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

✅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 6 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: 2015-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
8.3% HIGHER MSRP
$649 MSRPvs$599 MSRP

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅92.0% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($599 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 112.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 21.1 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

GeForce GTX 980 Ti

2015

GeForce RTX 4070

2023

Why buy it

✅Measures 267mm instead of 304mm, a 37mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.

Why buy it

✅92.0% more average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Costs $50 less on MSRP ($599 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Delivers 112.7% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.9 vs 21.1 G3D/$ ($599 MSRP vs $649 MSRP).
✅Access to a newer frame-generation stack with DLSS 3.5 + Frame Generation (2023).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (12 GB vs 6 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce RTX 4070 across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Less VRAM, with 6 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: 2015-era hardware with 6 GB of VRAM is already a legacy-tier option for modern games.
❌
8.3% HIGHER MSRP
$649 MSRPvs$599 MSRP

Trade-offs

❌13.9% longer card at 304mm vs 267mm.

Quick Answers

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

Yes. GeForce RTX 4070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. GeForce RTX 4070 averages 92.0% more FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data. You are also looking at 26,919 vs 13,711 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 4070 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 4070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2023 generation instead of 2015, 96.3% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 12 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 4070 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 4070 is about $50 cheaper on MSRP at $599 MSRP versus $649 MSRP, and you are getting 92.0% more estimated average FPS across 13 tracked games in our benchmark data and 96.3% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 112.7%. 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 4070 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 4070 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	80 FPS	183 FPS
medium	69 FPS	167 FPS
high	56 FPS	151 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	131 FPS
1440p
low	70 FPS	150 FPS
medium	62 FPS	124 FPS
high	45 FPS	110 FPS
ultra	28 FPS	101 FPS
4K
low	26 FPS	92 FPS
medium	24 FPS	78 FPS
high	16 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	58 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Ti Open GeForce RTX 4070

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	186 FPS	544 FPS
medium	164 FPS	454 FPS
high	133 FPS	353 FPS
ultra	104 FPS	299 FPS
1440p
low	128 FPS	351 FPS
medium	104 FPS	288 FPS
high	82 FPS	235 FPS
ultra	62 FPS	197 FPS
4K
low	60 FPS	172 FPS
medium	50 FPS	144 FPS
high	46 FPS	125 FPS
ultra	37 FPS	101 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Ti Open GeForce RTX 4070

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	617 FPS	884 FPS
medium	494 FPS	713 FPS
high	411 FPS	643 FPS
ultra	308 FPS	569 FPS
1440p
low	463 FPS	684 FPS
medium	370 FPS	549 FPS
high	308 FPS	483 FPS
ultra	231 FPS	424 FPS
4K
low	308 FPS	467 FPS
medium	247 FPS	373 FPS
high	206 FPS	326 FPS
ultra	154 FPS	277 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Ti Open GeForce RTX 4070

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4070
1080p
low	232 FPS	751 FPS
medium	197 FPS	612 FPS
high	161 FPS	536 FPS
ultra	136 FPS	497 FPS
1440p
low	177 FPS	615 FPS
medium	156 FPS	500 FPS
high	123 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	102 FPS	395 FPS
4K
low	102 FPS	384 FPS
medium	83 FPS	324 FPS
high	67 FPS	301 FPS
ultra	53 FPS	272 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 980 Ti Open GeForce RTX 4070

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

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

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 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 Ti scores 13,711 versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 26,919 — the GeForce RTX 4070 leads by 96.3%. The GeForce GTX 980 Ti is built on Maxwell 2.0 while the GeForce RTX 4070 uses Ada Lovelace, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 2,816 (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 4070). Raw compute: 6.06 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 29.15 TFLOPS (GeForce RTX 4070). Boost clocks: 1075 MHz vs 2475 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4070
G3D Mark Score	13,711	26,919+96%
Architecture	Maxwell 2.0	Ada Lovelace
Process Node	28 nm	5 nm
Shading Units	2816	5888+109%
Compute (TFLOPS)	6.06 TFLOPS	29.15 TFLOPS+381%
Boost Clock	1075 MHz	2475 MHz+130%
ROPs	96+50%	64
TMUs	176	184+5%
L1 Cache	1 MB	5.8 MB+480%
L2 Cache	3 MB	36 MB+1100%

✨

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 Ti 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 Ti is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	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 Ti comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 4070 has 12 GB. The GeForce RTX 4070 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 336 GB/s (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 504 GB/s (GeForce RTX 4070) — a 50% advantage for the GeForce RTX 4070. Bus width: 384-bit vs 192-bit. L2 Cache: 3 MB (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 36 MB (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4070
VRAM Capacity	6 GB	12 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6X
Memory Bandwidth	336 GB/s	504 GB/s+50%
Bus Width	384-bit+100%	192-bit
L2 Cache	3 MB	36 MB+1100%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12.1 (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) 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 Ti	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 Ti) 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 Ti) vs MPEG-2,H.264,HEVC,VP9,AV1 (GeForce RTX 4070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	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 Ti draws 250W versus the GeForce RTX 4070's 200W — a 22.2% difference. The GeForce RTX 4070 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 600W (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 4070). Power connectors: 6-pin + 8-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 267mm vs 304mm, occupying 2 vs 3 slots. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 980 Ti	GeForce RTX 4070
TDP	250W	200W-20%
Recommended PSU	600W-8%	650W
Power Connector	6-pin + 8-pin	8-pin
Length	267mm	304mm
Height	111mm	137mm
Slots	2-33%	3
Temp (Load)	85°C	80°C-6%
Perf/Watt	54.8	134.6+146%

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 980 Ti launched at $649 MSRP, while the GeForce RTX 4070 launched at $599. The GeForce RTX 4070 costs 7.7% less ($50 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 21.1 (GeForce GTX 980 Ti) vs 44.9 (GeForce RTX 4070) — the GeForce RTX 4070 offers 112.8% better value. The GeForce RTX 4070 is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2015).