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GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the GeForce GTX 1080 comes out ahead: well ahead on speed, about 30% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. That said, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti is the smarter buy on value — $50 USD less for the performance on offer.

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

VS
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 1080
Price
$160 USD
Performance
13/100✓
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5X✓
Key Specs Advantage
+61% Boost Clock (1,733 MHz vs 1,075 MHz)
$339 USDMSI GeForce GTX 1080 FE 8GB GDDR5X PCI Express 3.0 x16 SLI Support Graphics Card GEFORCE GTX 1080 Founders Edition
$160 USDGIGABYTE GeForce GTX 1080 Turbo (Renewed)
Used
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 980 Ti
Price
$110 USD✓
Performance
10/100
VRAM
6 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+50% Memory Bus (384-bit vs 256-bit)
+10% CUDA Cores (2,816 vs 2,560)
+5% Bandwidth (336.5 GB/s vs 320 GB/s)
$399 USDmsi GeForce GTX 980 TI GDDR5 6GB DirectX 12 VR Ready (GTX 980TI 6GD5 V1)
$110 USDEVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti Super Clocked Gaming ACX 2.0 6GB GDDR5 384bit PCI-E Graphic Card (06G-P4-4995-KR) (Renewed)
Used
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GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 1080 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

The GeForce GTX 1080 is significantly faster, around 30% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.

Price & Value

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti currently lists from $110 USD, $50 USD less than the GeForce GTX 1080 at $160 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti offers the better performance-per-dollar (~12% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is trading below its $649 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 1080 is trading below its $599 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

At 180W against 250W, the GeForce GTX 1080 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

VRAM favors the GeForce GTX 1080 at 8GB versus 6GB on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti — that extra 2GB matters most at 4K, with high-res texture packs, and for content-creation/local-AI work.

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

Choose the GeForce GTX 1080 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

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

The GeForce GTX 1080 is significantly faster, roughly 30% ahead. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is still worth it if value matters more than top-end frames.

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

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

Is the GeForce GTX 1080 worth the extra $50 USD over the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce GTX 980 Ti comes out ahead.

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

Its 8GB (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 or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

Choose the GeForce GTX 1080 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080GeForce GTX 980 Ti
ArchitecturePascalMaxwell
Process NodeTSMC 16nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)2,5602,816✓

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080GeForce GTX 980 Ti
Base Clock1,607 MHz✓1,000 MHz
Boost Clock1,733 MHz✓1,075 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080GeForce GTX 980 Ti
VRAM Capacity8 GB✓6 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5XGDDR5
Memory Bus256-bit384-bit✓
Memory Speed10 Gbps✓7 Gbps
Bandwidth320 GB/s336.5 GB/s✓

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1080 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1080GeForce GTX 980 Ti
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP180 W✓250 W
Power Connectors1x 8-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedMay 2016Jun 2015