GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
Market comparison is currently pending while we verify the latest benchmarks for GeForce GTX 1070 and GeForce GTX 980.
The GeForce GTX 1070 is dramatically faster than the GeForce GTX 980, leading by roughly 57% in our performance index.
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GeForce GTX 1070 vs GeForce GTX 980: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1070 vs GeForce GTX 980
The GeForce GTX 1070 is dramatically faster, around 57% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 1070 draws just 150W 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 8GB against 4GB, the GeForce GTX 1070 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 1070's memory is also faster — 256 GB/s versus 224 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1070 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 1070 or GeForce GTX 980?
The GeForce GTX 1070 is the faster card by about 57%. 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 1070 better than the GeForce GTX 980?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1070 or the GeForce GTX 980?
Does the GeForce GTX 1070 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,920 | 2,048✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,506 MHz✓ | 1,126 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,683 MHz✓ | 1,216 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB✓ | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps✓ | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 256 GB/s✓ | 224.3 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1070 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 150 W✓ | 165 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 8-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | Jun 2016 | Sep 2014 |