I’ve written about graphics cards on many occasions. They are a very important component in any computer where graphics work is involved. Even if you aren’t a gamer, looking at cards targeted towards gamers is a great place to start. I’ll tell you about a new card today. Yes, I’ll earn a small commission if you buy from Amazon using my link. No, they didn’t send me any free swag so I’d write about it.
Technology on graphics cards is always changing rapidly. The latest and greatest cards typically come with premium pricing to go with the speed they bring. A new card slots somewhere ahead of the last generation, but well below the newest generations. The ZOTAC Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 6GB GDDR5 is that in-between card in both power and price.
Let’s give it a look. First, it is smaller than a lot of cards at only 6.83″ (117.4mm) x 4.38″ (111.15mm). For those with smaller cases, it should fit just fine. On one end of the card is the 8-pin PCIe power port that you will connect to the power supply.
The other end of the card will be on the back of your computer and it has 3 Displayport 1.4 ports and 1 HDMI 2.0b port. Below is a graphic showing you views of both sides and each end of the card.
If there is an enemy to any computer part, it is heat. Cramming more and more circuits in a small space just makes everything hot. This makes it extremely important for parts to keep themselves cool. Zotac has put a very large aluminum heatsink between the card and two large fans. Below is an exploded photo showing each layer of construction.
I’ve recently written a series of posts talking about the parts I’ll be ordering to rebuild this computer. The Zotac card is very tempting as it costs less than the card I discussed in my More Components for Building a Fast Computer post. I’ll stick with the card chosen in that post, but if you want to get a fast card while spending less then the Zotac Gaming GeForce GTX 1660 is a great choice.
