Best GPU for the Core i5-6600K
At 1440p, the fastest current card the Core i5-6600K keeps busy is the GeForce RTX 3060 8GB: the processor limits it in 25% of 55 popular games (estimated). The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB is the slowest current card that reaches 60 fps at 1440p high in 84% of them.
Which graphics card should I pair with the Core i5-6600K?
| Resolution | Enough for 60 fps | Fastest good match | CPU-limited games | Best NVIDIA | Best AMD | Best Intel |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p high | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB | 22% | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB | Radeon RX 6500 XT | Arc A380 |
| 1440p high | GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | 25% | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB | Radeon RX 9050 8GB | Arc A380 |
| 4K high | Radeon RX 7900 XT | GeForce RTX 5060 | 25% | GeForce RTX 5060 | Radeon RX 6750 XT | Arc B580 |
Enough for 60 fps: the slowest (usually cheapest) current desktop card that reaches 60 fps at high in 80% of the games. Fastest good match: the fastest card the Core i5-6600K limits in no more than 25% of the games. Faster cards still gain FPS, but in more games the processor sets the ceiling.
Estimated FPS with the Core i5-6600K (high preset)
| Game | GeForce RTX 3060 12GB | GeForce RTX 3050 6GB |
|---|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 166CPU | 166CPU |
| Dota 2 | 221CPU | 221CPU |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 90CPU | 67 |
| WARDOGS | 45 | 26 |
| Apex Legends™ | 101CPU | 73 |
| Valheim | 101CPU | 62 |
| Game | GeForce RTX 4060 Ti 16GB | GeForce RTX 3060 8GB |
|---|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 166CPU | 166CPU |
| Dota 2 | 221CPU | 221CPU |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 90CPU | 71 |
| WARDOGS | 45 | 28 |
| Apex Legends™ | 101CPU | 77 |
| Valheim | 101CPU | 66 |
| Game | Radeon RX 7900 XT | GeForce RTX 5060 |
|---|---|---|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 166CPU | 166CPU |
| Dota 2 | 221CPU | 221CPU |
| PUBG: BATTLEGROUNDS | 90CPU | 71 |
| WARDOGS | 47 | 27 |
| Apex Legends™ | 101CPU | 77 |
| Valheim | 101CPU | 66 |
Every current graphics card with the Core i5-6600K
Estimated FPS from our model (v0), based on the game's published requirements and relative GPU/CPU performance. Not measured. Real results vary with drivers, patches, and scenes. Values above 300 fps show as 300+.
Current cards: desktop GPUs released since 2020. Values above 300 fps are shown as 300+. How we estimate FPS. Check any other pairing in the bottleneck calculator.