bottleneck
bottleneck
I’d hold off for a few months before purchasing a new GPU since those are the times new models roll out. Still, the 1660 should offer a decent performance boost over the 960. I think it won’t become a major bottleneck.
I understand your concern. Let me clarify what the results indicate.
I doubt the online bottleneck calculator is reliable. Even though it’s a modest GPU compared to the CPU, I’m not sure it will really cause a bottleneck.
The issue arises when high refresh rates and UHD quality strain the GPU, causing it to hit full capacity even if the CPU is only at 50%. This means your graphics card choice should match your monitor specs. If your display is 1080p with a refresh under 75Hz, the 1660 Super won’t force the CPU to work hard. Extra cores are beneficial for streaming alongside gaming. However, with resolutions over 1440p and refresh rates of 120Hz or higher, you’ll need a GTX 2070 or better to prevent bottlenecks. The bottleneck tool assumes top-tier displays (like 4K at 240Hz) and then checks if both CPU and GPU can run near full load together.
If it leads to stuttering, fixing it is simple by setting the frame rate within the g-sync or freesync limits of your monitor or applying alternative methods. Performance issues become a matter of cost versus benefit once they’re accepted. The real concern shifts to whether a drop of 10-15 frames per second still impacts your experience. If you chose to cap it, then the difference usually doesn’t matter much. You can still see some gains compared to a weaker card, though not its full potential.
I understand you've been dealing with stuttering lately. It sounds like the issue might be related to your computer setup. Since your new parts are mostly modern, but your GTX 960 is older, it could affect performance or compatibility. You're thinking about upgrading to newer graphics cards for better stability and speed. Considering you're using a 144Hz monitor at 1080p, that's a solid setup. I’d suggest evaluating whether the GTX 960 is still meeting your needs or if a more recent card would help reduce stuttering. Your input is valuable—feel free to share more details!
For gaming, the GPU usually limits performance, since most titles don’t depend heavily on the CPU. Even budget CPUs can handle modern games well. When reviewing CPUs with game benchmarks, you’ll often see recommendations like a 2080 Ti running at 1080p, just to ensure the GPU can deliver enough frames and make a noticeable impact. A 1660 might become a bottleneck if it can’t push enough frames, but this depends on your needs. If you’re planning heavy tasks besides gaming, a 3900x could justify the cost. The discussion is relative and tied to your specific goals.
It’s tough to decide @Robin1465 since everything hinges on your budget and what you see visually. I use an RX580 at 1080p with 144hz and honestly can’t justify moving up unless I have more than sufficient frames per second for the games. I plan to switch to 1440p eventually, but I’ll upgrade the GPU and monitor together. My CPU handles up to a 5700XT and should work fine for my current titles, though I’m likely sticking with it just for cost reasons. Choose what fits your budget and experience best—don’t stress too much about bottlenecks; they usually only cause you to buy an underpowered GPU outside of what your CPUs can handle (like recent i5s or better for Intel). Even the performance gap between my i7 920 and i5 8600 with the RX580 didn’t noticeably change for me—it just fixed a few low FPS moments near my freeframe limits and let me squeeze in some quality improvements in certain games. Nothing revolutionary, really!
For a 1080p display at 144Hz, the 5700xt offers optimal results. The RTX 2060 and 5600xt provide comparable performance but slightly lower than the 5700xt. Since most monitors support free sync, selecting the 5700xt is the top recommendation. However, if cost is a priority, opt for the RTX 2060 or 5600xt based on these factors >>>> Evaluation 1 (FPS and refresh sync): Pick the RTX 2060 if your monitor supports G-sync or adaptive sync. If only free sync is available, choose the 5600xt to avoid stuttering and tearing. Consideration 2 (Driver and tuning): Using a Nvidia graphics card is usually preferable over AMD ones due to driver compatibility issues. For monitors with G-sync or adaptive sync, the RTX 2060 is a safe bet without complications. If your monitor lacks these features, a G-sync/adaptive sync card will eliminate stuttering and driver problems. Evaluation 3 (Game-focused choice): Watch gameplay videos to see which card performs best for your favorite titles. Then purchase that model. The performance differences between the RTX 2060, 5600xt, and 5700xt with a Ryzen 3700x will be minimal if you had a Ryzen 3600 instead. The added CPU power of the 3700x won’t translate to gaming benefits. To match the Ryzen 3700x, you’d need a powerful GPU, which isn’t feasible given your monitor’s constraints. I’m unsure if you’ll use your PC for streaming, content creation, or 3D CAD work. If none of these apply, choosing the 3700x over the 3600 might not be worthwhile.