NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Benchmark
Reference CPU: Intel Core i5-13400
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 is the NVIDIA graphics card we cover on this page. Here you'll find its real gaming performance — average FPS (frames per second) across the 20 most popular games at 1080p, 1440p (2K) and 4K (UHD) — its uplift with AI upscaling (DLSS/FSR/XeSS), key specs such as its 4 GB of VRAM, and comparisons with similar GPUs. All figures are estimates from our engine on a reference CPU.
Specifications
- Brand
- NVIDIA
- VRAM
- 4 GB
- Power Draw (TDP)
- 165W
- Tier
- High-end
- Release Year
- 2014
Performance Scores
Average gaming performance (2026)
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 averages 24 FPS at 1080p Ultra, 16 at 1440p and 7 at 4K across the 20 most popular games (estimated). Best in lighter titles or with reduced settings; upscaling helps in the heaviest games.
FPS in Popular Games
| Game | 1080p | 1440p | 4K | Rating |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Slay the Spire 2 | 76 | 51 | 21 | Good |
| Pathologic 3 | 28 | 18 | 8 | Poor |
| Onimusha: Way of the Sword | 24 | 16 | 7 | Poor |
| Diablo IV: Lord of Hatred | 24 | 16 | 7 | Poor |
| Subnautica 2 | 24 | 16 | 7 | Poor |
| Grand Theft Auto IV: Complete Edition | 23 | 15 | 6 | Poor |
| Marvel 1943: Rise of Hydra | 22 | 15 | 6 | Poor |
| Marathon | 22 | 15 | 6 | Poor |
| Phantom Blade Zero | 22 | 15 | 6 | Poor |
| 007 First Light | 22 | 15 | 6 | Poor |
| Gothic 1 Remake | 22 | 15 | 6 | Poor |
| Nioh 3 | 22 | 15 | 6 | Poor |
| Forza Horizon 6 | 21 | 14 | 6 | Poor |
| Gears of War: E-Day | 20 | 13 | 5 | Poor |
| Pragmata | 20 | 13 | 5 | Poor |
| Resident Evil Requiem | 20 | 13 | 5 | Poor |
| Fable | 20 | 13 | 5 | Poor |
| Death Stranding 2: On the Beach | 20 | 13 | 5 | Poor |
| The Blood of Dawnwalker | 19 | 13 | 5 | Poor |
| Grand Theft Auto VI | 18 | 12 | 5 | Poor |
Performance with AI upscaling
Estimated average FPS with FSR enabled, which renders at a lower resolution and reconstructs the image for more frames. Quality and Performance modes trade sharpness for FPS differently.
| Resolution | Native | FSR Quality | FSR Performance |
|---|---|---|---|
| 1080p | 24 | 30 | 35 |
| 1440p | 16 | 22 | 26 |
| 4K | 7 | 10 | 13 |
Estimated values. The real gain varies by game and by how the technology is implemented.
Best CPU for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 & bottleneck
The CPU you pair with the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 matters mostly at 1080p; at 1440p and 4K the graphics card itself sets the pace (you are GPU-bound) and the processor is almost irrelevant.
A AMD Ryzen 5 5600 already gets the most out of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 with no bottleneck. Moving to a pricier processor barely adds frames.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 FPS with different CPUs
| Processor (CPU) | 1080p | 1440p | 4K |
|---|---|---|---|
| AMD Ryzen 5 5600Sweet spot | 24 | 16 | 7 |
| Intel Core i5-12400 | 24 | 16 | 7 |
| AMD Ryzen 7 7800X3D | 25 | 16 | 7 |
| Intel Core i9-14900K | 25 | 16 | 7 |
Will your CPU bottleneck the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980?
At 1440p and 4K there is no bottleneck: the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 is the limiting component, so any decent modern CPU performs the same. At 1080p a weak processor can hold back a few frames in CPU-heavy games (strategy, simulation or AI-heavy open worlds). As a rule of thumb, a fairly recent 6-core CPU avoids bottlenecking this card.
Calculate with your exact hardware
These results use a reference CPU. Enter your CPU, RAM, and quality settings for a personalized estimate.
- Try the interactive calculator
- Customize resolution, quality, and RAM
Compare with Similar GPUs
Frequently asked questions
Is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 good for 1080p, 1440p and 4K?
At 1080p Ultra it averages around 24 FPS; at 1440p (2K) it drops to 16 FPS and at 4K (UHD) to 7 FPS across the most popular games. At higher resolutions, enabling upscaling (DLSS/FSR) helps restore smoothness.
How many FPS (frames per second) are enough?
30 FPS is the playable minimum, 60 FPS the comfortable standard, and 120-144+ FPS ideal for high-refresh monitors or competitive play. In the tables the colour shows the level: green 120+, blue 60+, amber 30+ and red below.
Ultra vs High quality: is it worth it?
Dropping from Ultra to High is barely noticeable yet usually raises FPS by 15-25%. If you want more performance from the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980, High quality is almost always the best balance of sharpness and smoothness.
Will the CPU bottleneck the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980?
It depends on the processor and resolution. At 1080p the CPU matters more and an older CPU can bottleneck; at 1440p and 4K the graphics card leads. These figures use a balanced reference CPU.
How much VRAM does the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 have, and is it enough?
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 has 4 GB of VRAM (video memory). As a guide, 8 GB is the practical minimum for 1080p, 12 GB is recommended for 1440p, and 16 GB or more for 4K and the games of the coming years.