with a bit width of 192 bits. As a result, we get throughput at 144GB / s. Well, the recommended amount of video buffer for this adapter is 2GB.

Thermal characteristics of the adapter

Good thermal parameters by the standards of 2012 in NVidia GeForce GTX 660. The characteristics of the silicon crystal indicate that the heat package in this situation is 140W. Accordingly, for full-fledged power supply of this product, it is necessary to connect to it from the power supply side of an additional 6-pin connector. The maximum permissible temperature for this accelerator is set at 97 ⁰ C, but the minimum power of such a component of the PC as the power supply is 450 W. In combination with a weaker power system, a computer with such an accelerator will necessarily fail.

Competing products

Immediately 4 competitors were NVidia GeForce GTX 660. Characteristics of some of them were better, and someone worse. But at the same time and the speed with the price proportionally changed. On the step below was the GTX 650Ti Boost graphics card. Lower frequencies and more modest specifications, even in overclocking mode, did not allow it to compete on an equal footing with the solution that is considered in this review. The same can be noted for the decision from AMD in the face of HD7850. But the other two video cards, GTX 660Ti and HD7870, were more expensive, but they had better performance specifications. In the future, the accelerator GTX760 with a higher speed came to replace it, and a graphics accelerator of the previous generation could not be a competitor worthy of it.

Cost and Feedback

In a new state, such an accelerator from stockpiles can still be purchased at a price of 7,000-8,000 rubles. In a second-hand form, this accelerator can be found on various trading platforms of the Global Web at a price of 4000-5000 rubles. Approximately the same number as the new and used NVidia GeForce GTX 660 Ti. Characteristics of the latter is better, and it is preferable to buy such a product. Otherwise, we can say that against the background of the current accelerators based on the architecture of "Pascal" well, it's quite unconvincing look adapters 4-year-old. They have already become obsolete completely, now it is better to pay attention to more recent solutions in the niche of video cards. Although they are more expensive, they also have better performance at times. This is exactly what the owners of such accelerators and computer specialists indicate.

Results

One of the best cards in 2012 in the segment of middle-class products was the NVidia GeForce GTX 660. The characteristics at that time were really advanced. But now there are more recent accelerators with more advanced technical parameters and a high level of performance.