GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce GTX TITAN X
On raw speed the GeForce GTX TITAN X comes out ahead: well ahead on speed, about 29% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. That said, the GeForce GTX 980 is the smarter buy on value — $609 EUR less for the performance on offer.
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GeForce GTX TITAN X vs GeForce GTX 980: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX TITAN X vs GeForce GTX 980
The GeForce GTX TITAN X 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. The GeForce GTX TITAN X packs 3,072 CUDA cores versus 2,048 on the GeForce GTX 980.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 980 currently lists from $313 EUR, $609 EUR less than the GeForce GTX TITAN X at $922 EUR. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 980 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~129% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 980 is trading below its $549 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX TITAN X is trading below its $999 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 165W against 250W, the GeForce GTX 980 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the GeForce GTX TITAN X at 12GB versus 4GB on the GeForce GTX 980 — that extra 8GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce GTX TITAN X's memory is also faster — 337 GB/s versus 224 GB/s (384-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 or GeForce GTX TITAN X?
Choose the GeForce GTX TITAN X if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 980 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX TITAN X better than the GeForce GTX 980?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 980 or the GeForce GTX TITAN X?
Is the GeForce GTX TITAN X worth the extra $609 EUR over the GeForce GTX 980?
Does the GeForce GTX TITAN X have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 or GeForce GTX TITAN X?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX TITAN X |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,048 | 3,072✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX TITAN X |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,126 MHz✓ | 1,000 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,216 MHz✓ | 1,075 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX TITAN X |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 224.3 GB/s | 336.5 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX TITAN X |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 165 W✓ | 250 W |
| Power Connectors | 2x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Sep 2014 | Mar 2015 |