Best CPU for GTX 1660 Super

When it comes to choosing a graphics card with great performance and a sleek design, NVIDIA is hard to beat. Their GTX 16-series is a legendary GPU lineup powered by the Turing architecture, the same one used in the more advanced RTX 20-series. However, it’s important to note that the GTX 16-series lacks hardware-accelerated ray tracing and DLSS image enhancement capabilities. The GeForce GTX 1660 Super is a fantastic option. It uses 12nm TU116 graphics cores along with 6GB of fast GDDR6 memory running at 14 Gbps for smooth 336GB/s bandwidth over a 192-bit memory bus. In short, it has everything needed to handle today’s games and programs with ease.

But to get the most out of the powerful GTX 1660 Super, especially for gaming, content creation, or 3D rendering, you’ll need a strong CPU partner. Only a potent CPU-GPU combination can produce truly impressive in-game graphics. Since the 1660 Super is capable of smooth 1080p and decent 1440p performance, it would be a shame to bottleneck it with a weak CPU. We spent hours researching CPUs that pair well with the GTX 1660 Super. In this article, you’ll find an in-depth buying guide covering the top 8 CPU options with their pros and cons. We highly recommend reading through before making your selection to ensure your new rig is a well-balanced powerhouse for years to come.

Quick Shopping Tips:

When it comes to picking out a CPU for your new rig, there are a few important things to keep in mind. Let’s break down some of the main factors real quick.

• The first thing to check is that the CPU socket matches your motherboard—that’s CPU 101. These days, AMD uses AM4, and Intel has stuff like LGA1151. We don’t want any unpleasant surprises when it’s assembly time!
• You’ll also want to see how many cores it’s got. More cores means parallel processing power for multi-tasking like a champ. Aim for at least six cores for gaming and content creation work.
• Also, peep the thread count; those are like virtual cores that boost performance. The more threads churning at once, the better it handles multiple jobs at the same time.
• Check the cache size, too. That’s the processor’s fast-lane memory: Intel likes a minimum of 12 MB, AMD goes for a 3 MB/12 MB setup. A bigger cache means quicker access.
• Clock speed is big for gaming; higher GHz means snappier single-core speeds for FPS.
• Lastly, cooling is crucial. You’ll need a nice air cooler or AIO liquid setup to keep the temperature in check under heavy loads.

The Best CPU for GTX 1660 Super List

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AMD Ryzen 9 3900X

Best Overall CPU for GTX 1660 Super

Brand: AMD | Series/Family: AMD Ryzen 9 Desktop Processors | Lithography: 7nm | Cores: 12 | Threads: 24 | Cache: 768KB L1, 6MB L2, 64MB L3 | Multi-Threading: Yes | Unlocked Multiplier: Yes | Integrated graphics: No | Socket: AMD AM4 | Base clock: 3.8GHz | Boost clock: 4.6GHz | Rated TDP: 105W | Bundled cooler: Wraith Prism with RGB LED

REASONS TO BUY

✓Excellent performance

✓Beats Core i9 9900k in core-count

✓70 MB GameCache

✓PCIe 4.0 support

✓Cooling fan included

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Lags in single-core performance

✗No integrated graphics

When it comes to CPUs, I think the best ones give you awesome performance without completely breaking the bank. And for gaming with a GTX 1660 Super, the AMD Ryzen 9 3900X really checks all the boxes in terms of value. Team Red has definitely been heating things up against Intel lately. This chip is a monster for multi-tasking thanks to its 12 cores and 24 threads, perfect for gaming and content creation. It even holds its own in the high-end desktop category. And check out that core count compared to the similarly priced Intel i9-9900K—way more cores for your money. The 3900X is built on AMD’s 7nm Zen 2 architecture too, promising a 15% IPC boost over previous Ryzen CPUs.

With 6MB of L2 cache and 64MB of total L3 cache (AMD calls it “Game Cache”), it has no shortage of speedy memory buffers. Clock speeds range from 3.8 GHz base up to 4.6 GHz max boost too. Memory performance is no issue either with DDR4 3200MHz support. And the PCIe 4.0 compatibility is just the icing on the cake. All in all, with its impressive multicore muscle and reasonable price tag, the 3900X seems like a slam dunk for gamers and creative folks using a GTX 1660 Super. Hands down one of the best value mainstream CPUs out there right now in my book.

