GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce GTX 970
Performance-wise the GeForce GTX 1080 is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 160% up on the GeForce GTX 970. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
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GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce GTX 970: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce GTX 970
The GeForce GTX 1080 is dramatically faster, around 160% ahead of the GeForce GTX 970. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 1080 packs 2,560 CUDA cores versus 1,664 on the GeForce GTX 970.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 970 starts at $130 EUR against $317 EUR for the GeForce GTX 1080. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1080 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 7%. The GeForce GTX 970 is trading below its $329 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 1080 is trading below its $599 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 970 is the lighter draw at 145W against the GeForce GTX 1080's 180W, making it the easier card to power and cool. The GeForce GTX 1080 draws more in absolute terms but squeezes out more performance per watt, so budget for a beefier PSU if you go that route. 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 1080's 8GB (vs 4GB on the GeForce GTX 970) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The GeForce GTX 1080's memory is also faster — 320 GB/s versus 224 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1080 is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX 970 (Pascal vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or GeForce GTX 970?
The GeForce GTX 1080 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 1080 better than the GeForce GTX 970?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 or the GeForce GTX 970?
Is the GeForce GTX 1080 worth the extra $187 EUR over the GeForce GTX 970?
Does the GeForce GTX 1080 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or GeForce GTX 970?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,560✓ | 1,664 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,607 MHz✓ | 1,050 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,733 MHz✓ | 1,178 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB✓ | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5X | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 10 Gbps✓ | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 320 GB/s✓ | 224.3 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 180 W | 145 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | May 2016 | Sep 2014 |