Is it even worth using my GTX 660 for gaming in 2017?

[Koibito]

I've been using this computer for 3 years now with my GTX 660, but I feel as if I won't be able to run most games soon. I'm not overly picky on what settings my games run on, as long as they can run, but using an outdated graphics card might not be the best idea.

Should I upgrade or would I still be able to play most newer games?

 

[Gam3r01]

If you are still able to play the games you want then keep it. Nobody can tell you what you consider playable. I was using a 760 up until I got my secondhand 290 from a friend earlier this year.
When/if you need to upgrade then do so.

 

[Lutfij]

Actually, if you're not finicky about the details in game, then with reduced details and/or reduced resolutions you can get by through a lot more. Before you consider an upgrade path, we will need to know if your processor and ram will bottleneck your upgrade and if your PSU can handle the drop in card. Essentially, passing on your full system's specs would do you good to reveal a better picture. Don't forget to mention the resolution you're currently playing at.

 

[Koibito]

Actually, if you're not finicky about the details in game, then with reduced details and/or reduced resolutions you can get by through a lot more. Before you consider an upgrade path, we will need to know if your processor and ram will bottleneck your upgrade and if your PSU can handle the drop in card. Essentially, passing on your full system's specs would do you good to reveal a better picture. Don't forget to mention the resolution you're currently playing at.

Thanks for the responses!
I tend to play games borderless at 1920x1080. The rest of my specs are:

Motherboard - Alienware 0PGRP5
Graphics Card - NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660
CPU - Intel Core i7 4770 @ 3.40GHz
RAM - 8.00GB Dual-Channel DDR3 @ 799MHz

I hope that's all the specs you need.

P.S Main reason I was planning on upgrading was for Dark Souls 3, but I have it on console so it doesn't bother me too much. Also, my old pc could only run games on min, so that's probably why i'm not overly picky.

 

[Lutfij]

FYI, the BIOS on the Dell prebuilt will limit you from going any higher than the GTX600 series. you could be lucky with an old GTX700 series but that would be pushing it since the newer GTX700series and latter GPU's will need a compatible BIOS environment otherwise you'
re going to see a black screen after dropping in your new GPU. Here the PSU will also be a limiter since prebuilts don't come with units that are meant to last more than their warranty period.

By specs I was asking for your PSU's make and model, the chassis and the cooling you had on the unit but the Alienware in your post gave me more than enough to respond 😉

 

[Koibito]

Aha, thanks for the quick responses anyway. So, if I did want to upgrade, i'd probably need to get a new motherboard, PSU and probably a case? Sorry, i'm not awfully good with computers.

 

[dontlistentome]

I wouldn't even consider an upgrade until you can't play a game the way you want to play it. So far you've made a vague reference to Dark Souls, but I don't see any clear indication that you need an upgrade.

I think the bios thing he's referring to affects Nvidia cards since he specified the 6xx series as the last to work with it. You have an i7, so an AMD RX 470 or 480 should work provided you have the power supply for it.

 

[maxalge]

Aha, thanks for the quick responses anyway. So, if I did want to upgrade, i'd probably need to get a new motherboard, PSU and probably a case? Sorry, i'm not awfully good with computers.

is this what you have?

https://www.cnet.com/products/alienware-x51-r2-core-i7-4770-3-4-ghz-8-gb-1-tb-ax51r29300bk/specs/





then you can easily upgrade to a reference blower style gtx 1060 6gb and smash most games at 1080p


https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ZSyct8n7gTg

 

[Lutfij]

The BIOS limitation is the lack of an UEFI BIOS environment for the latter GPU's to operate on. The RX series have also been affected with it. You can take any of the latest GPU's(or older GPU's made new from the factory) and they will give you a black screen when running on an incompatible BIOS environment.

OP,
If you're going for a new motherboard, then you might as well build a new system altogether however the parts you have should be able to allow you to game without any issues. The form factor of your prebuilt is also another limitation for adding in a new PSU. It operates on an external power brick which has a limit of 330W's.

I'm sorry but I can't give you any suggestions with confidence to drop in a more powerful GPU let alone suggest a 1060 in there. You could borrow a 1050 from your friend and see if powers up without a problem before buying one but I'm not someone who suggests tinkering with a prebuilt. Come to think of it, they are built in order to prevent an end user from tampering with it...lest they want to void their warranty.

 

[Koibito]

Thanks for the suggestions everyone!

I won't bother upgrading or building a new computer at the moment, but when the time comes, i'll definitely take these tips into consideration.

 

[Lutfij]

You're welcome+Thank you for awarding my post as the Best Answer! I only hope it answered your question.

Mind you, you could build a system with the power brick you have and an HDPlex Nano PSU but how long it'll last under sustained loads is the real question. It also helps to have headroom when you want to hold onto your system/PSU for longer periods and operate worry free during those intense gaming sessions.