GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q vs Radeon RX 5500 XT

Place in the ranking	238	248
Place by popularity	97	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	46.99	69.15
Power efficiency	12.57	26.31
Architecture	RDNA 1.0 (2019−2020)	Turing (2018−2022)
GPU code name	Navi 14	TU116
Market segment	Desktop	Laptop
Release date	12 December 2019 (5 years ago)	23 April 2019 (5 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	$169	$229

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q has 47% better value for money than RX 5500 XT.

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores	1408	1536
Core clock speed	1607 MHz	1140 MHz
Boost clock speed	1845 MHz	1335 MHz
Number of transistors	6,400 million	6,600 million
Manufacturing process technology	7 nm	12 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	130 Watt	60 Watt
Texture fill rate	162.4	128.2
Floating-point processing power	5.196 TFLOPS	4.101 TFLOPS
ROPs	32	48
TMUs	88	96

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop size	no data	medium sized
Interface	PCIe 4.0 x8	PCIe 3.0 x16
Length	180 mm	no data
Width	2-slot	no data
Supplementary power connectors	1x 8-pin	None

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory type	GDDR6	GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	6 GB
Memory bus width	128 Bit	192 Bit
Memory clock speed	14000 MHz	1500 MHz
Memory bandwidth	224.0 GB/s	288.0 GB/s
Shared memory	-	-

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display Connectors	1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort	No outputs
HDMI	+	-

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 (12_1)
Shader Model	6.5	6.5
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
OpenCL	2.0	1.2
Vulkan	1.2.131	1.2.131
CUDA	-	7.5

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.

Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

RX 5500 XT 23.73
+3.5%

GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q 22.93

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

RX 5500 XT 9121
+3.5%

GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q 8814

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

RX 5500 XT 19499
+11.8%

GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q 17439

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

RX 5500 XT 68429
+115%

GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q 31845

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

RX 5500 XT 14305
+7.1%

GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q 13355

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

RX 5500 XT 86609
+37.3%

GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q 63086

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

RX 5500 XT 560812
+82.7%

GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q 306910

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD	77 −1.3%	78 +1.3%
1440p	42 +5%	40−45 −5%
4K	25 −36%	34 +36%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	2.19 +33.8%	2.94 −33.8%
1440p	4.02 +42.3%	5.73 −42.3%
4K	6.76 −0.4%	6.74 +0.4%

RX 5500 XT has 34% lower cost per frame in 1080p
RX 5500 XT has 42% lower cost per frame in 1440p
RX 5500 XT and GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q have nearly equal cost per frame in 4K

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2	66 +57.1%	40−45 −57.1%
Cyberpunk 2077	78 +69.6%	45−50 −69.6%
Elden Ring	78 +5.4%	70−75 −5.4%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5	70−75 +2.8%	70−75 −2.8%
Counter-Strike 2	50 +19%	40−45 −19%
Cyberpunk 2077	56 +21.7%	45−50 −21.7%
Forza Horizon 4	133 +34.3%	95−100 −34.3%
Metro Exodus	99 +22.2%	81 −22.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2	108 +17.4%	92 −17.4%
Valorant	139 +36.3%	102 −36.3%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5	70−75 −16.4%	85 +16.4%
Counter-Strike 2	41 −2.4%	40−45 +2.4%
Cyberpunk 2077	42 −9.5%	45−50 +9.5%
Dota 2	112 +25.8%	89 −25.8%
Elden Ring	94 +27%	70−75 −27%
Far Cry 5	43 −44.2%	62 +44.2%
Fortnite	120−130 +2.6%	110−120 −2.6%
Forza Horizon 4	108 +9.1%	95−100 −9.1%
Grand Theft Auto V	94 +8%	87 −8%
Metro Exodus	66 +15.8%	57 −15.8%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	150−160 −13.2%	172 +13.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2	39 +2.6%	38 −2.6%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	75−80 +4.1%	70−75 −4.1%
Valorant	84 +33.3%	63 −33.3%
World of Tanks	250−260 +1.6%	240−250 −1.6%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	70−75 +2.8%	70−75 −2.8%
Counter-Strike 2	35 −20%	40−45 +20%
Cyberpunk 2077	36 −27.8%	45−50 +27.8%
Dota 2	143 +66.3%	86 −66.3%
Far Cry 5	70−75 −58.1%	117 +58.1%
Forza Horizon 4	95 −4.2%	95−100 +4.2%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	150−160 +2.7%	140−150 −2.7%
Valorant	114 +22.6%	93 −22.6%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2	44 +15.8%	35−40 −15.8%
Elden Ring	51 +30.8%	35−40 −30.8%
Grand Theft Auto V	44 +15.8%	35−40 −15.8%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	170−180 +0%	170−180 +0%
Red Dead Redemption 2	24 +14.3%	21−24 −14.3%
World of Tanks	150−160 +3.3%	150−160 −3.3%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	45−50 +4.3%	45−50 −4.3%
Counter-Strike 2	19 +0%	18−20 +0%
Cyberpunk 2077	19 +0%	18−20 +0%
Far Cry 5	65−70 +4.6%	65−70 −4.6%
Forza Horizon 4	66 +10%	60−65 −10%
Metro Exodus	60 +15.4%	50−55 −15.4%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	30−35 +3%	30−35 −3%
Valorant	91 +49.2%	60−65 −49.2%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2	13 −53.8%	20−22 +53.8%
Dota 2	42 +7.7%	35−40 −7.7%
Elden Ring	20 +11.1%	18−20 −11.1%
Grand Theft Auto V	42 +7.7%	35−40 −7.7%
Metro Exodus	19 +11.8%	16−18 −11.8%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS	70−75 +2.9%	70−75 −2.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2	15 +7.1%	14−16 −7.1%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	42 +7.7%	35−40 −7.7%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5	24−27 +4.3%	21−24 −4.3%
Counter-Strike 2	21−24 +5%	20−22 −5%
Cyberpunk 2077	8 +14.3%	7−8 −14.3%
Dota 2	78 +100%	35−40 −100%
Far Cry 5	30−35 +3.3%	30−33 −3.3%
Fortnite	27−30 +3.6%	27−30 −3.6%
Forza Horizon 4	38 +8.6%	35−40 −8.6%
Valorant	25 −16%	27−30 +16%

This is how RX 5500 XT and GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q compete in popular games:

GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q is 1% faster in 1080p
RX 5500 XT is 5% faster in 1440p
GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q is 36% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

in Dota 2, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the RX 5500 XT is 100% faster.
in Far Cry 5, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q is 58% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

RX 5500 XT is ahead in 49 tests (78%)
GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q is ahead in 11 tests (17%)
there's a draw in 3 tests (5%)

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	23.73	22.93
Recency	12 December 2019	23 April 2019
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	6 GB
Chip lithography	7 nm	12 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	130 Watt	60 Watt

RX 5500 XT has a 3.5% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 7 months, a 33.3% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 71.4% more advanced lithography process.

GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q, on the other hand, has 116.7% lower power consumption.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between Radeon RX 5500 XT and GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q.

Be aware that Radeon RX 5500 XT is a desktop card while GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q is a notebook one.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.