GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GTX 980
Raw performance is basically a wash between the GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 980 — the gap is within margin of error. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.
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GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GTX 980: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1060 vs GeForce GTX 980
The GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 980 post nearly the same score in our performance index, so neither holds a meaningful raw-speed advantage. Both are best suited to entry-level 1080p gaming.
Price & Value
Pricing has the GeForce GTX 1060 at $23,700 JPY, $5,266 JPY under the GeForce GTX 980's $28,966 JPY. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1060 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 22%. The GeForce GTX 1060 still sits about $23,401 JPY above its $299 JPY MSRP. The GeForce GTX 980 still sits about $28,417 JPY above its $549 JPY MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
Power draw favors the GeForce GTX 1060 (120W vs 165W), and it's the more efficient card too, so it's the easy pick if thermals or a smaller PSU matter. 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 1060 carries 6GB versus 4GB on the GeForce GTX 980. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce GTX 980's memory is also faster — 224 GB/s versus 192 GB/s (256-bit vs 192-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1060 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 1060 or GeForce GTX 980?
The GeForce GTX 1060 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 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1060 better than the GeForce GTX 980?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1060 or the GeForce GTX 980?
Is the GeForce GTX 980 worth the extra $5,266 JPY over the GeForce GTX 1060?
Does the GeForce GTX 1060 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1060 or GeForce GTX 980?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,280 | 2,048✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,506 MHz✓ | 1,126 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,708 MHz✓ | 1,216 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB✓ | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 192-bit | 256-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps✓ | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 192 GB/s | 224.3 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1060 | GeForce GTX 980 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 120 W✓ | 165 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | Jul 2016 | Sep 2014 |