NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
Detailed gaming performance comparison
Reference CPU: Intel Core i5-13400
We compare the GTX 970 and the GTX 980 with real FPS across the most popular games at 1080p, 1440p and 4K, plus specs, launch price and AI upscaling support (DLSS/FSR/XeSS). See at a glance which is better for your resolution and budget.
The GTX 980 is ~16% faster than the GTX 970 on average at 1080p. On top of that, the GTX 970 is 40% cheaper (launch price).
GTX 970
- Index (1080p)
- 17/100
- VRAM
- 4 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $329 · ≈ €303
- Upscaling
- FSR
GTX 980
- Index (1080p)
- 20/100
- VRAM
- 4 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $549 · ≈ €505
- Upscaling
- FSR
Average FPS by resolution
Estimated average FPS for each graphics card across the most popular games. The gap usually shows at 1080p and 1440p; at 4K both lose smoothness and upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps.
| Resolution | GTX 970 | GTX 980 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 19 | 22 | +16% |
| 1440p | 13 | 15 | +15% |
| 4K | 5 | 6 | +20% |
Specifications
Side-by-side specs of the GTX 970 and GTX 980: VRAM, power draw (TDP), performance index and launch price. The better value in each row is highlighted in blue.
| Spec | GTX 970 | GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | NVIDIA | NVIDIA |
| VRAM | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| TDP | 145W | 165W |
| Tier | Mid-range | High-end |
| Score 1080p | 17 | 20 |
| Score 1440p | 13 | 15 |
| Score 4K | 6 | 8 |
| Price (MSRP) | $329 | $549 |
Gaming Performance
Per-game FPS detail at 1080p Ultra. The graphics card that wins each title is highlighted in blue.
| Game | GTX 970 | GTX 980 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | 20FPS | 23FPS | GTX 980 |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 15FPS | 18FPS | GTX 980 |
| Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | 19FPS | 22FPS | GTX 980 |
| Marathon | 19FPS | 22FPS | GTX 980 |
| Gears of War: E-Day | 17FPS | 20FPS | GTX 980 |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword | 21FPS | 24FPS | GTX 980 |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 19FPS | 22FPS | GTX 980 |
| 007 First Light | 19FPS | 22FPS | GTX 980 |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | 16FPS | 19FPS | GTX 980 |
| Pathologic 3 | 24FPS | 28FPS | GTX 980 |
Verdict
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 wins in 10 out of 10 games
We recommend NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 as the best option for gaming.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions when comparing the GTX 970 with the GTX 980.
Which is better, the GTX 970 or the GTX 980?
On average at 1080p, the GTX 980 is 16% faster than the GTX 970. The best one for you depends on your resolution, budget and whether you prioritise ray tracing or price.
Which is better at 4K?
At 4K Ultra, the GTX 970 averages 5 FPS and the GTX 980 6 FPS across the most popular games. For smooth 4K, enabling upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps on both.
Is it worth paying more for the faster one?
At 1080p or 1440p the FPS gap may not justify the extra cost; at 4K or with ray tracing the faster card matters more. Check the by-resolution table to decide.
Which has better ray tracing and upscaling?
AI upscaling (DLSS on NVIDIA, FSR on AMD, XeSS on Intel) raises FPS on both; for ray tracing, GeForce RTX cards usually lead. See each card’s support above.
How big is the FPS difference between them?
On average across top games, the gap is around 16% at 1080p. At higher resolutions (1440p and 4K) the relative difference usually stays similar.