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GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the GeForce GTX 1080 comes out significantly faster — about 30% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.

Market Value Leader

GeForce GTX 1080 is the clear winner, offering 339.9% better value than GeForce GTX 980 Ti.

Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)

VS
NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 1080
Price
€236✓
Performance
13/100✓
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5X✓
Key Specs Advantage
+61% Boost Clock (1,733 MHz vs 1,075 MHz)
€840MSI Gaming GeForce GTX 1080 ARMOR 8G OC Graphics Card 8GB GDDR5DirectX 12 VR Ready (GeForce GTX 1080 Gaming X)
€236Nvidia GeForce GTX 1080 8GB FE Founders Edition GDDR5X Video Graphics Card (Refurbished)
Used
NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 980 Ti
Price
€798
Performance
10/100
VRAM
6 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+50% Memory Bus (384-bit vs 256-bit)
+10% CUDA Cores (2,816 vs 2,560)
+5% Bandwidth (336.5 GB/s vs 320 GB/s)
€798NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 ti
Used - No Listing
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GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

The GeForce GTX 1080 is significantly faster, around 30% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.

Price & Value

The GeForce GTX 1080 currently lists from $236 EUR, $562 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti at $798 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1080 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 340%. The GeForce GTX 1080 is trading below its $599 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti still sits about $149 EUR above its $649 EUR MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

At 180W against 250W, the GeForce GTX 1080 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. 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 carries 8GB versus 6GB on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

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 980 Ti if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 1080 better than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

The GeForce GTX 1080 is significantly faster, roughly 30% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 or the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at entry-level 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the GeForce GTX 980 Ti worth the extra $562 EUR over the GeForce GTX 1080?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce GTX 1080 comes out ahead.

Does the GeForce GTX 1080 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 8GB (vs 6GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

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 980 Ti if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080GeForce GTX 980 Ti
ArchitecturePascalMaxwell
Process NodeTSMC 16nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)2,5602,816✓

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080GeForce GTX 980 Ti
Base Clock1,607 MHz✓1,000 MHz
Boost Clock1,733 MHz✓1,075 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080GeForce GTX 980 Ti
VRAM Capacity8 GB✓6 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5XGDDR5
Memory Bus256-bit384-bit✓
Memory Speed10 Gbps✓7 Gbps
Bandwidth320 GB/s336.5 GB/s✓

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080GeForce GTX 980 Ti
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP180 W✓250 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedMay 2016Jun 2015