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Intel Core i5-10600K

Best Intel CPU for GTX 1660 Super

Brand: Intel | Series/Family: 10th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors | Lithography: 14nm | Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Cache: 12MB Intel Smart Cache | Hyper-Threading: Yes | Unlocked Multiplier: Yes | Integrated graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Socket: LGA1200 | Base clock: 4.1GHz | Boost clock: 4.8GHz | Rated TDP: 95W | Bundled cooler: No

REASONS TO BUY

✓Outstanding gaming performance

✓Decent overclocking headroom

✓Best value than i7 and i9 variants

✓Good thermal performance

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No bundled cooler

✗Lacks PCIe 4.0 support

Intel’s Comet Lake chips are the new hotness, replacing their previous Coffee Lake CPUs. The Core i5-10600K fits right in, still using the tried-and-true 14nm process. While Intel’s bigger hitters like the i9-10900K and i7-10700K have been crushing it in games, this mid-tier i5 holds its own against AMD’s Ryzen 5 3600X and 7 3700X, according to reviews. Not too shabby! You’re getting 6 cores and 12 threads here, just one tier below the 8-core i7. There’s also 12MB of Smart Cache and a 4.1 GHz base clock that boosts up to 4.8 GHz under load. As a mid-range chip, it misses out on Turbo Boost 3.0, but Hyper-Threading is here to play. So all the good stuff of the pricier i7 without the premium—nice!

Memory support is up to 128GB of DDR4-2666 running at 41.6GB/s. It would’ve been cool to see PCIe 4.0 too, but hey, you still get PCIe 3.0 speeds. Being an unlocked “K” chip means you can tweak the power levels and push those clock speeds even higher with some overclocking. Integrated graphics are handled by the Intel UHD 630.And the new LGA1200 socket works with the latest Z490 boards. All in all, the i5-10600K is looking like a sweet match for gaming on a GTX 1660 Super budget!

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AMD Ryzen 5 5600X

Best Budget AM4 CPU for GTX 1660 Super

Brand: AMD | Series/Family: AMD Ryzen 5 Desktop Processors | Lithography: 7nm | Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Cache: 3MB L2, 32MB L3 | Multi-Threading: Yes | Unlocked Multiplier: Yes | Integrated graphics: No | Socket: AMD AM4 | Base clock: 3.7GHz | Boost clock: 4.6GHz | Rated TDP: 65W | Bundled cooler: Wraith Stealth cooling solution

REASONS TO BUY

✓Affordable

✓Decent overclocking

✓PCIe 4.0 and DDR4 support

✓Bundled cooler included

✓Easy to cool

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No integrated graphics

While Intel’s got their budget options covered, AMD isn’t lacking either. One solid choice from Team Red is the Ryzen 5 5600X.Packed with great performance at an affordable price, this chip is an awesome option for a GTX 1660 Super build. It really gives Intel a run for its money. Powered by AMD’s 7nm Zen 3 architecture, the 5600X brings about a claimed 19% IPC boost over Zen 2. You’re getting 6 fast cores and 12 threads, backed by 3MB of L2 cache and 32MB of L3.Clock speeds range from 3.7 GHz base up to 4.7 GHz boost, so it flies under load. And benchmarks show it topping Intel’s i9-10900K for gaming, all at a better price too. PCIe 4.0 support means it pairs perfectly with modern 400- or 500-series boards. DDR4 3200MHz memory speeds keep things zippy as well. The 65-watt TDP is super-efficient on power and cooling too. And that includes the Wraith Stealth Cooler, which means you can save cash there instead of buying aftermarket. All in all, awesome price to performance from AMD’s latest budget champ—the 5600X really delivers the goods to compliment that GTX 1660S nicely!

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Intel Core i5-9400F

Best All-rounder CPU for GTX 1660 Super

Brand: Intel | Series/Family: 9th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors | Lithography: 14nm | Cores: 6 | Threads: 6 | Cache: 9MB Intel Smart Cache | Hyper-Threading: No | Unlocked Multiplier: No | Integrated graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Socket: LGA1151 | Base clock: 2.9GHz | Boost clock: 4.1GHz | Rated TDP: 65W | Bundled cooler: Yes

REASONS TO BUY

✓Extra affordable

✓Leading gaming performance

✓3D inbuilt graphics

✓Power-efficient

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Locked processor

✗No integrated graphics

✗No PCIe 4.0 support

Looking for great performance on a tighter budget, the Intel Core i5-9400F fits the bill nicely while pairing with a GTX 1660 Super. Now this one’s a 9th-generation Coffee Lake CPU using Intel’s tried-and-true 14nm process. You’re getting 6 cores and 6 threads, backed by 9MB of Smart Cache memory. Clock speeds go from 2.9 GHz base up to 4.1 GHz boost thanks to Intel Turbo Boost technology. Yeah, it’s locked, so no overclocking, but it still has decent speeds out of the box.16 lanes of PCIe 3.0 are onboard for expansion. Memory support is up to 128GB of DDR4-2666 running at 41.6GB/s too.

