GPU Comparison

Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.

Quick Verdict

The GeForce GTX 980 is significantly faster than the Radeon RX 580, leading by roughly 33% in our performance index. The Radeon RX 580, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $1,065 cheaper.

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VS
AMD
Radeon RX 580
Price
$180
Perf Index
9%
Value Score
0.050
VRAM8GB GDDR6
Thermal TDP185W
Price
$1245
Perf Index
12%
Value Score
0.010
VRAM4GB GDDR6
Thermal TDP165W

GeForce GTX 980 vs Radeon RX 580: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 980 vs Radeon RX 580

The GeForce GTX 980 is significantly faster, around 33% ahead of the Radeon RX 580. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.

Price & Value

Right now the Radeon RX 580 starts at $180 against $1,245 for the GeForce GTX 980. Despite being slower, the Radeon RX 580 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~419% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon RX 580 is trading below its $229 MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 980 still sits about $696 above its $549 MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce GTX 980 draws just 165W versus 185W for the Radeon RX 580, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

With 8GB against 4GB, the Radeon RX 580 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 980's 4GB can fall short.

Generation & Longevity

The Radeon RX 580 is roughly 3 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980, so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the Radeon RX 580 brings AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value, while the GeForce GTX 980 offers NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.

Which should you buy: Radeon RX 580 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 Radeon RX 580 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 980 better than the Radeon RX 580?

The GeForce GTX 980 is significantly faster, roughly 33% ahead. The Radeon RX 580 is still worth it if value matters more than top-end frames.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the Radeon RX 580 or the GeForce GTX 980?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at entry-level 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the GeForce GTX 980 worth the extra $1,065 over the Radeon RX 580?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon RX 580 comes out ahead.

Does the Radeon RX 580 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 8GB (vs 4GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.