GeForce GTX 660 vs Radeon HD 6970

Speed and memory

The GeForce GTX 660 and the Radeon HD 6970 are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

Both cards have 2 GB of video memory, so memory will not separate them.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Fortnite (44 against 42 fps), and the smallest is in Minecraft: Java Edition (69 against 67 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 660 is rated at 140 W and the Radeon HD 6970 at 250 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 450 W for the first and 650 W for the second. A gap of 110 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the GeForce GTX 660 cost $229 and the Radeon HD 6970 $369. Per dollar, the GeForce GTX 660 gave more performance (1.5 points per $100 against 0.9). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce GTX 660 if you want the faster card, and it also has at least as much memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the Radeon HD 6970 if the price gap matters more than the small speed difference. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.