GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
Only verified data for GeForce GTX 980 is available. Benchmarks for other models are currently being processed.
The GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop is significantly faster than the GeForce GTX 980, leading by roughly 29% in our performance index. The GeForce GTX 980 is the cheaper option by $376 EUR.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop vs GeForce GTX 980: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop vs GeForce GTX 980
The GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop is significantly faster, around 29% 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 980 starts at $824 EUR against $1,200 EUR for the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop. The GeForce GTX 980 still sits about $275 EUR above its $549 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop draws just 80W versus 165W for the GeForce GTX 980, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom. Its more modern Pascal architecture on a TSMC 16nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 6GB against 4GB, the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 980's 4GB can fall short. The GeForce GTX 980's memory is also faster — 224 GB/s versus 192 GB/s (256-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop 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 1060 Laptop or GeForce GTX 980?
The GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop is the faster card by about 29%. With live pricing limited for this pair, base your decision on the spec differences above — particularly VRAM and power draw — and check current stock before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop better than the GeForce GTX 980?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop or the GeForce GTX 980?
Is the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop worth the extra $376 EUR over the GeForce GTX 980?
Does the GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,280 | 2,048✓ |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 0 | — |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 0 | — |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,404 MHz✓ | 1,126 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,670 MHz✓ | 1,216 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB✓ | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 256-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps✓ | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 192 GB/s | 224.3 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 Laptop | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 80 W✓ | 165 W |
| Power Connectors | None | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | Aug 2016 | Sep 2014 |