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GeForce GTX 960 vs Radeon R9 380

Quick Verdict

Raw performance is basically a wash between the GeForce GTX 960 and Radeon R9 380 — the gap is within margin of error. But the Radeon R9 380 is the better value, undercutting it by $157 USD for the performance you get.

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GeForce GTX 960 vs Radeon R9 380: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 960 vs Radeon R9 380

The GeForce GTX 960 and Radeon R9 380 post nearly the same score in our performance index, so neither holds a meaningful raw-speed advantage. Both are best suited to entry-level 1080p gaming.

Price & Value

Pricing has the Radeon R9 380 at $42 USD, $157 USD under the GeForce GTX 960's $199 USD. Despite being slower, the Radeon R9 380 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~369% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The Radeon R9 380 is trading below its $199 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

Power draw favors the GeForce GTX 960 (120W vs 190W), and it's the more efficient card too, so it's the easy pick if thermals or a smaller PSU matter.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce GTX 960 brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon R9 380 offers AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 960 or Radeon R9 380?

Choose the GeForce GTX 960 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon R9 380 stretches your money further for near-identical performance.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 960 better than the Radeon R9 380?

They're very close on raw performance. The Radeon R9 380 edges ahead on value, so price and availability should decide it.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 960 or the Radeon R9 380?

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 960 worth the extra $157 USD over the Radeon R9 380?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the Radeon R9 380 comes out ahead.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 960 or Radeon R9 380?

Choose the GeForce GTX 960 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the Radeon R9 380 stretches your money further for near-identical performance.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 960 and Radeon R9 380
SpecificationGeForce GTX 960Radeon R9 380
ArchitectureMaxwellGCN 3.0
Process NodeTSMC 28nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors)1,0241,792✓

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 960 and Radeon R9 380
SpecificationGeForce GTX 960Radeon R9 380
Base Clock1,127 MHz✓970 MHz
Boost Clock1,178 MHz✓970 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 960 and Radeon R9 380
SpecificationGeForce GTX 960Radeon R9 380
VRAM Capacity2 GB2 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus128-bit256-bit✓
Memory Speed7 Gbps✓5.5 Gbps
Bandwidth112 GB/s176 GB/s✓

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 960 and Radeon R9 380
SpecificationGeForce GTX 960Radeon R9 380
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP120 W✓190 W
Power Connectors1x 6-pin2x 6-pin
ReleasedJan 2015Jun 2015