GeForce GTX 1070 vs GeForce GTX 980
Performance-wise the GeForce GTX 1070 is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 57% up on the GeForce GTX 980. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
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GeForce GTX 1070 vs GeForce GTX 980: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1070 vs GeForce GTX 980
The GeForce GTX 1070 is dramatically faster, around 57% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 1070 starts at $2,874 BRL against $5,854 BRL for the GeForce GTX 980. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1070 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 220%. The GeForce GTX 1070 still sits about $2,495 BRL above its $379 BRL MSRP. The GeForce GTX 980 still sits about $5,305 BRL above its $549 BRL MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 1070 sips power at 150W next to the GeForce GTX 980's 165W, and still leads on performance-per-watt — quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU. Its more modern Pascal architecture on a TSMC 16nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce GTX 1070's 8GB (vs 4GB on the GeForce GTX 980) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The GeForce GTX 1070's memory is also faster — 256 GB/s versus 224 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1070 is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 (Pascal vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1070 or GeForce GTX 980?
The GeForce GTX 1070 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 980 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1070 better than the GeForce GTX 980?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1070 or the GeForce GTX 980?
Is the GeForce GTX 980 worth the extra $2,979 BRL over the GeForce GTX 1070?
Does the GeForce GTX 1070 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1070 or GeForce GTX 980?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,920 | 2,048✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,506 MHz✓ | 1,126 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,683 MHz✓ | 1,216 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB✓ | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps✓ | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 256 GB/s✓ | 224.3 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 150 W✓ | 165 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | Jun 2016 | Sep 2014 |