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 vs GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 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 vs GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU: 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

2014

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 20.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($549 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌2014 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.
❌37.5% higher power demand at 220W vs 160W.

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅129.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).
✅Better long-term bet: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm gives it a newer hardware base for upcoming games.
✅Draws 160W instead of 220W, a 60W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 20.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $549 MSRP).

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 129.1% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 57.1% in PassMark G3D (17,400 vs 11,077), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 8 GB vs 4 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 is limited to no meaningful modern upscaling stack and no comparable frame-generation support, a 5nm process instead of 28nm, and 34 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 GTX 980 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, GeForce GTX 980 is the easier value choice. If you care more about 1080p and lighter 1440p headroom, GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU Technical Specifications

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

GeForce GTX 980

The GeForce GTX 980 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 19 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1064 MHz to 1216 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 220W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 11,077 points. Launch price was $549.

GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU

The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2310 MHz to 2535 MHz. It has 4352 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 17,400 points. Launch price was $399.

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Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 980 scores 11,077 versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU's 17,400 — the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU leads by 57.1%. The GeForce GTX 980 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,048 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 4.981 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 980) vs 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1216 MHz vs 2535 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	11,077	17,400+57%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2048	4352+113%
Compute (TFLOPS)	4.981 TFLOPS	22.06 TFLOPS+343%
Boost Clock	1216 MHz	2535 MHz+108%
ROPs	64+33%	48
TMUs	128	136+6%
L1 Cache	0.75 MB	4.3 MB+473%
L2 Cache	2 MB	32 MB+1500%

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU 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 does not have comparable native support in the same tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 980 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
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

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 980 has 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU carries 8 GB. GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce GTX 980) vs 256 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) — a 14.3% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce GTX 980 and 128-bit on the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 980) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	8 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	256 GB/s+14%
Bus Width	256-bit+100%	128-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	32 MB+1500%

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Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
DirectX	12.1	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.1	1.4+27%
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 3.0 (GeForce GTX 980) vs NVENC (8th Gen) (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs NVDEC (5th Gen). Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 980) vs H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU).

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
Encoder	NVENC 3.0	NVENC (8th Gen)
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP6	NVDEC (5th Gen)
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC	H.264,HEVC,AV1,VP9

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 980 draws 220W versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU's 160W — a 31.6% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 980) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs Mobile. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
TDP	220W	160W-27%
Recommended PSU	500W-23%	650W
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	Mobile
Length	267mm	—
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	80°C	80°C
Perf/Watt	50.4	108.8+116%

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU (2023 vs 2014).

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU
MSRP	$549	—
Codename	GM204	AD106
Release	September 19 2014	May 18 2023
Ranking	#245	#59

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