Skip to content

GeForce GTX 1630 vs GeForce GTX 960

Quick Verdict

Performance-wise the GeForce GTX 1630 is out front, significantly faster, roughly 33% up on the GeForce GTX 960. Value tips toward the GeForce GTX 960, though: $149 USD cheaper for what you get.

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

VS
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 1630
Price
$259 USD
Performance
4/100βœ“
VRAM
4 GB GDDR6βœ“
Key Specs Advantage
+52% Boost Clock (1,785 MHz vs 1,178 MHz)
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 960
Price
$110 USDβœ“
Performance
3/100
VRAM
2 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+100% CUDA Cores (1,024 vs 512)
+100% Memory Bus (128-bit vs 64-bit)
+17% Bandwidth (112 GB/s vs 96 GB/s)

GeForce GTX 1630 vs GeForce GTX 960: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 1630 vs GeForce GTX 960

The GeForce GTX 1630 is significantly faster, around 33% ahead of the GeForce GTX 960. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.

Price & Value

Right now the GeForce GTX 960 starts at $110 USD against $259 USD for the GeForce GTX 1630. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 960 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~77% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 960 is trading below its $199 USD MSRP β€” a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 1630 still sits about $110 USD above its $149 USD MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce GTX 1630 sips power at 75W next to the GeForce GTX 960's 120W, and still leads on performance-per-watt β€” quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU. Its more modern Turing architecture on a TSMC 12nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The GeForce GTX 1630's 4GB (vs 2GB on the GeForce GTX 960) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The GeForce GTX 960's memory is also faster β€” 112 GB/s versus 96 GB/s (128-bit vs 64-bit bus) β€” which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Generation & Longevity

The GeForce GTX 1630 is roughly 7 years newer than the GeForce GTX 960 (Turing vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1630 or GeForce GTX 960?

Choose the GeForce GTX 1630 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 960 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 1630 better than the GeForce GTX 960?

The GeForce GTX 1630 is significantly faster, roughly 33% ahead. The GeForce GTX 960 is still worth it if value matters more than top-end frames.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1630 or the GeForce GTX 960?

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 1630 worth the extra $149 USD over the GeForce GTX 960?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce GTX 960 comes out ahead.

Does the GeForce GTX 1630 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 4GB (vs 2GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1630 or GeForce GTX 960?

Choose the GeForce GTX 1630 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 960 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1630 and GeForce GTX 960
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1630GeForce GTX 960
ArchitectureTuringMaxwell
Process NodeTSMC 12nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)5121,024βœ“

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1630 and GeForce GTX 960
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1630GeForce GTX 960
Base Clock1,740 MHzβœ“1,127 MHz
Boost Clock1,785 MHzβœ“1,178 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1630 and GeForce GTX 960
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1630GeForce GTX 960
VRAM Capacity4 GBβœ“2 GB
Memory TypeGDDR6GDDR5
Memory Bus64-bit128-bitβœ“
Memory Speed12 Gbpsβœ“7 Gbps
Bandwidth96 GB/s112 GB/sβœ“

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 1630 and GeForce GTX 960
SpecificationGeForce GTX 1630GeForce GTX 960
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP75 Wβœ“120 W
Power ConnectorsNone1x 6-pin
ReleasedJun 2022Jan 2015