GeForce GTX 980M vs Radeon RX 6500

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 980M

2014

Why buy it

✅32.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅More future proof: Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 38.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌33.3% higher power demand at 100W vs 75W.

Radeon RX 6500

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 38.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on Unknown node with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 75W instead of 100W, a 25W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 980M across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.

GeForce GTX 980M

2014

Radeon RX 6500

Why buy it

✅32.5% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅More future proof: Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 38.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($199 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
✅More future proof: Unknown architecture on Unknown node with a newer platform for upcoming games.
✅Draws 75W instead of 100W, a 25W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 38.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $199 MSRP).
❌33.3% higher power demand at 100W vs 75W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 980M across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.

Quick Answers

So, is Radeon RX 6500 better than GeForce GTX 980M?

Yes. Radeon RX 6500 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce GTX 980M averages 32.5% more FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 7,610 vs 7,353 in G3D Mark. On top of that, Radeon RX 6500 is a 0 card with FSR 3 + AFMF, while GeForce GTX 980M is a 2014 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

Radeon RX 6500 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting better upscaling support with FSR 3 (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack and better frame-generation support with FSR Frame Generation + AFMF (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That broader feature stack should age better as more games lean on modern upscaling and frame-generation support.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

Radeon RX 6500 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. Radeon RX 6500 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $199 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting lower estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data and 3.5% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. GeForce GTX 980M is the newer 2014 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce GTX 980M make more sense than Radeon RX 6500?

Yes. GeForce GTX 980M is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture and staying closer to an unclear MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of Radeon RX 6500. The trade-off is that Radeon RX 6500 currently gives you 3.5% higher G3D Mark and lower estimated average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%.

Games Benchmarks

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 9800X3D 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.

GeForce GTX 980M Benchmark Check

Radeon RX 6500 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 980M	Radeon RX 6500
1080p
low	81 FPS	78 FPS
medium	69 FPS	68 FPS
high	58 FPS	54 FPS
ultra	38 FPS	35 FPS
1440p
low	71 FPS	71 FPS
medium	62 FPS	60 FPS
high	46 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	29 FPS	28 FPS
4K
low	25 FPS	25 FPS
medium	24 FPS	24 FPS
high	16 FPS	16 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	14 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980M Open Radeon RX 6500

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 980M	Radeon RX 6500
1080p
low	162 FPS	106 FPS
medium	136 FPS	73 FPS
high	112 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	82 FPS	33 FPS
1440p
low	114 FPS	72 FPS
medium	89 FPS	44 FPS
high	71 FPS	32 FPS
ultra	50 FPS	23 FPS
4K
low	49 FPS	34 FPS
medium	41 FPS	23 FPS
high	38 FPS	18 FPS
ultra	29 FPS	13 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980M Open Radeon RX 6500

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 980M	Radeon RX 6500
1080p
low	331 FPS	299 FPS
medium	265 FPS	258 FPS
high	221 FPS	196 FPS
ultra	165 FPS	160 FPS
1440p
low	248 FPS	221 FPS
medium	199 FPS	198 FPS
high	165 FPS	157 FPS
ultra	124 FPS	121 FPS
4K
low	165 FPS	135 FPS
medium	132 FPS	117 FPS
high	105 FPS	81 FPS
ultra	75 FPS	53 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980M Open Radeon RX 6500

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 980M	Radeon RX 6500
1080p
low	148 FPS	131 FPS
medium	123 FPS	107 FPS
high	108 FPS	91 FPS
ultra	93 FPS	77 FPS
1440p
low	111 FPS	99 FPS
medium	94 FPS	82 FPS
high	83 FPS	71 FPS
ultra	70 FPS	58 FPS
4K
low	64 FPS	58 FPS
medium	52 FPS	47 FPS
high	40 FPS	37 FPS
ultra	31 FPS	29 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980M Open Radeon RX 6500

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 980M and Radeon RX 6500

GeForce GTX 980M

The GeForce GTX 980M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 7 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1038 MHz to 1127 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,353 points.

Radeon RX 6500

The Radeon RX 6500 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in sem dados. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. G3D Mark benchmark score: 7,610 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 980M scores 7,353 and the Radeon RX 6500 reaches 7,610 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 3.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980M	Radeon RX 6500
G3D Mark Score	7,353	7,610+3%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the Radeon RX 6500 is support for FSR Frame Generation + AFMF. This allows it to generate entire frames using AI/Algorithms, essentially doubling the frame rate in CPU-bound scenarios or heavy ray-tracing titles. The GeForce GTX 980M lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce GTX 980M gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Radeon RX 6500 relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980M	Radeon RX 6500
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	FSR 3
Frame Generation	Not Supported	FSR Frame Generation + AFMF
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	AMD Anti-Lag

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

Both cards feature 4 GB of video memory. Memory bandwidth: 160 GB/s (GeForce GTX 980M) vs 144 GB/s (Radeon RX 6500) — a 11.1% advantage for the GeForce GTX 980M. Bus width: 256-bit vs 64-bit.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980M	Radeon RX 6500
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	160 GB/s+11%	144 GB/s
Bus Width	256-bit+300%	64-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 980M) vs 12.2 (Radeon RX 6500). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 2.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980M	Radeon RX 6500
DirectX	12.1	12.2
Vulkan	1.1	1.3+18%
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4+100%	2

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 2.0 (GeForce GTX 980M) vs None (Radeon RX 6500). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs VCN 3.0. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264 (GeForce GTX 980M) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Radeon RX 6500).

Feature	GeForce GTX 980M	Radeon RX 6500
Encoder	NVENC 2.0	None
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP6	VCN 3.0
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 980M draws 100W versus the Radeon RX 6500's 75W — a 28.6% difference. The Radeon RX 6500 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 980M) vs 400W (Radeon RX 6500). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 172mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980M	Radeon RX 6500
TDP	100W	75W-25%
Recommended PSU	350W-13%	400W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	1x 6-pin
Length	0mm	172mm
Height	0mm	112mm
Slots	0-100%	2
Temp (Load)	—	85°C
Perf/Watt	73.5	101.5+38%