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GeForce GTX 760 vs GeForce GTX 970

Quick Verdict

Performance-wise the GeForce GTX 970 is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 150% up on the GeForce GTX 760. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.

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GeForce GTX 970 vs GeForce GTX 760: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 970 vs GeForce GTX 760

The GeForce GTX 970 is dramatically faster, around 150% ahead of the GeForce GTX 760. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 970 packs 1,664 CUDA cores versus 1,152 on the GeForce GTX 760.

Price & Value

Right now the GeForce GTX 760 starts at $37 USD against $65 USD for the GeForce GTX 970. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 970 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 44%. The GeForce GTX 760 is trading below its $219 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 970 is trading below its $329 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce GTX 970 sips power at 145W next to the GeForce GTX 760's 170W, and still leads on performance-per-watt — quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU. Its more modern Maxwell architecture on a TSMC 28nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The GeForce GTX 970's 4GB (vs 2GB on the GeForce GTX 760) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads. The GeForce GTX 970's memory is also faster — 224 GB/s versus 192 GB/s — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 760 or GeForce GTX 970?

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 760 if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 970 better than the GeForce GTX 760?

The GeForce GTX 970 is dramatically faster, roughly 150% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 760 or the GeForce GTX 970?

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 970 worth the extra $28 USD over the GeForce GTX 760?

Often yes — despite the higher price the GeForce GTX 970 delivers better performance-per-dollar here.

Does the GeForce GTX 970 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 760 or GeForce GTX 970?

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 760 if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 760 and GeForce GTX 970
SpecificationGeForce GTX 760GeForce GTX 970
ArchitectureKeplerMaxwell
Process NodeTSMC 28nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)1,1521,664✓

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 760 and GeForce GTX 970
SpecificationGeForce GTX 760GeForce GTX 970
Base Clock980 MHz1,050 MHz✓
Boost Clock1,033 MHz1,178 MHz✓

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 760 and GeForce GTX 970
SpecificationGeForce GTX 760GeForce GTX 970
VRAM Capacity2 GB4 GB✓
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus256-bit256-bit
Memory Speed6 Gbps7 Gbps✓
Bandwidth192.2 GB/s224.3 GB/s✓

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 760 and GeForce GTX 970
SpecificationGeForce GTX 760GeForce GTX 970
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP170 W145 W✓
Power Connectors2x 6-pin2x 6-pin
ReleasedJun 2013Sep 2014