GeForce GTX 970M vs GRID P40-4Q

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce GTX 970M vs GRID P40-4Q FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce GTX 970M vs GRID P40-4Q: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce GTX 970M

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 81W instead of 225W, a 144W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 3 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2014 hardware with 3 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 2.0 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $3,000 MSRP).

GRID P40-4Q

2013

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 2.0 vs 0 G3D/$ ($3,000 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 3 GB).

Trade-offs

❌2013 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌177.8% higher power demand at 225W vs 81W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GRID P40-4Q is the faster gaming card right now based on the synthetic data we have. It leads by 3.9% in PassMark G3D (5,926 vs 5,705), which is the best performance signal available in this matchup.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce GTX 970M is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: a newer 2014 generation instead of 2013. That makes it the less risky pick as game demands keep moving.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GRID P40-4Q makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup. If you are mainly targeting 1080p and some 1440p, GRID P40-4Q is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and some 1440p headroom, GeForce GTX 970M has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 970M vs GRID P40-4Q Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce GTX 970M

The GeForce GTX 970M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 7 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 924 MHz to 1038 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 81W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,705 points. Launch price was $2,560.89.

GRID P40-4Q

The GRID P40-4Q is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 28 2013. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 745 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,926 points. Launch price was $469.

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Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 970M scores 5,705 and the GRID P40-4Q reaches 5,926 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 970M is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GRID P40-4Q uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,280 (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 1,536 (GRID P40-4Q). Raw compute: 2.657 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 2.289 TFLOPS (GRID P40-4Q).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GRID P40-4Q
G3D Mark Score	5,705	5,926+4%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Kepler
Process Node	28 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	1280	1536+20%
Compute (TFLOPS)	2.657 TFLOPS+16%	2.289 TFLOPS
ROPs	48+50%	32
TMUs	80	128+60%
L1 Cache	480 KB+275%	128 KB
L2 Cache	1.5 MB+200%	0.5 MB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce GTX 970M gets NVIDIA DLSS, which still tends to look cleaner in motion. The GRID P40-4Q leans on FSR, which is flexible and widely supported, but usually a bit rougher at the same settings.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GRID P40-4Q
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	Standard

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 970M has 3 GB of VRAM, while the GRID P40-4Q carries 4 GB. GRID P40-4Q gives you 33.3% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bus width is 192-bit on the GeForce GTX 970M and 128-bit on the GRID P40-4Q. L2 Cache: 1.5 MB (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 0.5 MB (GRID P40-4Q) — the GeForce GTX 970M has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GRID P40-4Q
VRAM Capacity	3 GB	4 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Bus Width	192-bit+50%	128-bit
L2 Cache	1.5 MB+200%	0.5 MB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12_1 (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 12_1 (GRID P40-4Q). Maximum simultaneous displays: 0 vs 0.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GRID P40-4Q
DirectX	12_1	12_1
Max Displays	0	0

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 970M draws 81W versus the GRID P40-4Q's 225W — a 94.1% difference. The GeForce GTX 970M is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 970M) vs 350W (GRID P40-4Q). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 1mm vs 1mm, occupying 0 vs 0 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GRID P40-4Q
TDP	81W-64%	225W
Recommended PSU	350W	350W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	1mm	1mm
Slots	0	0
Perf/Watt	70.4+168%	26.3

💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce GTX 970M (2014 vs 2013).

Feature	GeForce GTX 970M	GRID P40-4Q
MSRP	—	$3000
Codename	GM204	GK104
Release	October 7 2014	June 28 2013
Ranking	#408	#628

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