Key takeaways
- Per-game data compiled by TopCPU shows the RX 6600 about 28% ahead in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, 13% in Battlefield V and 19% in GTA V at 1080p.
- Older and Newer Tech’s comparison reported leads of roughly 31-37% in Borderlands 3 but only 5-11% in some other titles.
- 3DMark Time Spy graphics scores put the RX 6600 about 7% ahead, while the GTX 1070 Ti edges ahead in some older DirectX 11 tests.
The RX 6600 is the better buy for almost everyone: it is roughly 10-20% faster than the GTX 1070 Ti at 1080p in most published comparisons, uses about 50 W less power, supports ray tracing and FSR frame generation, and still receives AMD’s regular game-ready drivers. The GTX 1070 Ti only makes sense if you already own one or can get it for clearly less than a used RX 6600.
Both are 8 GB cards aimed at 1080p, but they come from different eras. The GTX 1070 Ti is a 2017 Pascal card that launched at $399. The RX 6600 is a 2021 RDNA 2 card that launched at $329. Four years of architectural progress let the smaller, cooler RX 6600 come out ahead.
Specs at a Glance
| Specification | GTX 1070 Ti | RX 6600 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | RDNA 2.0 |
| Release date | 2 November 2017 | 13 October 2021 |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $399 | $329 |
| Shaders | 2432 CUDA cores | 1792 stream processors |
| Boost clock | 1683 MHz | 2491 MHz |
| Process | 16 nm | 7 nm |
| TDP | 180 W | 132 W |
| Memory | 8 GB GDDR5 | 8 GB GDDR6 |
| Memory bus | 256-bit | 128-bit |
| Bandwidth | 256.3 GB/s | 224.0 GB/s |
| Cache | 2 MB L2 | 2 MB L2 + 32 MB L3 |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 4.0 x8 |
| Power connector | 1x 8-pin | 1x 8-pin |
| Length / width | 267 mm, 2-slot | 190 mm, 2-slot |
| Outputs | 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort | 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort |
The GTX 1070 Ti has more shaders, a wider bus and slightly more raw bandwidth. The RX 6600 makes up for that with a clock speed roughly 50% higher, a 32 MB Infinity Cache that cuts down trips to VRAM, and a more efficient architecture. The result is better performance from a much smaller and cooler card.
1080p Gaming Performance
Benchmark comparisons broadly agree that the RX 6600 leads at 1080p, though the size of the lead depends on the game:
- Per-game data compiled by TopCPU shows the RX 6600 about 28% ahead in Shadow of the Tomb Raider, 13% in Battlefield V and 19% in GTA V at 1080p.
- Older and Newer Tech’s comparison reported leads of roughly 31-37% in Borderlands 3 but only 5-11% in some other titles.
- 3DMark Time Spy graphics scores put the RX 6600 about 7% ahead, while the GTX 1070 Ti edges ahead in some older DirectX 11 tests.
A realistic average is about 10-20% in the RX 6600’s favor at 1080p, with the biggest gaps in modern DirectX 12 and Vulkan games. At 1080p high settings in current AAA titles, the RX 6600 often lands in the 50-80 FPS range, with the 1070 Ti a step behind. Esports games run well above 144 FPS on both. All numbers vary with settings, CPU and game patches.
At 1440p the gap narrows somewhat, because the 1070 Ti’s 256-bit bus helps at higher resolutions. Neither card is a strong 1440p option for new AAA games without lowering settings.
Ray Tracing and Modern Features
The GTX 1070 Ti has no hardware ray tracing. A few games allow software or driver-based RT on Pascal, but performance is not playable. The RX 6600 has first-generation RDNA 2 ray accelerators. They are not strong, but light RT effects at 1080p with FSR are possible in some titles. In 3DMark Port Royal, a ray tracing benchmark, the RX 6600 scores more than double the 1070 Ti.
Upscaling and frame generation:
- RX 6600: FSR 1 through 3.1 including FSR 3 frame generation, plus AMD Fluid Motion Frames at the driver level.
- GTX 1070 Ti: no DLSS, because it has no tensor cores. It can use FSR upscaling and FSR 3 frame generation in games that offer them, since those are vendor-agnostic.
Neither card supports FSR 4 or any DLSS version.
Driver Support Matters
NVIDIA has announced that its 580 driver branch is the last to bring game-ready support to the Maxwell, Pascal and Volta generations, with security updates continuing for a limited time after that. In practice, the GTX 1070 Ti will no longer get game-specific optimizations for new releases. The RX 6600, on RDNA 2, is still in AMD’s mainstream driver support. For a card you plan to keep for a few more years, this is a real advantage for the RX 6600.
