GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti
On raw speed the GeForce GTX 980 Ti comes out dramatically faster — about 43% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.
Market Value Leader
It's a tight race! Both the GeForce GTX 980 Ti and the GeForce GTX 980 offer nearly identical market value.
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GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980
The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is dramatically faster, around 43% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. 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 2,048 on the GeForce GTX 980.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 980 currently lists from $798 EUR, $300 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti at $1,098 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti wins on performance-per-dollar. The GeForce GTX 980 still sits about $249 EUR above its $549 EUR MSRP. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti still sits about $449 EUR above its $649 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 165W against 250W, 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 980 Ti 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 Ti's memory is also faster — 337 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 980 Ti?
The GeForce GTX 980 Ti 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 980 Ti better than the GeForce GTX 980?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 980 or the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Is the GeForce GTX 980 Ti worth the extra $300 EUR over the GeForce GTX 980?
Does the GeForce GTX 980 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,048 | 2,816✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,126 MHz✓ | 1,000 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,216 MHz✓ | 1,075 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 6 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 224.3 GB/s | 336.5 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 980 | GeForce GTX 980 Ti |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 165 W✓ | 250 W |
| Power Connectors | 2x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin |
| Released | Sep 2014 | Jun 2015 |