
GeForce GTX 980M SLI vs Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design

GeForce GTX 980M SLI
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Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design
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Performance Spectrum - GPU
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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 980M SLI
Performance Per Dollar Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
⚠️ Generational Difference
The Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design uses modern memory architecture. The Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design likely supports modern features like Ray Tracing, Tensor Cores, and DLSS/FSR upscaling, which act as force multipliers for performance. The GeForce GTX 980M SLI lacks this hardware feature set, limiting its longevity in modern titles despite any raw power similarities.
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.2% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (16 GB vs 8 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 980M SLI.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 980M SLI | Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.2%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Maxwell (2014−2017)) | 🏆Elite Architecture (Turing (2018−2022) / 12nm) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | ✨ DLSS 3/4 + Frame Gen Support |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | 🎮 High Capacity (16 GB) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (267mm) | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
Performance Check
Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 7800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.
Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 980M SLI and Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design

GeForce GTX 980M SLI
The GeForce GTX 980M SLI is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 7 2014. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 1038 MHz to 1127 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,523 points.

Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design
The Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 27 2019. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 600 MHz to 1350 MHz. It has 3072 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 80W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. It features 48 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 12,675 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 980M SLI scores 12,523 and the Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design reaches 12,675 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 980M SLI is built on Maxwell while the Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design uses Turing, both on 28 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 3,072 (GeForce GTX 980M SLI) vs 3,072 (Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design). Boost clocks: 1127 MHz vs 1350 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980M SLI | Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 12,523 | 12,675+1% |
| Architecture | Maxwell | Turing |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 12 nm |
| Shading Units | 3072 | 3072 |
| Boost Clock | 1127 MHz | 1350 MHz+20% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980M SLI | Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | NVIDIA Reflex |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 980M SLI comes with 8 GB of VRAM, while the Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design has 16 GB. The Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 256-bit vs 256-bit.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980M SLI | Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 8 GB | 16 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR6 |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | 256-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 980M SLI) vs 12.2 (Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.4 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980M SLI | Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| 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 980M SLI) vs 7th Gen NVENC (Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 (2x) vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 980M SLI) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) (Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980M SLI | Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 4.0 (2x) | 7th Gen NVENC |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP6 (2x) | 5th Gen NVDEC |
| Codecs | MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC | MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (Decode) |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 980M SLI draws 200W versus the Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design's 80W — a 85.7% difference. The Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 980M SLI) vs 500W (Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 267mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 80°C.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 980M SLI | Quadro RTX 5000 with Max-Q Design |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 200W | 80W-60% |
| Recommended PSU | 500W | 500W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 267mm | 0mm |
| Height | 111mm | 0mm |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 85°C | 80°C-6% |
| Perf/Watt | 62.6 | 158.4+153% |
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