GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
On raw speed the GeForce GTX 980 comes out significantly faster — about 33% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1060. But the GeForce GTX 1060 is the better value, undercutting it by $745 for the performance you get.
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GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce GTX 1060: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce GTX 1060
The GeForce GTX 980 is significantly faster, around 33% ahead of the GeForce GTX 1060. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 1060 currently lists from $500, $745 less than the GeForce GTX 980 at $1,245. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 1060 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~87% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 1060 still sits about $201 above its $299 MSRP. The GeForce GTX 980 still sits about $696 above its $549 MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 120W against 165W, the GeForce GTX 1060 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce GTX 1060 carries 6GB versus 4GB on the GeForce GTX 980. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1060 is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980, so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1060 or GeForce GTX 980?
Choose the GeForce GTX 980 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 1060 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.