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GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce RTX 2060

Quick Verdict

The GeForce RTX 2060 pulls ahead here — substantially quicker, about 30% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. But the GeForce GTX 980 Ti is the better value, undercutting it by $80 USD for the performance you get.

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GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce RTX 2060 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

The GeForce RTX 2060 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

Pricing has the GeForce GTX 980 Ti at $110 USD, $80 USD under the GeForce RTX 2060's $190 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti offers the better performance-per-dollar (~33% 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 RTX 2060 is trading below its $349 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

Power draw favors the GeForce RTX 2060 (160W vs 250W), and it's the more efficient card too, so it's the easy pick if thermals or a smaller PSU matter. Its more modern Turing architecture on a TSMC 12nm process is part of why it does more with each watt.

Generation & Longevity

The GeForce RTX 2060 is roughly 4 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti (Turing vs Maxwell), so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 Ti or GeForce RTX 2060?

Choose the GeForce RTX 2060 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 RTX 2060 better than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

The GeForce RTX 2060 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 980 Ti or the GeForce RTX 2060?

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 RTX 2060 worth the extra $80 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.

Which should you buy: GeForce GTX 980 Ti or GeForce RTX 2060?

Choose the GeForce RTX 2060 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 980 Ti and GeForce RTX 2060
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980 TiGeForce RTX 2060
ArchitectureMaxwellTuring
Process NodeTSMC 28nmTSMC 12nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)2,816✓1,920
Ray Tracing Cores—30
Tensor / AI Cores—240

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 Ti and GeForce RTX 2060
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980 TiGeForce RTX 2060
Base Clock1,000 MHz1,365 MHz✓
Boost Clock1,075 MHz1,680 MHz✓

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 Ti and GeForce RTX 2060
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980 TiGeForce RTX 2060
VRAM Capacity6 GB6 GB
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR6
Memory Bus384-bit✓192-bit
Memory Speed7 Gbps14 Gbps✓
Bandwidth336.5 GB/s✓336 GB/s

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 Ti and GeForce RTX 2060
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980 TiGeForce RTX 2060
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP250 W160 W✓
Power Connectors1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin1x 8-pin
ReleasedJun 2015Jan 2019