GeForce GTX 970 vs GeForce GTX TITAN Z
Neither the GeForce GTX 970 nor the GeForce GTX TITAN Z pulls ahead in performance; treat them as equals on speed. It also comes out ahead on value, making it the straightforward pick if the price fits your budget.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
GeForce GTX 970 vs GeForce GTX TITAN Z: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 970 vs GeForce GTX TITAN Z
The GeForce GTX 970 and GeForce GTX TITAN Z 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
On price, expect to pay $99 GBP for the GeForce GTX 970 versus $5,797 GBP for the GeForce GTX TITAN Z. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 970 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 5756%. The GeForce GTX 970 is trading below its $329 GBP MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX TITAN Z still sits about $2,798 GBP above its $2,999 GBP MSRP.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 970 draws just 145W versus 375W for the GeForce GTX TITAN Z, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 12GB against 4GB, the GeForce GTX TITAN Z has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 970's 4GB can fall short. The GeForce GTX TITAN Z's memory is also faster — 336 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 970 or GeForce GTX TITAN Z?
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 TITAN Z if you find it at a steep discount.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 970 better than the GeForce GTX TITAN Z?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 970 or the GeForce GTX TITAN Z?
Is the GeForce GTX TITAN Z worth the extra $5,698 GBP over the GeForce GTX 970?
Does the GeForce GTX TITAN Z have enough VRAM advantage to matter?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 970 or GeForce GTX TITAN Z?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 | GeForce GTX TITAN Z |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Maxwell | Kepler |
| Process Node | TSMC 28nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 1,664 | 2,880✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 | GeForce GTX TITAN Z |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,050 MHz✓ | 705 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,178 MHz✓ | 876 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 | GeForce GTX TITAN Z |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 12 GB✓ |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 256-bit | 384-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 7 Gbps | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 224.3 GB/s | 336 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 | GeForce GTX TITAN Z |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 145 W✓ | 375 W |
| Power Connectors | 2x 6-pin | 2x 8-pin |
| Released | Sep 2014 | May 2014 |