GeForce GTX 660 vs GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
GeForce GTX 660
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GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design is significantly newer (2018 vs 2012). The GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce GTX 660 lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GTX 660 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 2.9% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+2.9%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2.9%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2018 / Pascal (2016−2021)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+33.3%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | — |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GTX 660 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. Priced at $15 versus $50 for the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design, it costs 70% less. While it maintains basic entry-level capabilities, this results in a 243.1% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+243.1%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($15) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($50) |
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 660 and GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
GeForce GTX 660
The GeForce GTX 660 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 6 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 980 MHz to 1033 MHz. It has 960 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 140W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 4,040 points. Launch price was $229.
GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design
The GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 3 2018. It features the Pascal architecture. The core clock ranges from 1152 MHz to 1417 MHz. It has 768 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 14 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,925 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 660 scores 4,040 and the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design reaches 3,925 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 660 is built on Kepler while the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design uses Pascal, both on 28 nm vs 14 nm. Shader units: 960 (GeForce GTX 660) vs 768 (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design). Raw compute: 1.981 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 660) vs 2.177 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design). Boost clocks: 1033 MHz vs 1417 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 4,040+3% | 3,925 |
| Architecture | Kepler | Pascal |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |
| Shading Units | 960+25% | 768 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 1.981 TFLOPS | 2.177 TFLOPS+10% |
| Boost Clock | 1033 MHz | 1417 MHz+37% |
| ROPs | 24 | 32+33% |
| TMUs | 80+67% | 48 |
| L1 Cache | 80 KB | 288 KB+260% |
| L2 Cache | 0.38 MB | 1 MB+163% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | FSR 3 (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 660 comes with 3 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design has 4 GB. The GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 144.2 GB/s (GeForce GTX 660) vs 80 GB/s (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design) — a 80.2% advantage for the GeForce GTX 660. Bus width: 192-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 0.38 MB (GeForce GTX 660) vs 1 MB (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design) — the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 3 GB | 4 GB+33% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 144.2 GB/s+80% | 80 GB/s |
| Bus Width | 192-bit+50% | 128-bit |
| L2 Cache | 0.38 MB | 1 MB+163% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (GeForce GTX 660) vs 12 (12_1) (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 | 12 (12_1) |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 1st Gen (GeForce GTX 660) vs NVENC (6th Gen) (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design). Decoder: NVDEC 1st Gen vs NVDEC (3rd Gen). Supported codecs: H.264 (GeForce GTX 660) vs H.264,H.265 (HEVC),VP9 (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 1st Gen | NVENC (6th Gen) |
| Decoder | NVDEC 1st Gen | NVDEC (3rd Gen) |
| Codecs | H.264 | H.264,H.265 (HEVC),VP9 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 660 draws 140W versus the GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design's 75W — a 60.5% difference. The GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 450W (GeForce GTX 660) vs 350W (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 140W | 75W-46% |
| Recommended PSU | 450W | 350W-22% |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 241mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | — | 70°C |
| Perf/Watt | 28.9 | 52.3+81% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 660 costs 70% less ($35 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 269.3 (GeForce GTX 660) vs 78.5 (GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design) — the GeForce GTX 660 offers 243.1% better value. The GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design is the newer GPU (2018 vs 2012).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 660 | GeForce GTX 1050 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $229 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $15-70% | $50 |
| Performance per Dollar | 269.3+243% | 78.5 |
| Codename | GK106 | GP107 |
| Release | September 6 2012 | January 3 2018 |
| Ranking | #490 | #429 |
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