Gtx 980 Performance Review and Buying Guide

The gtx 980 was a consumer graphics processing unit (GPU) with some serious muscle. When it was released, it was a powerful graphics card with great performance for high resolution gaming, and it delivered significant improvements in energy efficiency that pushed the envelope in graphics processing units. There are still plenty of PC gamers wondering if this veteran graphics card is still relevant for today’s games or low cost systems.

It has since been replaced by more advanced cards with newer technologies like ray tracing and AI upscaling, the GTX 980 card is still a significant part of graphics card history. To determine this we need to understand how it works, how quickly it operates, and its performance.

Architecture and Key Specifications

NVIDIA’s Maxwell architecture, with greater efficiency than its predecessor, was the foundation for the GeForce GTX 980. When it was initially released it was lauded for its high gaming performance and low energy consumption.

It contains 2048 CUDA cores, a clock speed of around 1126MHz and 4GB of GDDR5 memory. This was enough to play most games at 1440p.

It also boasted impressive power efficiency. The Maxwell architecture offered better performance with comparable power requirements, which meant gamers didn’t need to invest in expensive cooling systems.

While 4 GB of VRAM was a bargain at the time, this is not sufficient in some new games. This is a prime limitation for its use today.

Performance with Modern Games

Performance of the gtx 980 is resolution dependent. At 1080p resolution, it will play well many esports and older AAA titles at medium to high settings. Low-spec games run particularly well.

But newer AAA games that make extensive use of advanced lighting effects and textures may need setting reductions. Memory restrictions are apparent in large open world titles.

Lower resolutions may be required for 1440p. It’s possible to run games at lower settings but high frame rates may not be achievable with certain games.

Hardware ray tracing is also absent, preventing some new effects from the RTX series GPUs. Users looking for advancements in visuals may prefer a newer card.

Comparison With Newer GPUs

The GTX 980 holds its own. Cards like the RTX 3060 offer significantly better performance along with features such as ray tracing and DLSS support.

Even lower end cards from newer generations may give better performance and efficiency. Increased memory bandwidth and architecture efficiency make a difference.

But cost and supply are factors. Older cards may still be in demand in the second hand market for budget gaming.

This can’t compete with today’s high end cards, but can be found in lower end applications and older games.

Power Consumption and Cooling

One advantage of Maxwell architecture was efficient power usage. The GTX 980 has a typical TDP of 165 watts, which was quite efficient for a high end card of its day.

It could be quieter than some previous high end cards. Custom boards typically had two fans to cool the card.

If buying a second hand card, check the cooling and thermal paste. Cooling may be impacted by thermal cycling.

A well-ventilated PC case can help keep your PC cool.

Should I Buy a GTX 980?

Should I Buy a GTX 980? Whether you should buy a GTX 980 will depend on your requirements. It could still be a good option for cheap gaming builds which can play games at 1080p.

But if you want to play games at high refresh rates in today’s AAA games, a newer generation graphics card may be more worth it.

Prices on the second hand market need to be considered. Often slightly newer models can be found for comparable prices with better performance and new features.

If you already have the 980, then you should upgrade to get ray tracing, frame rates, 1440p and 4K support. If you have lower expectations and are playing less intense games it may be enough.

Longevity and Driver Support

Driver support is another factor to consider. NVIDIA will continue to provide drivers for older cards, but the bulk of the effort will be on the new cards.

As time passes, gains in performance with new games may diminish. This doesn’t mean they will no longer function, but support transitions to newer generation hardware.

Compatibility patches and security fixes continue to be important. Consumers should keep their cards up to date.

Preparing for the future replacement avoids performance bottlenecks.

Final Thought

The Gtx 980 is an important part of history. It boasted an impressive power-to-performance ratio and gaming performance that thrilled gamers on its release. It’s still adequate for 1080p gaming and other low-end applications.

But technology is ever evolving. Today’s cards are more efficient, have more memory and feature next generation graphics features that revolutionise video games. Whether you upgrade or not will be determined by your use case.

If you’re a nostalgic PC builder or a low budget gamer, the GTX 980 will still do its job. If you want to play the latest games and with the latest resolutions, a new generation may be worth the upgrade.