GeForce GTX 970M
NVIDIA
G3D Mark
5,705
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.
Overview
The GeForce GTX 970M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 7 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 924 MHz to 1038 MHz. It has 1280 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 81W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,705 points. Launch price was $2,560.89.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. The GeForce GTX 970M is positioned at rank #27 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Great cost-benefit for your build. 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 970M
FPS Benchmarks
Predicted performance for GeForce GTX 970M across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Path of Exile 2
Counter-Strike 2
League of Legends
Valorant
Technical Analysis
Detailed breakdown of GeForce GTX 970M specifications and capabilities.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 970M scores 5,705 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: GM204), manufactured on a 28 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 1280 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 80 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 48 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 2.657 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance. Boost clock reaches 1038 MHz from a base of 924 MHz.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970M |
|---|---|
| G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score | 5,705 |
| ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation | Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) |
| CodenameInternal GPU die codename | GM204 |
| Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient | 28 nm |
| Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute | 1280 |
| TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling | 80 |
| ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending | 48 |
| Boost ClockMaximum GPU frequency under load | 1038 MHz |
| Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency | 924 MHz |
| Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance | 2.657 TFLOPS |
| Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second | 83.04 GTexel/s |
| PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Transistor Count | 5,200 million |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #408 |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 970M is equipped with 3 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 192-bit memory bus, delivering 120 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970M |
|---|---|
| VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures | 3 GB |
| VRAM TypeMemory technology generation | GDDR5 |
| Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth | 192-bit |
| Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate | 8 Gbps |
| BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM | 120 GB/s |
| L1 Cache | 480 kB |
| L2 Cache | 1536 kB |
Advanced Features & APIs
Graphics API support: DirectX 12_1— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970M |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA Reflex | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Frame Generation | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Super Resolution | ❌ Not Supported |
| DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version | 12_1 |
| Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL) | CUDA 5.2 |
| Multi-GPUSLI/CrossFire/NVLink support | SLI |
Display & Media
Display outputs: — supports up to 0 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: NVENC 5th Gen, decoder: NVDEC 2nd Gen— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970M |
|---|---|
| Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors | 0 |
| Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version | NVENC 5th Gen |
| Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version | NVDEC 2nd Gen |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 970M draws unknownW under load (TDP) — a 350W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 1x 6-pin. Physical size: 1mm long, occupying 0 expansion slots— verify your case has clearance before purchasing.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970M |
|---|---|
| TDPPower consumption under load | unknownW |
| Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage | 350W |
| Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type | 1x 6-pin |
| Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance | 1mm |
| Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied | 0-slot |
Value Analysis
It holds Rank #27 in the cost-benefit ranking — a comprehensive score that weighs raw performance against current market pricing. Overall performance ranking position: #408 among all indexed GPUs.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970M |
|---|---|
| Cost-Benefit RankOverall value ranking position | #27 |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #408 |
| Release Date | October 7 2014 |
| Release Year | 2014 |
Similar Performance
Graphics cards with benchmark scores closest to the current hardware, grouped by manufacturer.
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Our Recommendation for GeForce GTX 970M
Suggested pairings based on performance balance
Minimum (Avoid Bottleneck) (12)
Recommended (Balanced) (12)
High-End (Max Performance) (12)
Popular Comparisons
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