The Best GPU for i5 6600k
The i5-6600K is almost 6 years old CPU, but it is still a decent option for Mid-level gaming and productive work. In the latest games or softwares the CPU would struggle a lot, but if you pair it with the best graphics card, then you can easily do Intermediate level work or gaming. The i5-6600K is capable enough that you can play many latest games with smooth graphics and FPS, but in CPU intensive games, you may face low FPS. The Graphics cards like RTX 3060 or RTX 3060 Ti will bottleneck the processor, so we’ll look at the Best GPU for i5 6600K that will not bottleneck the processor and can provide excellent performance both in gaming and productive works.
In this article, we’ll look at the different graphics card for i5-6600K, comparing them with others cards with the same price or performance. All the graphics cards in the list provide excellent performance for the price.
Best GPU for i5-6600k
| Product Title | Design | Model | Check Price |
|---|---|---|---|
| Best Pick |  | Zotac GTX 1660 Super AMP | View at Amazon |
| Best Mid-range Pick |  | MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Gaming X | View at Amazon |
| Best Budget Pick |  | MSI GTX 1650 Super Gaming X | View at Amazon |
1. Zotac GTX 1660 Super AMP
Cuda cores: 1,408| Boost Clock: 1,845 MHz| Base Clock: 1,530 MHz | Memory: 6 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 14 Gbps| Outputs: 3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI
The Zotac GTX 1660 Super is the best GPU that you can pair with i5-6600K. The GTX 1660 Super is powerful enough that you can play every latest game at 1080p 60 FPS, and in Esports games, you can enjoy a High refresh rate monitor. As compared to the GTX 1660 Ti, the GTX 1660 Super is only 1-2% slower. In 1080p Gaming performance, the GTX 1660 Super is matching the performance of Nvidia GTX 1070. The Cuda Cores of GTX 1660 Super and GTX 1660 are the same (1408), But GTX 1660 Super is almost 10% faster. With GTX 1660 Super and i5-6600K, you can play almost every game smoothly with High graphics and 1080p resolution.
The 6 GB GDDR6 Memory of Zotac GTX 1660 Super is actually faster than the Memory of GTX 1660 Ti. The GPU has a Dual-Fan cooling system that maintains very low temperatures while performing heavy tasks. But, the noise performance is not that good. The cards’ noise was audible from a distance. I think it would be okay for some people because many PC users use headphones while gaming. The feature I think that is missing is the Idle Fan-Stop feature, which means the fan will not turn off during light use like browsing, light gaming, watching videos, etc. The power consumption of the card is also efficient. The card uses almost 135W power during Peak Gaming GTX 1650 Super.
The Zotac GTX 1660 Super is the Best Overall GPU for i5 6600K because it matches the performance of more expensive cards like GTX 1070 8GB and GTX 1660 Ti 6GB.
Reasons to Buy
- Performance very close to GTX 1070 8 GB and GTX 1660 Ti
- Fast Memory
- Low temperatures
- Energy Efficient
- Included Backplate
Reasons not to Buy
- Fans are Loud
- The idle fan stop feature is missing
2. MSI GeForce GTX 1660 Gaming X
Cuda cores: 1,408| Boost Clock: 1,860 MHz| Base Clock: 1,530 MHz | Memory: 6 GB GDDR5 | Memory Clock: 8 Gbps| Outputs: 3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI
The Nvidia GTX 1660 Gaming X is a better option for those who are looking for a mid-level GPU for i5 6600K. It is a good choice for gamers who are looking for a card that can run every Esports games like COD: Warzone and Fortnite at the highest settings with 60+ FPS all the time. Almost every game is playable with the highest graphics but not all. In some games, you have to sacrifice some graphics to achieve 60 FPS. As compared to the GTX 1060 6GB, the MSI GTX 1660 Gaming X is almost 7-13% faster. The Zotac GTX 1660 Super is 10-11% faster so we can expect 10-11% lower frame rates from GTX 1660 Gaming X.
The MSI GTX 1660 Gaming X has fast 6GB GDDR6 Memory. Compared to the AMD RX 590 card, this GPU is very power efficient, more than double. With impressive power efficiency, the card also has excellent dual-fan coolers. If you want to work or play games longer without being worried about the card’s overheating, then the great dual-fan coolers of the MSI GTX 1660 Super will do an excellent job. During Intense gaming, for a long time, the GPU reached only 68°C temperature. Not only the card has excellent cooling performance, but it also produces a low noise level. You will not get irritated with the card’s noise, and if installed in the case, you can hardly hear any sound from the card.
The MSI GTX 1660 Gaming X has excellent 1080p performance, superb power efficiency, and great coolers. These features make the MSI GTX 1660 Gaming X the best Mid-range GPU for i5 6600K.
Reasons to Buy
- Excellent cooling
- Very quiet coolers
- Faster than AMD RX 590
- Good price/performance
- Included Backplate
- Very Power Efficient
- Adjustable RGB
Reasons not to Buy
- Performance in this price is not good
3. MSI GTX 1650 Super Gaming X
Cuda cores: 1,280| Boost Clock: 1725 MHz| Base Clock: 1,530 MHz | Memory: 4 GB GDDR6 | Memory Clock: 12 Gbps| Outputs: 3x DisplayPort, 1x HDMI
If you are searching for something affordable or want to play esports games with a high refresh rate monitor, then the MSI GTX 1650 Super Gaming X is the recommended GPU for i5-6600K. Not only multiplayer player games, but it also performs exceptionally in other latest games too. Every latest game is not playable with High graphics, but it is possible with medium graphics settings. I recommend this GPU for Budget users because when we compare it with other cards in this or higher price range, Like the AMD RX 570 8GB, RX 580 8GB, and Nvidia GTX 1660 6GB; The GTX 1650 Super performed very well. The GPU was competing with the Nvidia GTX 1060 6GB, which is a more expensive card. The MSI 1650 Super Gaming X is almost 30-37% faster than MSI GTX 1650 Gaming X with no much price increase.
Like the MSI GTX 1660 Gaming X, the MSI GTX 1650 Super also comes with great dual fan coolers. It is also the most silent graphics card on the list, and the temperatures was around 62-63°C. Not only this, but the power efficiency is also fabulous. The card was using roughly 100W-105W Power, and during everyday use, it consumes almost no power.
Reasons to Buy
- Superb performance over price
- Idle Fan stop
- Superb cooling
- Very silent in gaming
- Energy efficient
- Faster than reference GTX 1650 Super
Reasons not to Buy
- Hard to find a new one in good price
Conclusion
There are many graphics cards that you can pair with the i5 6600k but we have selected the best options from the best pick to budget pick. All graphics cards in the list perform well according to their price, but the best graphics card for i5 6600k is the Zotac GTX 1660 Super AMP.
