GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
On raw speed the GeForce GTX 980 comes out significantly faster — about 20% ahead of the Radeon RX 6500 XT. It also wins on performance-per-dollar, making it the cleaner choice when you can afford it.
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GeForce GTX 980 vs Radeon RX 6500 XT: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: GeForce GTX 980 vs Radeon RX 6500 XT
The GeForce GTX 980 is significantly faster, around 20% ahead of the Radeon RX 6500 XT. Both cards sit in the same broad class, well suited to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
The GeForce GTX 980 currently lists from $85 USD, $55 USD less than the Radeon RX 6500 XT at $140 USD. Because it's both faster and competitively priced, the GeForce GTX 980 wins on performance-per-dollar by about 98%. The GeForce GTX 980 is trading below its $549 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The Radeon RX 6500 XT is trading below its $200 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
At 113W against 165W, the Radeon RX 6500 XT is both the lower-power and the more efficient card, making it the easier build to cool and power.
Generation & Longevity
The Radeon RX 6500 XT is roughly 8 years newer than the GeForce GTX 980, so it generally benefits from a more modern architecture and longer driver-support runway.
Features & Ecosystem
Beyond raw numbers, the Radeon RX 6500 XT brings AMD FSR upscaling and strong rasterization value, while the GeForce GTX 980 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 6500 XT or GeForce GTX 980?
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 RX 6500 XT if you find it at a steep discount.