GeForce GTX 1650 vs GeForce GTX 970
On raw speed the GeForce GTX 1650 comes out ahead: far and away the quicker card, about 40% ahead of the GeForce GTX 970. That said, the GeForce GTX 970 is the smarter buy on value — $75 USD less for the performance on offer.
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GeForce GTX 1650 vs GeForce GTX 970: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 1650 vs GeForce GTX 970
The GeForce GTX 1650 is dramatically faster, around 40% ahead of the GeForce GTX 970. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 970 currently lists from $65 USD, $75 USD less than the GeForce GTX 1650 at $140 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 970 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~54% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 970 is trading below its $329 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 75W against 145W, the GeForce GTX 1650 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power. Its more modern Turing architecture on a TSMC 12nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.
Memory & Bandwidth
The GeForce GTX 970's memory is faster — 224 GB/s versus 128 GB/s (256-bit vs 128-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.
Generation & Longevity
The GeForce GTX 1650 is roughly 5 years newer than the GeForce GTX 970 (Turing vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1650 or GeForce GTX 970?
Choose the GeForce GTX 1650 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 970 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.
Frequently Asked Questions
Is the GeForce GTX 1650 better than the GeForce GTX 970?
Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 1650 or the GeForce GTX 970?
Is the GeForce GTX 1650 worth the extra $75 USD over the GeForce GTX 970?
Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 1650 or GeForce GTX 970?
Technical Specifications Comparison
Architecture & Cores
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1650 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Architecture | Turing | Maxwell |
| Process Node | TSMC 12nm | TSMC 28nm |
| CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores) | 896 | 1,664✓ |
Clock Speeds
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1650 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Base Clock | 1,485 MHz✓ | 1,050 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1,665 MHz✓ | 1,178 MHz |
Memory
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1650 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bus | 128-bit | 256-bit✓ |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps✓ | 7 Gbps |
| Bandwidth | 128 GB/s | 224.3 GB/s✓ |
Connectivity & Power
| Specification | GeForce GTX 1650 | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|---|
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| TDP | 75 W✓ | 145 W |
| Power Connectors | None | 2x 6-pin |
| Released | Apr 2019 | Sep 2014 |