GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
Only verified data for GeForce GTX 970 is available. Benchmarks for other models are currently being processed.
On raw speed the GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop comes out dramatically faster — about 180% ahead of the GeForce GTX 970.
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Comparable or lower specs
GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop vs GeForce GTX 970: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop vs GeForce GTX 970
The GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop is dramatically faster, around 180% ahead of the GeForce GTX 970. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 970 is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop packs 2,560 CUDA cores versus 1,664 on the GeForce GTX 970.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
The GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop carries 8GB versus 4GB on the GeForce GTX 970. The extra 4GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop's memory is also faster — 320 GB/s versus 224 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX 970 (Pascal vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop or GeForce GTX 970?
The GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop is the faster card by about 180%. With live pricing limited for this pair, base your decision on the spec differences above — particularly VRAM and power draw — and check current stock before buying.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop better than the GeForce GTX 970?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop or the GeForce GTX 970?
Does the GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Pascal | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 16nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 2,560✓ | 1,664 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | 0 | — |
| Tensor / AI Cores | 0 | — |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,556 MHz✓ | 1,050 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,733 MHz✓ | 1,178 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB✓ | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5X | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| Memory Speed | 10 Gbps✓ | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 320 GB/s✓ | 224.3 GB/s |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1080 Laptop | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 150 W | 145 W✓ |
| Power Connectors | None | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | Aug 2016 | Sep 2014 |