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 960 and GeForce GTX 970.
The GeForce GTX 970 is dramatically faster than the GeForce GTX 960, leading by roughly 67% in our performance index. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
Comparable or lower specs
GeForce GTX 970 vs GeForce GTX 960: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 970 vs GeForce GTX 960
The GeForce GTX 970 is dramatically faster, around 67% ahead of the GeForce GTX 960. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 970 packs 1,664 CUDA cores versus 1,024 on the GeForce GTX 960.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 960 starts at $70,093 JPY against $87,149 JPY for the GeForce GTX 970. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 970 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 34%. The GeForce GTX 960 still sits about $69,894 JPY above its $199 JPY MSRP. The GeForce GTX 970 still sits about $86,820 JPY above its $329 JPY MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 960 pulls less power (120W vs 145W), so it's the easier card to cool and the lighter load on your PSU. The faster GeForce GTX 970 draws more overall but extracts more performance from each watt — plan for a sturdier power supply if you pick it.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 4GB against 2GB, the GeForce GTX 970 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 960's 2GB can fall short. The GeForce GTX 970's memory is also faster — 224 GB/s versus 112 GB/s (256-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 970?
The GeForce GTX 970 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 960 if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 970 better than the GeForce GTX 960?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 960 or the GeForce GTX 970?
Is the GeForce GTX 970 worth the extra $17,056 JPY over the GeForce GTX 960?
Does the GeForce GTX 970 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,024 | 1,664✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,127 MHz✓ | 1,050 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,178 MHz | 1,178 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 256-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 112 GB/s | 224.3 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 960 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 120 W✓ | 145 W |
| Power Connectors | 1x 6-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | Jan 2015 | Sep 2014 |