Is 300W enough for GTX 1660?
No, I would not recommend pairing a 300 watt power supply with the Nvidia GeForce GTX 1660 graphics card. As an experienced system builder and avid gamer, I can confidently say 300W is cutting it way too close and risks instability.
GTX 1660 Power Draw
According to my testing and data from sources like Tom‘s Hardware, the GTX 1660 has a total board power draw of around 120-130W under heavy gaming loads. Some models peak even higher, up to 140W based on factors like power target adjustments.
This already exceeds 50% of a 300W power supply‘s capacity – not ideal when other power-hungry components come into play.
CPU Power Requirements
Modern CPUs often have a 65W, 95W, or even 125W TDP rating:
| CPU | TDP |
| Ryzen 5 5600X | 65W |
| Intel Core i5-12600K | 125W |
As you can see, a mid-range Ryzen CPU adds another 65W draw, while a flagship i5-12600K can consume over 120W under load. Combined with the GTX 1660, you‘re looking at upwards of 250W for just the CPU and GPU – the two most power hungry components.
Other Components Add Up
You need to factor in the power draw from other parts too:
- 2x8GB DDR4 RAM: Around 15W
- SSD and HDD: Up to 20W combined
- Motherboard, fans, etc: 20W or more
Start tallying all of these up, and you are exceeding 300W easily in many gaming PC builds, sometimes by a large margin if you have an AMD Ryzen 9 or Intel Core i9 processor.
Why Headroom and Efficiency Matter
Moreover, you want your power supply to operate in its most efficient range – usually about 50-80% load. Constantly maxing out a 300W unit risks premature failure and inefficient operation.
I also recommend at least 100W+ of overhead for transient power spikes. The GTX 1660 can randomly spike above 150W for milliseconds at a time. A lower-capacity PSU won‘t tolerate these peaks well.
My Recommendations
For all the reasons outlined above, I suggest the following minimum PSU wattages for a GTX 1660 gaming PC:
- 450W for lower-powered CPU like Ryzen 5 5600X
- 550W+ for mid-range CPU like Ryzen 7 5800X
- 650W+ for maxed out i9-12900K system
A quality 550W 80+ Gold PSU can comfortably handle most rigs packing a GTX 1660. I hope this detailed breakdown gives you a definitive answer on how best to power this capable 1080p gaming card! Let me know if you have any other questions.