At just 65 watts (TDP), it sips power efficiently. And the LGA1151 socket works with cheaper 300-series motherboards like Z390.While it lacks integrated graphics, that’s a non-issue with the dedicated GTX 1660S doing the heavy lifting. All in all, the i5-9400F is a great mid-range chip that won’t break the bank while still delivering smooth performance alongside that GTX 1660 Super!

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AMD Ryzen 5 3600

Best Value CPU for GTX 1660 Super

Brand: AMD | Series/Family: AMD Ryzen 5 Desktop Processors | Lithography: 7nm | Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Cache: 384KB L1, 3MB L2, 32MB L3 | Multi-Threading: Yes | Unlocked Multiplier: Yes | Integrated graphics: No | Socket: AMD AM4 | Base clock: 3.6GHz | Boost clock: 4.2GHz | Rated TDP: 65W | Bundled cooler: Wraith Stealth 

REASONS TO BUY

✓Affordable

✓PCIe 4.0 support

✓Low power consumption

✓Unlocked multiplier

✓Bundled cooler

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Zen 2 architecture

✗No integrated graphics

If you’re looking to squeeze the most performance out of your dollar, the AMD Ryzen 5 3600 is one heck of a mid-range bang for your buck chip, especially paired with a GTX 1660 Super. Powered by AMD’s 7nm Zen 2 architecture, it may not be their latest and greatest, but reviews still rave about the value it offers. You’re getting 6 cores and 12 threads, paired with 32MB of L3 cache and 3MB of L2 cache. Clocks run from 3.6 GHz base up to 4.2 GHz boosted—solid speeds out of the box. Or you can tweak things with some overclocking too, since it’s an unlocked chip. The included Wraith Stealth cooler saves you cash there as well.

Despite the affordable price, you still get modern features like PCIe 4.0 support on the 16 lanes. DDR4 3200MHz memory is onboard for snappy speeds too.All in all, it may not have all the bells and whistles of pricier chips, but for the money, the R5 3600 delivers great performance for gaming and everyday use. A super solid choice for pairing with a 1660S!

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Intel Core i7-9700K

Best Premium CPU for GTX 1660 Super

Brand: Intel | Series/Family: 9th Generation Intel Core i7 Processors | Lithography: 14nm | Cores: 8 | Threads: 8 | Cache: 12MB Intel Smart Cache | Hyper-Threading: Yes | Unlocked Multiplier: Yes | Integrated graphics: Intel UHD Graphics 630 | Socket: LGA1151 | Base clock: 3.6GHz | Boost clock: 4.9GHz | Rated TDP: 95W | Bundled cooler: No

REASONS TO BUY

✓Excellent single-core performance

✓Great gaming capabilities

✓Strong thermals

✓Integrated graphics

REASONS TO AVOID

✗No Hyper-Threading

✗Lacks PCIe 4.0 support

For those who want near-i9-9900k performance but can’t quite swing the price, the Intel Core i7-9700K fits the bill nicely when paired with a GTX 1660 Super. This Coffee Lake chip is built on Intel’s tried-and-true 14nm process. You’re getting 8 physical cores without hyperthreading, for a total of 8 threads. Clock speeds range from 3.6 GHz base up to a boost of 4.9 GHz under load. And some apps actually perform better without hyperthreading anyway. Memory supports up to 128GB of DDR4 running at 2666MHz over 41.6GB/s. 16 PCIe 3.0 lanes provide plenty of expansion muscle too.

The LGA1151 socket works with cheaper 300-series boards like the Z390. Integrated UHD 630 graphics are there if you need them as a backup .At a 95W TDP, it runs a bit warmer than AMD’s competition. But you’re getting premium performance without the i9’s premium price tag. All told, the unlocked 9700K seems like a great fit for folks chasing top-tier speeds on a GTX 1660 Super without breaking the bank!

