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GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

Quick Verdict

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti pulls ahead here — in a different league, about 43% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.

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

VS
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 980
Price
$80 USD✓
Performance
7/100
VRAM
4 GB GDDR5
Key Specs Advantage
+13% Boost Clock (1,216 MHz vs 1,075 MHz)
$248 USDPNY GeForce GTX 980 4GB CG EDITION Graphics Card
$80 USDGIGABYTE GeForce GTX 980 4GB GDDR5 PCiE Graphics Cards GV-N980WF3-4GD (Renewed)
Used
NVIDIA GeForce
GTX 980 Ti
Price
$110 USD
Performance
10/100✓
VRAM
6 GB GDDR5✓
Key Specs Advantage
+50% Bandwidth (336.5 GB/s vs 224.3 GB/s)
+50% Memory Bus (384-bit vs 256-bit)
+38% CUDA Cores (2,816 vs 2,048)
$399 USDmsi GeForce GTX 980 TI GDDR5 6GB DirectX 12 VR Ready (GTX 980TI 6GD5 V1)
$110 USDEVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti Super Clocked Gaming ACX 2.0 6GB GDDR5 384bit PCI-E Graphic Card (06G-P4-4995-KR) (Renewed)
Used
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GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 980 Ti vs GeForce GTX 980

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is dramatically faster, around 43% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti packs 2,816 CUDA cores versus 2,048 on the GeForce GTX 980.

Price & Value

Pricing has the GeForce GTX 980 at $80 USD, $30 USD under the GeForce GTX 980 Ti's $110 USD. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti wins on performance-per-dollar. The GeForce GTX 980 is trading below its $549 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is trading below its $649 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

Power draw favors the GeForce GTX 980 (165W vs 250W), and it's the more efficient card too, so it's the easy pick if thermals or a smaller PSU matter.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti carries 6GB versus 4GB on the GeForce GTX 980. The extra 2GB helps at 4K, with high-resolution texture packs, and for content-creation or local-AI workloads that exhaust smaller buffers. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti's memory is also faster — 337 GB/s versus 224 GB/s (384-bit vs 256-bit bus) — which helps feed the GPU at 4K and with heavy textures.

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

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti 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 980 if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 980 Ti better than the GeForce GTX 980?

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is dramatically faster, roughly 43% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 980 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 GeForce GTX 980 Ti worth the extra $30 USD over the GeForce GTX 980?

Often yes — despite the higher price the GeForce GTX 980 Ti delivers better performance-per-dollar here.

Does the GeForce GTX 980 Ti have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

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

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

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti 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 980 if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980GeForce GTX 980 Ti
ArchitectureMaxwellMaxwell
Process NodeTSMC 28nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / CUDA Cores)2,0482,816✓

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980GeForce GTX 980 Ti
Base Clock1,126 MHz✓1,000 MHz
Boost Clock1,216 MHz✓1,075 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980GeForce GTX 980 Ti
VRAM Capacity4 GB6 GB✓
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus256-bit384-bit✓
Memory Speed7 Gbps7 Gbps
Bandwidth224.3 GB/s336.5 GB/s✓

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 and GeForce GTX 980 Ti
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980GeForce GTX 980 Ti
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP165 W✓250 W
Power Connectors2x 6-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedSep 2014Jun 2015