GPU Comparison

Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.

Quick Verdict

On raw speed the Radeon RX 590 comes out noticeably faster — about 11% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. But the GeForce GTX 980 Ti is the better value, undercutting it by $582 USD for the performance you get.

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

VS
Price
$697 USD
Perf Index
10%
Value Score
0.014
VRAM8GB GDDR5
Thermal TDP225W
NVIDIA
GeForce GTX 980 Ti
Price
$115 USD
Perf Index
9%
Value Score
0.078
VRAM6GB GDDR5
Thermal TDP250W

Radeon RX 590 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: Radeon RX 590 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

The Radeon RX 590 is noticeably faster, around 11% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.

Price & Value

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti currently lists from $115 USD, $582 USD less than the Radeon RX 590 at $697 USD. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti offers the better performance-per-dollar (~446% 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 Radeon RX 590 still sits about $418 USD above its $279 USD MSRP.

Power & Efficiency

At 225W against 250W, the Radeon RX 590 is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The Radeon RX 590 carries 8GB versus 6GB on the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers.

Generation & Longevity

The Radeon RX 590 is roughly 3 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti, so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the Radeon RX 590 brings AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value, while the GeForce GTX 980 Ti offers NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing. If you lean on upscaling or ray tracing, that ecosystem difference can matter as much as the frame-rate gap.

Which should you buy: Radeon RX 590 or GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

Choose the Radeon RX 590 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 Radeon RX 590 better than the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

The Radeon RX 590 is noticeably faster, roughly 11% 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 Radeon RX 590 or the GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

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 Radeon RX 590 worth the extra $582 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.

Does the Radeon RX 590 have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 8GB (vs 6GB) gives real headroom for 4K, heavy texture mods, and creative/AI work. At 1080p the gap matters less.