GeForce GTX 960 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti
On raw speed the GeForce GTX 980 Ti comes out dramatically faster — about 233% ahead of the GeForce GTX 960. But the GeForce GTX 960 is the better value, undercutting it by $629 EUR for the performance you get.
Market Value Leader
GeForce GTX 960 is the clear winner, offering 41.4% better value than GeForce GTX 980 Ti.
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GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce GTX 960: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce GTX 960
The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is dramatically faster, around 233% ahead of the GeForce GTX 960. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti packs 2,816 CUDA cores versus 1,024 on the GeForce GTX 960.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 960 currently lists from $169 EUR, $629 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti at $798 EUR. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 960 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~41% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 960 is trading below its $199 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti still sits about $149 EUR above its $649 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
On power, the GeForce GTX 960 is the gentler choice at 120W versus 250W. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is more efficient per watt because it's faster, but its higher 250W draw means more heat and a bigger PSU.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce GTX 980 Ti carries 6GB versus 2GB on the GeForce GTX 960. The extra 4GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti's memory is also faster — 337 GB/s versus 112 GB/s (384-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 960 or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Choose the GeForce GTX 980 Ti if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 960 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 980 Ti better than the GeForce GTX 960?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 960 or the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Is the GeForce GTX 980 Ti worth the extra $629 EUR over the GeForce GTX 960?
Does the GeForce GTX 980 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 960 or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,024 | 2,816✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,127 MHz✓ | 1,000 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,178 MHz✓ | 1,075 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 6 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 112 GB/s | 336.5 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 120 W✓ | 250 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Jan 2015 | Jun 2015 |