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AMD Ryzen 5 2600

Best Entry-level CPU for GTX 1660 Super

Brand: AMD | Series/Family: AMD Ryzen 5 Desktop Processors | Lithography: 12nm | Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Cache: 576KB L1, 3MB L2, 16MB L3 | Multi-Threading: Yes | Unlocked Multiplier: Yes | Integrated graphics: No | Socket: AMD AM4 | Base clock: 3.4GHz | Boost clock: 3.9GHz | Rated TDP: 65W | Bundled cooler: Wraith Stealth cooling solution

REASONS TO BUY

✓Affordable

✓Compatible with 300-series mobos

✓Strong overclocking capabilities

✓Bundled cooler included

REASONS TO AVOID

✗Needs Water-cooling for serious overclocking

✗No PCIe 4.0 support

AMD’s Ryzen 5 2600 presents a really solid bang for your buck when gaming on a GTX 1660 Super. As one of their mid-range options, it punches way above its weight class. Based on the 12nm Zen+ architecture, you’re getting 6 cores and 12 threads backed by caches totaling 16MB. Not too shabby! Clock speeds range from 3.4 GHz base up to 4.2 GHz max when temperatures allow. And benchmarks show it matching or beating Intel’s similar Core i5 offerings in games. While not their latest and greatest, it still rocks plenty of high-end tech like PCIe 3.0 and dual-channel DDR4 2933MHz memory support on AM4 sockets. Precision Boost 2.0 and XFR boost performance too. Store MI is also a cool feature for optimizing multiple storage drives. Sure, it may not be as fast as newer Zen 2 or 3 CPUs, but for the price, reviewers agree the 2600 delivers fantastic value and gaming speeds alongside a GTX 1660 Super!

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Intel Core i5-11400F

Best Enthusiasts CPU for GTX 1660 Super

Brand: Intel | Series/Family: 11th Generation Intel Core i5 Processors | Lithography: 14nm | Cores: 6 | Threads: 12 | Cache: 12MB Intel Smart Cache | Hyper-Threading: Yes | Unlocked Multiplier: No | Integrated graphics: No | Socket: LGA1200 | Base clock: 2.6GHz | Boost clock: 4.4GHz | Rated TDP: 65W | Bundled cooler: Yes

REASONS TO BUY

✓Affordable price

✓Excellent performance

✓Power-efficient

✓Bundled cooler included

REASONS TO AVOID

✗A locked chip

✗No integrated graphics

If you’re looking for a solid six-core CPU without breaking the bank, Intel’s latest 11th gen Core i5-11400F deserves a look, especially paired with a GTX 1660 Super. Being the latest Rocket Lake chip, it brings modern specs like PCIe 4.0 at an affordable price. Unfortunately, it’s locked, so no fun overclocking. Still, reviews find it handles games very well, just slightly behind AMD’s higher-priced Ryzen 5 5600X in performance. And that 12MB of Smart Cache helps boost things further. Clock speeds range from 2.6 GHz base up to 4.4 GHz max boost. All while sipping power efficiently at just 65 watts TDP.

The LGA1200 socket works with Intel’s latest 500-series or previous 400-series boards. Memory runs DDR4-3200 for speedy multi-tasking. Four PCIe 4.0 lanes are dedicated to an M.2 slot as well. While integrated graphics are absent, that’s a moot point with the dedicated GTX 1660S. Overall, for an affordable modern six-core CPU, the 11400F seems like a great value match for that 1660 Super!

Conclusion

When building a new PC, one of the most important parts is pairing your CPU and GPU properly so they work well together. It’s not always obvious which CPU is best for a given graphics card. In this case, we’re focusing on the NVIDIA GTX 1660 Super, a really popular mid-range GPU for gaming on a budget. But which CPU will give it the perfect partner? That’s where this guide comes in handy. We put in the work of researching all the latest chips from Intel and AMD to find the best options for performance with the 1660 Super. Things like core counts, clock speeds, caching, and compatibility with certain chipsets—it’s a lot to sift through. But now you’ve got this handy list of recommendations we think will serve you well.

From budget picks to higher-end choices, there should be something on here that matches your needs and budget perfectly. Take your time reading through the specs and options. That way, you can confidently pick a CPU that will support the graphics muscle of that 1660 Super without creating any bottlenecks or compatibility issues down the line.