GeForce GTX 1660 vs Radeon RX 5500 XT

Speed and memory

The GeForce GTX 1660 and the Radeon RX 5500 XT are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

The GeForce GTX 1660 has 6 GB of video memory and the Radeon RX 5500 XT has 8 GB. That is a small difference and unlikely to decide anything.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Fortnite (132 against 132 fps), and the smallest is in ELDEN RING (52 against 52 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce GTX 1660 is rated at 120 W and the Radeon RX 5500 XT at 130 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 450 W for the first and 450 W for the second. The power draw is close enough that cooling and noise will be similar.

At launch the GeForce GTX 1660 cost $219 and the Radeon RX 5500 XT $199. Per dollar, the Radeon RX 5500 XT gave more performance (6.0 points per $100 against 5.5). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce GTX 1660 if you want the faster card, and you can accept 6 GB of memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the Radeon RX 5500 XT if the price gap matters more than the small speed difference, and you value the extra video memory. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.