GeForce GTX 970 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti
The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is dramatically faster than the GeForce GTX 970, leading by roughly 100% in our performance index. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
Market Value Leader
GeForce GTX 980 Ti is the clear winner, offering 5.3% better value than GeForce GTX 970.
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GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce GTX 970: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce GTX 970
The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is dramatically faster, around 100% ahead of the GeForce GTX 970. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti packs 2,816 CUDA cores versus 1,664 on the GeForce GTX 970.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 970 starts at $400 EUR against $760 EUR for the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti wins on performance-per-dollar by about 5%. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti still sits about $111 EUR above its $649 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 970 pulls less power (145W vs 250W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce GTX 980 Ti draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 6GB against 4GB, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 970's 4GB can fall short. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti's memory is also faster — 337 GB/s versus 224 GB/s (384-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 970 or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the GeForce GTX 970 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 980 Ti better than the GeForce GTX 970?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 970 or the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Is the GeForce GTX 980 Ti worth the extra $359 EUR over the GeForce GTX 970?
Does the GeForce GTX 980 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 970 or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,664 | 2,816✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,050 MHz✓ | 1,000 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,178 MHz✓ | 1,075 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 6 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 224.3 GB/s | 336.5 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 145 W✓ | 250 W |
| Power Connectors | 2x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Sep 2014 | Jun 2015 |