GeForce GTX 1080 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti
On raw speed the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 70% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Best performance and best value in one card here — the clear recommendation if you can afford it.
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GeForce GTX 1080 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti
The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is dramatically faster, around 70% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 980 Ti is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 2,816 on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti currently lists from $234 EUR, $538 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti at $771 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti wins on performance-per-dollar by about 461%. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is trading below its $699 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti still sits about $122 EUR above its $649 EUR MSRP.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
VRAM favors the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti at 11GB versus 6GB on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti — that extra 5GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti's memory is also faster — 484 GB/s versus 337 GB/s (352-bit vs 384-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti (Pascal vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 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 980 Ti if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti better than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Is the GeForce GTX 980 Ti worth the extra $538 EUR over the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti?
Does the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 3,584✓ | 2,816 |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,480 MHz✓ | 1,000 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,582 MHz✓ | 1,075 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 11 GB✓ | 6 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5X | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 352-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 11 Gbps✓ | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 484 GB/s✓ | 336.5 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Ti | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 250 W | 250 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Mar 2017 | Jun 2015 |