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GeForce GTX 980 vs Radeon R9 390X

Quick Verdict

Performance-wise the GeForce GTX 980 is out front, dramatically faster, roughly 40% up on the Radeon R9 390X. It is also the stronger value pick here, so it's the easy recommendation if your budget allows.

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
+16% Boost Clock (1,216 MHz vs 1,050 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
AMD Radeon
R9 390X
Price
$429 USD
Performance
5/100
VRAM
8 GB GDDR5✓
Key Specs Advantage
+100% Memory Bus (512-bit vs 256-bit)
+71% Bandwidth (384 GB/s vs 224.3 GB/s)
+38% Stream Processors (2,816 vs 2,048)
$429 USDXFX BLACK Edition Radeon R9 390X 8GB GDDR5 PCI Express 3.0 CrossFireX Support Graphics Card R9-390X-8286
Used - No Listing
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GeForce GTX 980 vs Radeon R9 390X: In-Depth Breakdown

Performance: GeForce GTX 980 vs Radeon R9 390X

The GeForce GTX 980 is dramatically faster, around 40% ahead of the Radeon R9 390X. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.

Price & Value

Right now the GeForce GTX 980 starts at $80 USD against $429 USD for the Radeon R9 390X. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 980 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 651%. The GeForce GTX 980 is trading below its $549 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.

Power & Efficiency

The GeForce GTX 980 sips power at 165W next to the Radeon R9 390X's 275W, and still leads on performance-per-watt — quieter, cooler, and gentler on your PSU.

VRAM & Future-Proofing

The Radeon R9 390X's 8GB (vs 4GB on the GeForce GTX 980) gives it more room for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative or AI workloads.

Features & Ecosystem

Beyond raw numbers, the GeForce GTX 980 brings NVIDIA DLSS upscaling/frame generation and stronger ray tracing, while the Radeon R9 390X 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 980 or Radeon R9 390X?

The GeForce GTX 980 is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the Radeon R9 390X if you find it at a steep discount.

Frequently Asked Questions

Is the GeForce GTX 980 better than the Radeon R9 390X?

The GeForce GTX 980 is dramatically faster, roughly 40% ahead. If your budget allows, it's the stronger pick.

Which is better for 4K gaming, the GeForce GTX 980 or the Radeon R9 390X?

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 R9 390X worth the extra $349 USD over the GeForce GTX 980?

Only if you need the extra performance or features; on pure value the GeForce GTX 980 comes out ahead.

Does the Radeon R9 390X have enough VRAM advantage to matter?

Its 8GB (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 Radeon R9 390X?

The GeForce GTX 980 is the all-round winner here — it's faster and the better value, so buy it if it fits your budget. Only consider the Radeon R9 390X if you find it at a steep discount.

Technical Specifications Comparison

Architecture & Cores

Architecture & Cores specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980Radeon R9 390X
ArchitectureMaxwellGCN 2.0
Process NodeTSMC 28nmTSMC 28nm
CUDA Cores (CUDA Cores / Stream Processors)2,0482,816✓

Clock Speeds

Clock Speeds specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980Radeon R9 390X
Base Clock1,126 MHz✓1,050 MHz
Boost Clock1,216 MHz✓1,050 MHz

Memory

Memory specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980Radeon R9 390X
VRAM Capacity4 GB8 GB✓
Memory TypeGDDR5GDDR5
Memory Bus256-bit512-bit✓
Memory Speed7 Gbps✓6 Gbps
Bandwidth224.3 GB/s384 GB/s✓

Connectivity & Power

Connectivity & Power specifications comparison between GeForce GTX 980 and Radeon R9 390X
SpecificationGeForce GTX 980Radeon R9 390X
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16PCIe 3.0 x16
TDP165 W✓275 W
Power Connectors2x 6-pin1x 6-pin + 1x 8-pin
ReleasedSep 2014Jun 2015