The GTX 960 is the latest addition to the NVIDIA GeForce line of graphics cards. While other GTX cards require a six-pin power connector, this one only needs a single one. In contrast, AMD cards require two six-pin connectors and an eight-pin plug. So which is the best choice for you? Here’s a brief comparison of both cards. In addition, read our review of each to make an informed decision.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960
The EVGA GeForce GTX 960 delivers power efficiency and outstanding performance. This card features twice the power efficiency of the previous generation, tear-free NVIDIA G-SYNC technology, and VXGI for realistic lighting. In addition, the 960 supports Dynamic Super Resolution for 4K gaming on a 1080p display. Regardless of how you choose to play, you can count on the EVGA GeForce GTX 960 to be a top choice.
For the mainstream enthusiast, the GTX 960 is a great choice. Almost every game I tested gave me 60 fps. It should be boosted with MFAA to achieve the best framerates. The 960 runs cool and silently, a testament to its excellent value for money. It’s also affordable, making it a great choice for people on a budget.
The front panel of the GTX 960 is surprisingly equipped with a plethora of outputs. It supports three DisplayPorts, a DVI connector, and HDMI. This means that you’ll be able to connect more than one display to it and still see everything in crystal clear detail. The card also supports DirectX 12 – the next generation of gaming API – and comes with Windows 10.
In terms of power consumption, the GTX 960 is a little slower than the R9 285 and is much less efficient. The price difference between the two cards isn’t huge, but the power efficiency of the Nvidia card will eventually push its competitor down to a lower price. AMD’s Never Settle bundles will no longer be available on Amazon or Newegg. In terms of performance, the GTX 960 is a worthy upgrade, but it’s not as powerful as the R9 285 and will cost you less than half as much.
The Asus Strix topped out at 58 C
The Asus Strix topped out at 58 C, and this is even after applying an overclock. The EVGA SSC topped out at 75 C, but in normal scenarios both cards ran very quietly. It is worth noting that the SSC is equipped with dual BIOS. It has two fan profiles – one for the reference and one for overclocking. If you’re looking for an overclocking card, the MSI Twin Frozr V is a great choice.
Despite its lower price tag, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 96 is a compelling midrange GPU. AMD’s midrange parts have dropped significantly in price recently, so this is a good time to purchase one. You’ll be glad you did. If you’re not sure which GPU to buy, then check out the Radeon R9 285 or the GeForce GTX 970.
The performance of the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 96 is good enough for the majority of games, though the GTX 1660 is a worthy upgrade. In games like Forza Horizon 4, the GTX 960 can produce decent frame rates compared to the GTX 960. Its performance is a little less than half the frame rate of the GTX 1660, but it’s still a decent choice for gamers.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 features cutting-edge technology powered by the NVIDIA Maxwell architecture. Maxwell is a highly advanced GPU architecture, inspired by light. It was developed to address complex graphics and lighting challenges. Maxwell gaming GPUs can dynamically render indirect light through VXGI technology. It can handle all types of gaming workloads, including the most demanding AAA titles.
The GTX 970’s TDP is slightly lower than the GTX 980, with a stock TDP of 145W. This is about 80W lower than the GTX 770’s official TDP of 225W. Although it uses the same GM204 silicon, the GTX 970’s clock speed has been reduced from 1216MHz to 1178MHz. More details on these numbers can be found in the Anandtech review. Moreover, the revision’s specifications have been released. In addition to the smaller TDP, the GTX 970 is equipped with 56 ROPs and a single L2 cache.
The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Graphics Card has 1664 CUDA CORES, an operating frequency ranging from 1050 to 1178 MHz. It also includes four gigabytes of GDDR5 memory. This memory interface has a 256-bit wide-array interface. Moreover, the GTX 970 is compatible with all kinds of modern gaming consoles, including the PCs used by gamers.
Despite being a midrange graphics card, the Nvidia GTX 970’s price is quite affordable, compared with the AMD R9-290X. Compared to the latter, the price is only a few cents more, which makes it a bargain in the market. However, it’s a bit slower than the top-performing graphics cards in its group. In fact, the narrow performance gap between the two cards indicates that the Nvidia GTX 970 is a consistent performer.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 graphics card features 1664 shading units and 104 texture mapping units. It supports DirectX 12 and is capable of driving up to 4096×2160 resolution displays. In addition, it boasts an integrated performance technology that reduces unwanted artifacts in gaming. You can customize your graphics card to suit your personal preferences and play any game you want. But remember that an excellent graphics card must be able to handle demanding workloads.
Although the GTX 970 is a great Graphics Card, it is still a step down from the GTX 980. Its lowered clock speeds and fewer SMMs make it an interesting proposition, but it’s not a replacement for the GTX 980. AMD will soon launch its own GPUs, including the GM200 and Fiji XT. AMD’s upcoming GTX 970 and its predecessor are likely to remain competitive in the market, so it may be worth a look before making your purchase.
The GeForce GTX 970 is a mid-range graphics card with excellent performance at 1080p and 1440p. Its price is well below the cost of a newer GPU, and its future-proofing is a bonus. The GeForce GTX 1070 is a great upgrade, but it’s also a step up from the GTX 970. Although it’s more expensive than its predecessor, it’s worth the extra cash.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 was a very powerful card when it was released, and it’s still a great option. Its features are extensive and include DirectX version 12, G-Sync compatibility, OpenCL 1.2, and OpenGL 4.6. It also supports VR, but does not support RGB lighting. Other features include NVIDIA GameWorks Technology, MFAA, and Surround technology.
The GeForce GTX 980 has been on the market since late 2014, but third-party cards are popping up in the market with improved clock speeds and new features. Based on the Maxwell architecture, the GTX 980 is one of the most powerful cards in the current Nvidia range. It’s the fastest card in its class and supports NVIDIA G-SYNC technology to deliver smooth gameplay. It is also one of the most affordable options in the market today.
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 is also built on a 28-nm process, and its graphics processor uses a GM204 GPU with 5,200 million transistors. It has 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs. The GeForce GTX 980 features 4GB of GDDR5 memory, coupled with a 256-bit memory interface. The GeForce GTX 980 is available in two flavors, with the standard and high-end variants.
Overall, the GTX 980 has excellent 1080p performance. Only the R9 390X and Fury are faster, but these are still good minimum and average results. For gamers who want to play games on a higher resolution, the GTX 980’s best results were in BioShock Infinite and Tomb Raider. Its minimum and average frame rates are much lower than the AMD counterparts, but they are still playable.
GeForce GTX 980 has excellent features
While Nvidia’s new GeForce GTX 980 has excellent features, it’s not as versatile as the AMD equivalent. It’s not compatible with many notebooks, and you might have to wait until Nvidia gives a satisfactory response. However, if you’re looking for a new graphics card, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti is a great option.
In our tests, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 has a small advantage over AMD Radeon R9 290X and ASUS ROG Matrix GTX 780 OC Edition. This difference varies between three percent and thirteen percent. The ASUS ROG Matrix GTX 780 Ti Platinum is the closest competitor to the GTX 980 and ASUS ROG Matrix GTX 880 Ti Platinum. The GTX 980 can be overclocked and improved up to 12%.
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