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 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 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

2014

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅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 4 GB vs 12 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.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 20.2 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($549 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅152.6% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 122.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 20.2 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 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 152.6% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 143% in PassMark G3D (26,919 vs 11,077), 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 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 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 to buy today. It is $50 more expensive on MSRP at $599 vs $549, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 122.7% (44.9 vs 20.2), so the value case lines up with the gaming result.

GeForce GTX 980 vs GeForce RTX 4070 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 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 scores 11,077 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 143%. The GeForce GTX 980 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,048 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 4.981 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 980) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1216 MHz vs 2475 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	11,077	26,919+143%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2048	5888+188%
Compute (TFLOPS)	4.981 TFLOPS	29.15 TFLOPS+485%
Boost Clock	1216 MHz	2475 MHz+104%
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	128	184+44%
L1 Cache	0.75 MB	5.8 MB+673%
L2 Cache	2 MB	36 MB+1700%

✨

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 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 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	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 has 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 carries 12 GB. GeForce RTX 4070 gives you 200% 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 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 and 192-bit on the GeForce RTX 4070. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 980) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	12 GB+200%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	504 GB/s+125%
Bus Width	256-bit+33%	192-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	36 MB+1700%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
DirectX	12.1	12.2
Vulkan	1.1	1.3+18%
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 3.0 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 980) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder	NVENC 3.0	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP6	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 980 draws 220W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 9.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 980) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	220W	200W-9%
Recommended PSU	500W-23%	650W
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	304mm
Height	111mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	80°C	80°C
Perf/Watt	50.4	134.6+167%

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 980 came in at $549, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. On MSRP, GeForce GTX 980 was 8.3% cheaper ($50 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 20.2 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 122.3% better value. The newer card here is GeForce RTX 4070 (2023 vs 2014).

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
MSRP	$549-8%	$599
Performance per Dollar	20.2	44.9+122%
Codename	GM204	AD104
Release	September 19 2014	April 12 2023
Ranking	#245	#32

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