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 RTX 500 Ada Generation 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 RTX 500 Ada Generation 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 RTX 500 Ada Generation 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 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
❌2014 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM already sits in legacy territory for modern games.

RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

2023

Why buy it

✅118.4% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025).
✅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.

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?

RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 118.4% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and by 0.7% in PassMark G3D (11,153 vs 11,077), so the answer here is pretty clean.

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

RTX 500 Ada Generation 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 4 Super Resolution (2025) and DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation (2025), 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 100 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 some 1440p headroom, RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU has the stronger long-term case.

GeForce GTX 980 vs RTX 500 Ada Generation 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.

RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

The RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 9 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1155 MHz to 2550 MHz. It has 12800 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 100 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 11,153 points.

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Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 980 scores 11,077 and the RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU reaches 11,153 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.7% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 980 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,048 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 12,800 (RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Raw compute: 4.981 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 980) vs 65.28 TFLOPS (RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Boost clocks: 1216 MHz vs 2550 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
G3D Mark Score	11,077	11,153
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2048	12800+525%
Compute (TFLOPS)	4.981 TFLOPS	65.28 TFLOPS+1211%
Boost Clock	1216 MHz	2550 MHz+110%
ROPs	64	176+175%
TMUs	128	400+213%
L1 Cache	0.75 MB	12.5 MB+1567%
L2 Cache	2 MB	72 MB+3500%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The clearest feature edge for the RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU is support for DLSS 4 Multi 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 RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU supports the newer DLSS 4 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 980 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 4 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 4 Multi Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 4)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 980 has 4 GB of VRAM, while the RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU carries 8 GB. RTX 500 Ada Generation 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 128 GB/s (RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) — a 75% advantage for the GeForce GTX 980. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce GTX 980 and 64-bit on the RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 980) vs 72 MB (RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU) — the RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	8 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s+75%	128 GB/s
Bus Width	256-bit+300%	64-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	72 MB+3500%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 12.2 (RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
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 (RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). 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 (RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU).

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
Encoder	NVENC 3.0	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP6	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 980 draws 220W versus the RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU's 250W — a 12.8% difference. The GeForce GTX 980 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 980) vs 500W (RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 267mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
TDP	220W-12%	250W
Recommended PSU	500W	500W
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	267mm	0mm
Height	111mm	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	80°C	80°C
Perf/Watt	50.4+13%	44.6

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Value Analysis

The newer card here is RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU (2023 vs 2014).

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	RTX 500 Ada Generation Laptop GPU
MSRP	$549	—
Codename	GM204	AD102
Release	September 19 2014	August 9 2023
Ranking	#245	#16

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