NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 vs AMD Radeon RX Vega 64
Detailed gaming performance comparison
Reference CPU: Intel Core i5-13400
We compare the GTX 980 and the RX Vega 64 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 RX Vega 64 is ~27% faster than the GTX 980 on average at 1080p. On top of that, the RX Vega 64 is 9% cheaper (launch price).
GTX 980
- Index (1080p)
- 20/100
- VRAM
- 4 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $549 · ≈ €505
- Upscaling
- FSR
RX Vega 64
- Index (1080p)
- 25/100
- VRAM
- 8 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $499 · ≈ €459
- 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 980 | RX Vega 64 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 22 | 28 | +27% |
| 1440p | 15 | 19 | +27% |
| 4K | 6 | 8 | +33% |
Specifications
Side-by-side specs of the GTX 980 and RX Vega 64: VRAM, power draw (TDP), performance index and launch price. The better value in each row is highlighted in blue.
| Spec | GTX 980 | RX Vega 64 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | NVIDIA | AMD |
| VRAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| TDP | 165W | 295W |
| Tier | High-end | High-end |
| Score 1080p | 20 | 25 |
| Score 1440p | 15 | 19 |
| Score 4K | 8 | 10 |
| Price (MSRP) | $549 | $499 |
Gaming Performance
Per-game FPS detail at 1080p Ultra. The graphics card that wins each title is highlighted in blue.
| Game | GTX 980 | RX Vega 64 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | 23FPS | 29FPS | RX Vega 64 |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 18FPS | 22FPS | RX Vega 64 |
| Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | 22FPS | 28FPS | RX Vega 64 |
| Marathon | 22FPS | 28FPS | RX Vega 64 |
| Gears of War: E-Day | 20FPS | 25FPS | RX Vega 64 |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword | 24FPS | 30FPS | RX Vega 64 |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 22FPS | 28FPS | RX Vega 64 |
| 007 First Light | 22FPS | 28FPS | RX Vega 64 |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | 19FPS | 24FPS | RX Vega 64 |
| Pathologic 3 | 28FPS | 35FPS | RX Vega 64 |
Verdict
AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 wins in 10 out of 10 games
We recommend AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 as the best option for gaming.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions when comparing the GTX 980 with the RX Vega 64.
Which is better, the GTX 980 or the RX Vega 64?
On average at 1080p, the RX Vega 64 is 27% faster than the GTX 980. 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 980 averages 6 FPS and the RX Vega 64 8 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 27% at 1080p. At higher resolutions (1440p and 4K) the relative difference usually stays similar.