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GTX 970 or 980

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  • Gtx
  • Graphics Cards
Last response: in Graphics & Displays
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September 21, 2014 11:40:30 AM

I'm looking to pick up a new graphics card, seeing as how i currently have the GTX 650. I am thinking of picking up the GTX 970 or 980. I am uncertain if the 980 is overkill for current games though. The performance increase per money doesn't seem to justify getting a 980. What are your thoughts?

More about : gtx 970 980

a b U Graphics card
September 21, 2014 11:42:06 AM

I think getting the GTX 980 for $550~ right now is totally worth it, because it is way cheaper than the GTX 780 Ti, and performs better.
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a c 86 U Graphics card
September 21, 2014 11:45:22 AM

The GTX 970 is much better value for money than the 980. And the 970 is plenty for 1080p and 1440p.
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a c 288 U Graphics card
September 21, 2014 11:46:54 AM

A GTX970 is a very good jump over your GTX650. It should run any single monitor short of a 4k monitor very well.
At the launch price, it is a very good deal if you are on a budget.

That said, if you have the budget for a GTX980 buy one. If you don't, you will forever wonder if you should have.
I have rarely regretted paying more for the best.
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a b U Graphics card
September 21, 2014 11:51:09 AM

The GTX 970 is a much better value than the GTX 980. Why spend over $200 more for a GPU which is only 20% faster? Generally you would want to upgrade when each new architecture releases, anyway, due to the new features which are launched.
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a b U Graphics card
September 21, 2014 11:53:19 AM

The performance difference versus price between the 970 and 980 is just really quite insane.

Going by pretty much every benchmark I've viewed so far (That'll be... all of them, what can I say, I'm excited to buy one) the percentage between the two is around 10-20%, more often than not closer to the 10. This gap narrows further when comparing to the 780ti.
In the majority of games this translates to about 10-12fps on 1920x1080. Interestingly enough, both the 980 and 780ti and even 290x storm ahead in Crysis 3, bit of an oddity that one.

If you're conscious of your money I would suggest doing the same as I and going for the 970 - then overclocking it.
Most benchmarks I've viewed so far have managed to get about a 10-12% overclock out of the things, of course, the 980 will allow similar overclocks, but you can see what I'm getting at here.

If your heart is set on the 980 (Truth be told, I'm not fully decided either) then I suggest waiting for prices to at least stabilise. I'm rather hoping that AMD will rush out their next range in order to bring down that 980 a bit.
For now, I would consider the 980 to be a card only for those with deep pockets wanting the best of the best. As far as price/performance ratio goes, the 970 definitely fits in at a very competitive price bracket.
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September 21, 2014 11:53:32 AM

GTX 980 gives you a 20 percent performance boost but it costs alot more, at the moment the GTX 970 lies between a 780 and a 780ti. The card is a beast and it is amazing value for money. If you want to buy a GTX 980 go for it if you have the extra money as it is a better card but the GTX 970 is a better value for money card
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September 21, 2014 12:02:57 PM

Here is the truth.
Both cards are great and perform well. But as far as i see it, 970 is better way to go. You can overclock 970 easily to 1500mhz and it will perform pretty much like 780ti or better and if you have the buget for 980 and a bit more get SLI 970. At least in Norway paying 100$ extra you can get SLI EVGA 970. And i assume prices in US are lower so you pay like 600$ for SLI 970 when single 980 costs 550$

Personally at first i was like, pff 970, ill go for the 980. But after taking a closer look to prices and performance difference between those 2 i understood that 970 is better way to go. I am sure if you are lucky enough you can overclock 970 to be as good as non-OC 980.

Now its up to you to decide what is better now that i layed down the facts.
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September 21, 2014 12:49:22 PM

Would the performance increase I would get from the GTX 980 keep it relevant longer than the 970 enough to justify me getting it? Because I am thinking that on a 1920x1080 the 970 will be able to run any game at least playable for a while to come, but the 980 would be able to do that for a longer period of time.
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September 21, 2014 12:55:04 PM

2x 970GTX is the only way to go. 1x 980GTX just doesn't cut it. I was hoping this would be the case,as I was looking forward replacing my 770 SC ACX Sli, but the 980GTX it isn't any faster than the 780ti( its about the same). The 970's are cheap enough to buy 2 of them :D  Price per performance, all the sites agree, the 970 is the best buy.
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a b U Graphics card
September 21, 2014 1:18:48 PM

The simple answer is which one can you afford? If $300+ is within your budget get the 970. If you can equally afford $500+ then get the 980, both are equally worth it at their price points. To me cards that cost more than that are just not worth it for value, but both of these cards are.

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a c 86 U Graphics card
September 21, 2014 2:47:20 PM

Mathew Whittlesey said:
Would the performance increase I would get from the GTX 980 keep it relevant longer than the 970 enough to justify me getting it? Because I am thinking that on a 1920x1080 the 970 will be able to run any game at least playable for a while to come, but the 980 would be able to do that for a longer period of time.

It would be relevant for a bit longer. But with a GTX 970 you save $200-250. If you save that money for an upgrade in 2-3 years, you'll be better off than with the 980.
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September 21, 2014 7:01:07 PM

Joseph DeGarmo said:
The GTX 970 is a much better value than the GTX 980. Why spend over $200 more for a GPU which is only 20% faster? Generally you would want to upgrade when each new architecture releases, anyway, due to the new features which are launched.


You do know 20% is alot right? That is a huge difference.... If AMD released a graphic card that is 3% better than the GTX 980, my friend. You don't know how good that 3% is.
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a b U Graphics card
September 21, 2014 7:04:42 PM

I personally think GTX 980 is worth the money, because it performs better than the $700~ 780Ti.
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September 21, 2014 9:53:10 PM

I think it's a little high priced, the 970's much sharper priced. I guess they priced the 980 like that "cos they can". Anyway, unless you're a perfectionist who always needs to have the best of the best for some reason, get a 970, it's great value and still beats anything from AMD, and from Nvidia it beats everything except for the 780 Ti and Titan Black (and obviously, the 980) which all cost much more.
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September 21, 2014 10:58:03 PM

I think with how fast technology changes and advances, getting the 970 will be good for me as it's another 200 towards either a second 970 if they drop enough in price, or the next big improvement for my rig. Thanks for the opinions all!
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