VRAM Headroom
Both cards have 8 GB, so neither has an advantage in capacity. For 1080p at medium-to-high settings, 8 GB still covers most games, but some recent AAA titles push past it with ultra textures. Plan to use high rather than ultra textures in the newest games on either card.
Power, PSU and Size
The RX 6600’s 132 W TDP is 48 W lower than the 1070 Ti’s 180 W. Both use a single 8-pin connector. PSU sizing as GPU TDP + CPU + about 150 W of headroom, with a 65 W budget CPU:
- GTX 1070 Ti: 180 + 65 + 150 = 395 W, so a quality 450-500 W unit.
- RX 6600: 132 + 65 + 150 = 347 W, so a quality 400-450 W unit.
Size is a big practical difference. At 190 mm the RX 6600 fits mini-ITX and compact cases where a 267 mm 1070 Ti will not. Its lower heat output also means quieter fans and lower case temperatures.
PCIe Interface Note
The RX 6600 uses PCIe 4.0 x8. In an older PCIe 3.0 board it runs at PCIe 3.0 x8, which costs a few percent in most games and more when VRAM overflows. The GTX 1070 Ti uses a full PCIe 3.0 x16 link. For someone upgrading an old 2017-2019 system, this slightly narrows the RX 6600’s advantage, but it still comes out ahead overall.
Used-Market Value
Both cards are now mainly bought used or as leftover stock. Typical broad ranges: the GTX 1070 Ti usually sells for about $70-$110 used, and the RX 6600 for about $130-$170 used, with new units occasionally found a little higher.
Cost per performance using launch MSRPs, setting the GTX 1070 Ti at 100 and the RX 6600 at about 115:
- GTX 1070 Ti: $399 / 100 = $3.99 per point.
- RX 6600: $329 / 115 = $2.86 per point.
Used, the math is closer: a $90 GTX 1070 Ti works out to $0.90 per point, and a $150 RX 6600 to about $1.30 per point. The 1070 Ti can be cheaper per frame used, but you give up driver support, efficiency and RT capability.
Pick by Budget and Use
| Scenario | Better pick |
|---|---|
| New or newer build, 1080p AAA gaming | RX 6600 |
| Compact case or 400-450 W PSU | RX 6600 |
| Want ongoing game-ready drivers | RX 6600 |
| Absolute lowest cost, esports only | GTX 1070 Ti (used, if very cheap) |
| Old PCIe 3.0 system, already own a 1070 Ti | Keep it, or skip to a stronger upgrade |
| Need a DVI output for an old monitor | GTX 1070 Ti |
Bottom Line
The RX 6600 beats the GTX 1070 Ti where it matters: it is faster at 1080p, uses much less power, is far smaller, supports ray tracing, and still has active driver support. For a budget 1080p build, it is the safer choice. The GTX 1070 Ti is only a sensible purchase when it is much cheaper and the system is used mainly for esports or older games.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the RX 6600 faster than the GTX 1070 Ti?
Yes, in most modern games. Published comparisons put the RX 6600 roughly 10-20% ahead at 1080p on average, with some titles showing 25-35% gaps. A few older DirectX 11 games and synthetic tests are closer or slightly favor the 1070 Ti.
Is the GTX 1070 Ti still supported by NVIDIA drivers?
NVIDIA has said its 580 driver branch is the final one with game-ready support for Pascal cards, including the GTX 1070 Ti, with security updates continuing for a limited period. New games will not get specific optimizations for it. That is a reason to choose the RX 6600 for a build you plan to keep.
Can the GTX 1070 Ti use DLSS?
No. DLSS needs the tensor cores found only in RTX cards. The GTX 1070 Ti can use AMD’s FSR upscaling and FSR 3 frame generation in games that support them, because those technologies work on GPUs from any vendor.
Will the RX 6600 work in an older PCIe 3.0 motherboard?
Yes. It runs at PCIe 3.0 x8 in that case, which typically costs only a few percent of performance. The loss can be larger in games that go past the 8 GB of VRAM. Overall the RX 6600 still tends to beat the GTX 1070 Ti on the same platform.
What power supply do I need for the RX 6600?
A quality 400-450 W power supply with one 8-pin PCIe connector is enough for the RX 6600 with a typical budget or mid-range CPU. The GTX 1070 Ti needs a little more, and 450-500 W is a comfortable target. Choose a reputable brand rather than focusing only on wattage.
