GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
Market Value Leader
GeForce GTX 1060 is the clear winner, offering 77.9% better value than GeForce GTX 980.
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.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
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 $1,532 AED, $1,193 AED less than the GeForce GTX 980 at $2,725 AED. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1060 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 78%. The GeForce GTX 1060 still sits about $1,233 AED above its $299 AED MSRP. The GeForce GTX 980 still sits about $2,176 AED above its $549 AED 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.
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 $1,193 AED over the GeForce GTX 1060?
Does the GeForce GTX 1060 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
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 |