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GeForce GTX 1080 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 70% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Best performance and best value in one card here — the clear recommendation if you can afford it.

Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)

VS
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 1080 Ti
Price
$185 USD
Performance
17/100✓
VRAM
11 GB GDDR5X✓
Key Specs Advantage
+47% Boost Clock (1,582 MHz vs 1,075 MHz)
+44% Bandwidth (484 GB/s vs 336.5 GB/s)
+27% CUDA Cores (3,584 vs 2,816)
$399 USDGIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1080 Ti 11GB GDDR5X PCI Express 3.0 x16 ATX Graphics Card GV-N108TGAMING OC-11GD
$185 USDZOTAC GEFORCE GTX 1080 TI 11GB GDDR5X 352 BIT 1480-1582/11010 HDCP Three (Renewed)
Used
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 980 Ti
Price
$125 USD✓
Performance
10/100
VRAM
6 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+9% Memory Bus (384-bit vs 352-bit)
$399 USDmsi GeForce GTX 980 TI GDDR5 6GB DirectX 12 VR Ready (GTX 980TI 6GD5 V1)
$125 USDEVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti 6GB FTW GAMING ACX 2.0+, Whisper Silent Cooling w/ Free Installed Backplate Graphics Card 06G-P4-4996-KR (Renewed)
Used
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GeForce GTX 1080 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is dramatically faster, around 70% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 980 Ti is better matched to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti packs 3,584 CUDA cores versus 2,816 on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti.

Price & Value

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti currently lists from $125 USD, $60 USD less than the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti at $185 USD. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti wins on performance-per-dollar by about 15%. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is trading below its $649 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is trading below its $699 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

VRAM favors the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti at 11GB versus 6GB on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti — that extra 5GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work. The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti's memory is also faster — 484 GB/s versus 337 GB/s (352-bit vs 384-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Generation & Longevity

The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is roughly 2 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti (Pascal vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

The GeForce GTX 1080 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 Ti if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti better than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

The GeForce GTX 1080 Ti is dramatically faster, roughly 70% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

Neither is a dedicated 4K card; both are best at 1080p. For 4K you'd want a faster GPU, or lean on upscaling.

Is the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti worth the extra $60 USD over the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

Often yes — despite the higher price the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti delivers better performance-per-dollar here.

Does the GeForce GTX 1080 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 11GB (vs 6GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1080 Ti or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

The GeForce GTX 1080 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 Ti if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 Ti and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce GTX 980 Ti
ArchitecturePascalMaxwell
Process NodeTSMC 16nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)3,584✓2,816

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 Ti and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce GTX 980 Ti
Base Clock1,480 MHz✓1,000 MHz
Boost Clock1,582 MHz✓1,075 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 Ti and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce GTX 980 Ti
VRAM Capacity11 GB✓6 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5XGDDR5
Memory Bus352-bit384-bit✓
Memory Speed11 Gbps✓7 Gbps
Bandwidth484 GB/s✓336.5 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 Ti and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080 TiGeForce GTX 980 Ti
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP250 W250 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin + 1x 6-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedMar 2017Jun 2015