GeForce GTX 970
NVIDIA
G3D Mark
9,640
MSRP
$329
AVG Price
$50
Performance Spectrum - GPU
About G3D Mark
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.
Overview
The GeForce GTX 970 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 19 2014. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 1050 MHz to 1178 MHz. It has 1664 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 150W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 9,640 points. Launch price was $329.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 970
FPS Benchmarks
Predicted performance for GeForce GTX 970 across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Apex Legends
Counter-Strike 2
Elden Ring
League of Legends
Left 4 Dead 2
Marvel Rivals
Overwatch 2
Path of Exile 2
Phasmophobia
Rainbow Six Siege
Technical Analysis
Detailed breakdown of GeForce GTX 970 specifications and capabilities.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 970 scores 9,640 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Mid-Range tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) architecture (codename: GM204), manufactured on a 28 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 1664 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 104 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 56 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 3.92 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance. Boost clock reaches 1178 MHz from a base of 1050 MHz.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|
| G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score | 9,640 |
| ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation | Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) |
| CodenameInternal GPU die codename | GM204 |
| Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient | 28 nm |
| Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute | 1664 |
| TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling | 104 |
| ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending | 56 |
| Boost ClockMaximum GPU frequency under load | 1178 MHz |
| Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency | 1050 MHz |
| Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance | 3.92 TFLOPS |
| Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second | 122.5 GTexel/s |
| PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Transistor Count | 5,200 million |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #269 |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 970 is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 256-bit memory bus, delivering 224 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|
| VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures | 4 GB |
| VRAM TypeMemory technology generation | GDDR5 |
| Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth | 256-bit |
| Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate | 8 Gbps |
| BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM | 224 GB/s |
| L1 Cache | 624 kB |
| L2 Cache | 2 MB |
Advanced Features & APIs
Graphics API support: DirectX 12 (FL 12_1), Vulkan 1.3, OpenGL 4.6— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA Reflex | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Frame Generation | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Super Resolution | ❌ Not Supported |
| DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version | 12 (FL 12_1) |
| VulkanCross-platform graphics API | 1.3 |
| OpenGLLegacy graphics API | 4.6 |
| Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL) | CUDA 5.2 |
Display & Media
Display outputs: 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.2 — supports up to 4 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: NVENC 2nd gen, decoder: PureVideo VP6— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: H.264,H.265/HEVC.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|
| DVI PortsNumber of DVI display connectors | 1x |
| HDMI 2.0 PortsNumber of HDMI 2.0 display connectors | 1x |
| DisplayPort 1.2 PortsNumber of DisplayPort 1.2 display connectors | 3x |
| Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors | 4 |
| Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version | NVENC 2nd gen |
| Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version | PureVideo VP6 |
| CodecsSupported video compression formats | H.264,H.265/HEVC |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 970 draws 148 Watt under load (TDP) — a 500W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 2x 6-pin. Physical size: 267mm long, 111mm tall, occupying 2 expansion slots, weighing 845g— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 80°C under load.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|
| TDPPower consumption under load | 148 Watt |
| Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage | 500W |
| Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type | 2x 6-pin |
| Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance | 267mm |
| Card Height | 111mm |
| Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied | 2-slot |
| Weight | 845g |
| Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load | 80°C |
Value Analysis
At an average price of $50 (MSRP: $329), the GeForce GTX 970 delivers 193 G3D Mark points per dollar. Overall performance ranking position: #269 among all indexed GPUs.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 970 |
|---|---|
| MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price | $329 |
| Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days | $50 |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #269 |
| Release Date | September 19 2014 |
| Release Year | 2014 |
Similar Performance
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Our Recommendation for GeForce GTX 970
Suggested pairings based on performance balance
Minimum (Avoid Bottleneck) (12)
Recommended (Balanced) (12)
High-End (Max Performance) (12)
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