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.

Overview

The GeForce GTX 960 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in January 22 2015. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1127 MHz to 1178 MHz. It has 1024 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 6,133 points. Launch price was $199.

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.

MSRP is the manufacturer's suggested retail price.•
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.

Performance Per Dollar

Based on actual market prices and performance benchmarks.

FPS Benchmarks

Predicted performance for GeForce GTX 960 across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Technical Analysis

Detailed breakdown of GeForce GTX 960 specifications and capabilities.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 960 scores 6,133 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Budget tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) architecture (codename: GM206), manufactured on a 28 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 1024 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 64 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 32 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 2.413 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance. Boost clock reaches 1178 MHz from a base of 1127 MHz.

Specification	GeForce GTX 960
G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score	6,133
ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation	Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)
CodenameInternal GPU die codename	GM206
Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient	28 nm
Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute	1024
TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling	64
ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending	32
Boost ClockMaximum GPU frequency under load	1178 MHz
Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency	1127 MHz
Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance	2.413 TFLOPS
Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second	75.39 GTexel/s
PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation	PCIe 3.0 x16
Transistor Count	2,940 million
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking	#393

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 960 is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 128-bit memory bus, delivering 112 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.

Specification	GeForce GTX 960
VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures	4 GB
VRAM TypeMemory technology generation	GDDR5
Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth	128-bit
Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate	8 Gbps
BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM	112 GB/s
L1 Cache	384 kB
L2 Cache	1024 kB

✨

Advanced Features & APIs

Graphics API support: DirectX 12 (12_1), Vulkan 1.3, OpenGL 4.6— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.

Specification	GeForce GTX 960
NVIDIA Reflex	❌ Not Supported
DLSS Frame Generation	❌ Not Supported
DLSS Super Resolution	❌ Not Supported
DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version	12 (12_1)
VulkanCross-platform graphics API	1.3
OpenGLLegacy graphics API	4.6
Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL)	CUDA 5.2, OpenCL 3.0
Multi-GPUSLI/CrossFire/NVLink support	2-way SLI

🖥️

Display & Media

Display outputs: DVI-Ix 0, HDMI 2.0x 1, DisplayPort 1.2 x3x 2 — supports up to 4 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: NVENC (5th Gen), decoder: NVDEC (2nd Gen)— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: HEVC,H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8.

Specification	GeForce GTX 960
0 PortsNumber of 0 display connectors	DVI-Ix
1 PortsNumber of 1 display connectors	HDMI 2.0x
2 PortsNumber of 2 display connectors	DisplayPort 1.2 x3x
Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors	4
Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version	NVENC (5th Gen)
Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version	NVDEC (2nd Gen)
CodecsSupported video compression formats	HEVC,H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1,VP8

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 960 draws 120 Watt under load (TDP) — a 400W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 6-pin. Physical size: 241mm long, 111mm tall, occupying 2 expansion slots, weighing 586g— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 40 C at idle, 75 C under load.

Specification	GeForce GTX 960
TDPPower consumption under load	120 Watt
Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage	400W
Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type	6-pin
Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance	241mm
Card Height	111mm
Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied	2-slot
Weight	586g
Idle TemperatureTypical temperature at desktop idle	40 C
Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load	75 C

💰

Value Analysis

At an average price of $45 (MSRP: $199), the GeForce GTX 960 delivers 136 G3D Mark points per dollar. Overall performance ranking position: #393 among all indexed GPUs.

Specification	GeForce GTX 960
MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price	$199
Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days	$45
Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking	#393
Release Date	January 22 2015
Release Year	2015