GeForce GTX 660 Ti Review: Nvidia's Trickle-Down Keplernomics

Overclocking

As we mentioned on page two, MSI's GeForce GTX 660 Ti Power Edition overclocks really well. We squeezed out an additional 150 MHz from the core (taking its GPU Boost typical frequency to 1325 MHz) and an extra 250 MHz from the memory, yielding a 7008 MT/s data rate. Additionally, we're throwing in the Radeon HD 7950 Boost Edition's results.

The overclocked GeForce GTX 660 Ti approaches the existing GeForce GTX 670 in some games. In others, like Batman, the overclock isn't as effective. By the numbers, though, the GK104-based GTX 660 Ti looks to be a reasonably flexible overclocker.

As for AMD's Radeon HD 7950 Boost Edition, its higher performance certainly seems to warrant an updated BIOS by putting distance between the lowest-end Tahiti-based board and the fastest Pitcairn-based product. We've been saying this from the start. The question is: what other effects do higher clocks and voltages have on HD 7950 boards?

  • game junky
    Hmm. I have been wanting to replace my 560 - this throws a wrench in the gears. I was sold on a ASUS 670 but I think I'll wait to compare specs with their 660ti - I just started ripping my BD collection so the additional RAM bandwidth might be worth the extra $100 but it is still an interesting option.
    Reply
  • crisan_tiberiu
    so, this is basically a card that costs 40$ less then a GTX 580, consumes 100W less power then a gtx 580 and its 8% better...hmm, intresting.
    Reply
  • crisan_tiberiu
    *edit, costs 100$ less then GTX 580.
    Reply
  • rmpumper
    That's strange - on techpowerup review the 660Ti is above 7950's average performance.
    Reply
  • outlw6669
    game junkyI was sold on a ASUS 670 but I think I'll wait to compare specs with their 660ti.Asus' DCU2 Top ends up about 5% faster than stock, 8% slower than stock GTX 670 and still uses that excellent cooler.
    http://www.techpowerup.com/reviews/ASUS/GeForce_GTX_660_Ti_Direct_Cu_II/1.html

    Still, the GTX 660Ti looks to be a decent card.
    Not really fond of how nVidia keeps nerfing their memory bandwidth though.
    Once prices drop a little, I could see it being an excellent mainstream card.
    Reply
  • verbalizer
    nice card, not OVERLY impressed...
    BUT THE PRICE...!
    c'mon SON let's be real here......
    ridiculous @ $300 beans..
    Reply
  • hellfire24
    waiting for a price cut down.who's with me?
    Reply
  • felipetga
    I have been holding to upgrade my GTX 460 256bits. I wonder if this card will be bottlenecked by my C2Q 9550 @ 3.6ghz....
    Reply
  • verbalizer
    GPGPU = Kepler = FAIL....
    that's depressing but I understand nVidia has designated GTX 6 series as a gaming cards but c'mon SON.!!!
    ridiculous once again..
    Reply
  • EzioAs
    Clearly we need more price cuts on the 660ti. I expect AMD to lower the prices even more, heck online retailers sell Radeon cards lower than the MSRP, making 7950 and 7870 even more budget friendly. It's still sad really to see mid-range cards battling at $300+. It used to be $250 and lower
    Reply