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

2014

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (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 20.2 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($549 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅188.1% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 122.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 20.2 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

GeForce GTX 980

2014

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($549 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).
✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅188.1% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 122.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 20.2 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $549 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅200% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ada Lovelace (2022−2024) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 12 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No equivalent frame-generation stack like DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (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 20.2 vs 44.9 G3D/$ ($549 MSRP vs $599 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 4070 better than GeForce GTX 980?

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4070 averages 188.1% more FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 26,919 vs 11,077 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4070 is a 2023 card with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation, while GeForce GTX 980 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?

GeForce RTX 4070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2014, 143.0% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 GB instead of 4 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 4070 is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce RTX 4070 is about 9.1% more expensive on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $549 MSRP, and you are getting 188.1% more estimated average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data and 143.0% higher G3D Mark. GeForce GTX 980 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

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

No, not for a fresh gaming build. GeForce GTX 980 is 2014 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM, 11,077 in G3D Mark, and no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That is simply too far behind to be an easy modern recommendation.

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 Benchmark Check

GeForce RTX 4070 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	82 FPS	183 FPS
medium	71 FPS	167 FPS
high	60 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	72 FPS	150 FPS
medium	63 FPS	124 FPS
high	47 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	30 FPS	101 FPS
4K
low	26 FPS	92 FPS
medium	24 FPS	78 FPS
high	17 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	58 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	182 FPS	544 FPS
medium	156 FPS	454 FPS
high	128 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	99 FPS	299 FPS
1440p
low	127 FPS	351 FPS
medium	102 FPS	288 FPS
high	83 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	64 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	59 FPS	172 FPS
medium	49 FPS	144 FPS
high	47 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	39 FPS	101 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	478 FPS	884 FPS
medium	399 FPS	713 FPS
high	332 FPS	643 FPS
ultra	249 FPS	569 FPS
1440p
low	374 FPS	684 FPS
medium	299 FPS	549 FPS
high	249 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	187 FPS	424 FPS
4K
low	242 FPS	467 FPS
medium	199 FPS	373 FPS
high	154 FPS	326 FPS
ultra	114 FPS	277 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Open GeForce RTX 4070

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	153 FPS	751 FPS
medium	127 FPS	612 FPS
high	110 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	94 FPS	497 FPS
1440p
low	114 FPS	615 FPS
medium	96 FPS	500 FPS
high	84 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	71 FPS	395 FPS
4K
low	66 FPS	384 FPS
medium	53 FPS	324 FPS
high	41 FPS	301 FPS
ultra	32 FPS	272 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Open GeForce RTX 4070

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 980 and GeForce RTX 4070

GeForce GTX 980

The GeForce GTX 980 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 19 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1064 MHz to 1216 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 220W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 11,077 points. Launch price was $549.

GeForce RTX 4070

The GeForce RTX 4070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in April 12 2023. It features the Ada Lovelace architecture. The core clock ranges from 1920 MHz to 2475 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 200W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 26,919 points. Launch price was $599.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 980 scores 11,077 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 143%. The GeForce GTX 980 is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,048 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 4.981 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 980) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1216 MHz vs 2475 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	11,077	26,919+143%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2048	5888+188%
Compute (TFLOPS)	4.981 TFLOPS	29.15 TFLOPS+485%
Boost Clock	1216 MHz	2475 MHz+104%
ROPs	64	64
TMUs	128	184+44%
L1 Cache	0.75 MB	5.8 MB+673%
L2 Cache	2 MB	36 MB+1700%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

A critical advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070 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 lacks specific hardware/driver support for this native frame generation tier.The GeForce RTX 4070 supports the newer DLSS 3.5 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 980 is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
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 comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 4070 offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 224 GB/s (GeForce GTX 980) vs 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) — a 125% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Bus width: 256-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 2 MB (GeForce GTX 980) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	12 GB+200%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	224 GB/s	504 GB/s+125%
Bus Width	256-bit+33%	192-bit
L2 Cache	2 MB	36 MB+1700%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 12.2 (GeForce RTX 4070). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
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) vs 8th Gen NVENC (2x) (GeForce RTX 4070). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP6 vs 5th Gen NVDEC. Supported codecs: MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC (GeForce GTX 980) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
Encoder	NVENC 3.0	8th Gen NVENC (2x)
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 draws 220W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 9.5% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (GeForce GTX 980) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 80°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	220W	200W-9%
Recommended PSU	500W-23%	650W
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	304mm
Height	111mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	80°C	80°C
Perf/Watt	50.4	134.6+167%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 980 launched at $549 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. The GeForce GTX 980 costs 8.3% less ($50 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 20.2 (GeForce GTX 980) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 122.3% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2014).