GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
The GeForce GTX 1060 and GeForce GTX 980 trade blows on raw performance, landing within a few percent of each other. 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
The GeForce GTX 1060 currently lists from $309 EUR, $515 EUR less than the GeForce GTX 980 at $824 EUR. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1060 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 167%. The GeForce GTX 980 still sits about $275 EUR above its $549 EUR MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
At 120W against 165W, the GeForce GTX 1060 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. 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.