GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) vs GeForce RTX 4070

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)

2015Core: 1126 MHzBoost: 1228 MHz
Similar parts
··
VS
NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4070

2023Core: 1920 MHzBoost: 2475 MHz
RTX family
·······

GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) vs GeForce RTX 4070 Performance Spectrum

About G3D Mark

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 980 SLI (móvel) vs GeForce RTX 4070 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 980 SLI (móvel) vs GeForce RTX 4070: 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 980 SLI (móvel)

2015

Why buy it

  • Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

  • Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Less VRAM, with 8 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
  • No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • 2015 hardware with 8 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
  • Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 44.9 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

  • 172.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
  • Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 0 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
  • Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
  • 50% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 8 GB).
  • Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

  • 13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?
GeForce RTX 4070 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 172.5% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 115% in PassMark G3D (26,919 vs 12,523), so the answer here is pretty clean.
Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?
GeForce RTX 4070 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 12 GB vs 8 GB of VRAM, the newer feature stack, with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) and DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023), while GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) is limited to no meaningful modern upscaling stack and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 28nm, and 46 vs 0 ray-tracing units. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.
Which GPU is the better buy today?
GeForce RTX 4070 makes the most sense today based on the pricing and value data we have for this matchup.

GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) vs GeForce RTX 4070 Technical Specifications

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

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)

The GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 22 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1126 MHz to 1228 MHz. It has 4096 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 330W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,523 points.

NVIDIA

GeForce RTX 4070

The GeForce RTX 4070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 12 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,919 points. Launch price was $599.

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) scores 12,523 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 115%. The GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) is built on Maxwell while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 4,096 (GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1228 MHz vs 2475 MHz.

FeatureGeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score
12,523
26,919+115%
Architecture
Maxwell
Ada Lovelace
Process Node
28 nm
5 nm
Shading Units
4096
5888+44%
Boost Clock
1228 MHz
2475 MHz+102%

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4070 is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. In games that support it, that can smooth out motion and lift perceived FPS. The GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) is capped at Upscaling support.

FeatureGeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)GeForce RTX 4070
Upscaling Tech
Upscaling support
DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation
Not Supported
DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction
No
Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency
NVIDIA Reflex
NVIDIA Reflex
💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) has 8 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 4070 gives you 50% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)) vs 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) — a 125% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070.

FeatureGeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity
8 GB
12 GB+50%
Memory Type
GDDR5
GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth
224 GB/s
504 GB/s+125%
Bus Width
256-bit+33%
192-bit
🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.4 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

FeatureGeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)GeForce RTX 4070
DirectX
12.1
12.2
Vulkan
1.1
1.3+18%
OpenGL
4.4
4.6+5%
Max Displays
4
4
🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 4.0 (2x) (GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 (2x) vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

FeatureGeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder
NVENC 4.0 (2x)
8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder
PureVideo HD VP6 (2x)
5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC
MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1
🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel) draws 330W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 49.1% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 80°C.

FeatureGeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)GeForce RTX 4070
TDP
330W
200W-39%
Recommended PSU
500W-23%
650W
Power Connector
1x 6-pin
8-pin
Length
267mm
304mm
Height
111mm
137mm
Slots
2-33%
3
Temp (Load)
85°C
80°C-6%
Perf/Watt
37.9
134.6+255%
💰

Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 (2023 vs 2015).

FeatureGeForce GTX 980 SLI (móvel)GeForce RTX 4070
MSRP
$599
Codename
N16E-GXX SLI
AD104
Release
September 22 2015
April 12 2023
Ranking
#145
#32

Affiliate Disclosure

ChipVERSUS is a participant in the Amazon Services LLC Associates Program, an affiliate advertising program designed to provide a means for sites to earn advertising fees by advertising and linking to Amazon.com. We may earn a commission on qualifying purchases made through our links. This comes at no additional cost to you and helps support our work in providing comprehensive PC building guides and tools.

Amazon and the Amazon logo are trademarks of Amazon.com, Inc. or its affiliates.