GPU Comparison
Select up to 2 GPUs to analyze their pricing, performance, and specifications side-by-side.
The Radeon RX Vega 56 is noticeably faster than the GeForce GTX 980, leading by roughly 17% in our performance index. The GeForce GTX 980, however, delivers more performance per dollar — $265 USD cheaper.
Maximum Capacity Reached. Remove a model to add another. (2/2)
Radeon RX Vega 56 vs GeForce GTX 980: In-Depth Breakdown
Performance: Radeon RX Vega 56 vs GeForce GTX 980
The Radeon RX Vega 56 is noticeably faster, around 17% ahead of the GeForce GTX 980. That gap is enough to move it up a tier: the Radeon RX Vega 56 is comfortable at 1080p, while the GeForce GTX 980 is better matched to entry-level 1080p.
Price & Value
Right now the GeForce GTX 980 starts at $85 USD against $350 USD for the Radeon RX Vega 56. Despite being slower, the GeForce GTX 980 offers the better performance-per-dollar (~253% better value), so budget-focused buyers should weigh it carefully. The GeForce GTX 980 is trading below its $549 USD MSRP — a genuine deal. The Radeon RX Vega 56 is trading below its $399 USD MSRP — a genuine deal.
Power & Efficiency
The GeForce GTX 980 draws just 165W versus 210W for the Radeon RX Vega 56, and it also delivers more performance per watt — so it runs cooler and quieter and needs less PSU headroom.
VRAM & Future-Proofing
With 8GB against 4GB, the Radeon RX Vega 56 has more headroom for 4K textures and memory-hungry creative/AI tasks where the GeForce GTX 980's 4GB can fall short.
Generation & Longevity
The Radeon RX Vega 56 is roughly 3 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 Vega 56 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 Vega 56 or GeForce GTX 980?
Choose the Radeon RX Vega 56 if you want the most performance and can absorb the higher price. If you're optimizing for value, the GeForce GTX 980 stretches your money further for only slightly lower performance.