GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce GTX TITAN Z
On raw speed the GeForce GTX 980 comes out dramatically faster — about 40% ahead of the GeForce GTX TITAN Z. But the GeForce GTX TITAN Z is the better value, undercutting it by $724 EUR for the performance you get.
Market Value Leader
GeForce GTX TITAN Z is the clear winner, offering 1553.0% better value than GeForce GTX 980.
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GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce GTX TITAN Z: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce GTX TITAN Z
The GeForce GTX 980 is dramatically faster, around 40% ahead of the GeForce GTX TITAN Z. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX TITAN Z currently lists from $33 EUR, $724 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 980 at $757 EUR. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX TITAN Z offers the better performance-per-dollar (~1553% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX TITAN Z is trading below its $2,999 EUR MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 980 still sits about $208 EUR above its $549 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 165W against 375W, 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
The GeForce GTX TITAN Z carries 12GB versus 4GB on the GeForce GTX 980. The extra 8GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce GTX TITAN Z's memory is also faster — 336 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 Z?
Choose the GeForce GTX 980 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX TITAN Z stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 980 better than the GeForce GTX TITAN Z?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 980 or the GeForce GTX TITAN Z?
Is the GeForce GTX 980 worth the extra $724 EUR over the GeForce GTX TITAN Z?
Does the GeForce GTX TITAN Z have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 or GeForce GTX TITAN Z?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX TITAN Z |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Kepler |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,048 | 2,880✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX TITAN Z |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,126 MHz✓ | 705 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,216 MHz✓ | 876 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX TITAN Z |
|---|---|---|
| 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 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX TITAN Z |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 165 W✓ | 375 W |
| Power Connectors | 2x 6-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Released | Sep 2014 | May 2014 |