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 980 Ti

2015

Why buy it

✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Ti across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
62.7% HIGHER MSRP
$649 MSRPvs$399 MSRP

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

2023

Why buy it

✅77.0% more average FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $250 less on MSRP ($399 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 168.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 56.8 vs 21.1 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

GeForce GTX 980 Ti

2015

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

2023

Why buy it

✅Competitive enough if your priority is price, power, or specific feature preference.

Why buy it

✅77.0% more average FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $250 less on MSRP ($399 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 168.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 56.8 vs 21.1 G3D/$ ($399 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅33.3% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4060 Ti across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
❌Poor future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
62.7% HIGHER MSRP
$649 MSRPvs$399 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌Fewer clear downsides in this head-to-head, aside from the usual pricing and availability swings.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4060 Ti better than GeForce GTX 980 Ti?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4060 Ti averages 77.0% more FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 22,651 vs 13,711 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce GTX 980 Ti is a 2015 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?

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2015, 65.2% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 6 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack and better frame-generation support with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

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

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is about $250 cheaper on MSRP at $399 MSRP versus $649 MSRP, and you are getting 77.0% more estimated average FPS across 48 tracked games in our benchmark data and 65.2% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 168.7%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce GTX 980 Ti still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce GTX 980 Ti is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is very strong for 1080p, good for 1440p, and more limited at 4K. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around $649 MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

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 980 Ti Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	80 FPS	177 FPS
medium	69 FPS	162 FPS
high	56 FPS	142 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	124 FPS
1440p
low	70 FPS	143 FPS
medium	62 FPS	118 FPS
high	45 FPS	101 FPS
ultra	28 FPS	93 FPS
4K
low	26 FPS	93 FPS
medium	24 FPS	79 FPS
high	16 FPS	66 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	59 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Ti Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	186 FPS	425 FPS
medium	164 FPS	359 FPS
high	133 FPS	292 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	237 FPS
1440p
low	128 FPS	270 FPS
medium	104 FPS	229 FPS
high	82 FPS	186 FPS
ultra	62 FPS	154 FPS
4K
low	60 FPS	117 FPS
medium	50 FPS	95 FPS
high	46 FPS	77 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	60 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Ti Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	617 FPS	855 FPS
medium	494 FPS	693 FPS
high	411 FPS	609 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	510 FPS
1440p
low	463 FPS	660 FPS
medium	370 FPS	527 FPS
high	308 FPS	452 FPS
ultra	231 FPS	382 FPS
4K
low	308 FPS	447 FPS
medium	247 FPS	355 FPS
high	206 FPS	308 FPS
ultra	154 FPS	255 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Ti Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
1080p
low	232 FPS	775 FPS
medium	197 FPS	639 FPS
high	161 FPS	558 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	492 FPS
1440p
low	177 FPS	613 FPS
medium	156 FPS	503 FPS
high	123 FPS	435 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	378 FPS
4K
low	102 FPS	375 FPS
medium	83 FPS	322 FPS
high	67 FPS	298 FPS
ultra	53 FPS	255 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Ti Open GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 980 Ti and GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

GeForce GTX 980 Ti

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 2 2015. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1000 MHz to 1075 MHz. It has 2816 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 250W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 13,711 points. Launch price was $649.

GeForce RTX 4060 Ti

The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 18 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 2310 MHz to 2535 MHz. It has 4352 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 160W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 34 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,651 points. Launch price was $399.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 980 Ti scores 13,711 versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti's 22,651 — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti leads by 65.2%. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,816 (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 4,352 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Raw compute: 6.06 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 22.06 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Boost clocks: 1075 MHz vs 2535 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
G3D Mark Score	13,711	22,651+65%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2816	4352+55%
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.06 TFLOPS	22.06 TFLOPS+264%
Boost Clock	1075 MHz	2535 MHz+136%
ROPs	96+100%	48
TMUs	176+29%	136
L1 Cache	1 MB	4.3 MB+330%
L2 Cache	3 MB	32 MB+967%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is support for DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation. 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 980 Ti lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 980 Ti is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation
Ray Reconstruction	No	Yes (DLSS 3.5)
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti offers 33.3% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 288 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — a 16.7% advantage for the GeForce GTX 980 Ti. Bus width: 384-bit vs 128-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 32 MB (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	8 GB+33%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s+17%	288 GB/s
Bus Width	384-bit+200%	128-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	32 MB+967%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
DirectX	12.1	12.2
Vulkan	1.1	1.3+18%
OpenGL	4.5	4.6+2%
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 3.0 (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 8th Gen NVENC (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti).

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
Encoder	NVENC 3.0	8th Gen NVENC
Decoder	PureVideo HD VP6	5th Gen NVDEC
Codecs	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC	MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti draws 250W versus the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti's 160W — a 43.9% difference. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 550W (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 240mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 70°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4060 Ti
TDP	250W	160W-36%
Recommended PSU	600W	550W-8%
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	240mm
Height	111mm	111mm
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	85°C	70°C-18%
Perf/Watt	54.8	141.6+158%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti launched at $649 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti launched at $399. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti costs 38.5% less ($250 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 21.1 (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 56.8 (GeForce RTX 4060 Ti) — the GeForce RTX 4060 Ti offers 169.2% better value. The GeForce RTX 4060 Ti is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2015).