AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
Detailed gaming performance comparison
Reference CPU: Intel Core i5-13400
We compare the RX 480 8GB 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 RX 480 8GB is ~5% faster than the GTX 980 on average at 1080p. On top of that, the RX 480 8GB is 56% cheaper (launch price).
RX 480 8GB
- Index (1080p)
- 21/100
- VRAM
- 8 GB
- Price (MSRP)
- $239 · ≈ €220
- 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 | RX 480 8GB | GTX 980 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 23 | 22 | +5% |
| 1440p | 15 | 15 | = |
| 4K | 5 | 6 | +20% |
Specifications
Side-by-side specs of the RX 480 8GB and GTX 980: VRAM, power draw (TDP), performance index and launch price. The better value in each row is highlighted in blue.
| Spec | RX 480 8GB | GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Brand | AMD | NVIDIA |
| VRAM | 8 GB | 4 GB |
| TDP | 150W | 165W |
| Tier | Mid-range | High-end |
| Score 1080p | 21 | 20 |
| Score 1440p | 15 | 15 |
| Score 4K | 7 | 8 |
| Price (MSRP) | $239 | $549 |
Gaming Performance
Per-game FPS detail at 1080p Ultra. The graphics card that wins each title is highlighted in blue.
| Game | RX 480 8GB | GTX 980 | Winner |
|---|---|---|---|
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | 24FPS | 23FPS | RX 480 8GB |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 19FPS | 18FPS | RX 480 8GB |
| Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | 24FPS | 22FPS | RX 480 8GB |
| Marathon | 24FPS | 22FPS | RX 480 8GB |
| Gears of War: E-Day | 21FPS | 20FPS | RX 480 8GB |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword | 25FPS | 24FPS | RX 480 8GB |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 24FPS | 22FPS | RX 480 8GB |
| 007 First Light | 24FPS | 22FPS | RX 480 8GB |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | 20FPS | 19FPS | RX 480 8GB |
| Pathologic 3 | 29FPS | 28FPS | RX 480 8GB |
Verdict
AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB wins in 10 out of 10 games
We recommend AMD Radeon RX 480 8GB as the best option for gaming.
Frequently asked questions
Common questions when comparing the RX 480 8GB with the GTX 980.
Which is better, the RX 480 8GB or the GTX 980?
On average at 1080p, the RX 480 8GB is 5% 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 RX 480 8GB 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 5% at 1080p. At higher resolutions (1440p and 4K) the relative difference usually stays similar.