GeForce RTX 5090 vs GTX 980
Aggregate performance score
We've compared GeForce GTX 980 and GeForce RTX 5090, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.
RTX 5090 outperforms GTX 980 by a whopping 247% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in the ranking | 202 | 1 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | 57 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 11.04 | 10.80 |
| Power efficiency | 12.00 | 11.94 |
| Architecture | Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) | Blackwell 2.0 (2025) |
| GPU code name | GM204 | GB202 |
| Market segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Release date | 19 September 2014 (10 years ago) | 30 January 2025 (recently) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $549 | $1,999 |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
The higher the performance-to-price ratio, the better. We use the manufacturer's recommended prices for comparison.
GTX 980 has 2% better value for money than RTX 5090.
Detailed specifications
General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.
| Pipelines / CUDA cores | 2048 | 21760 |
| Core clock speed | 1064 MHz | 2017 MHz |
| Boost clock speed | 1216 MHz | 2407 MHz |
| Number of transistors | 5,200 million | 92,200 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 28 nm | 5 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 165 Watt | 575 Watt |
| Texture fill rate | 155.6 | 1,637 |
| Floating-point processing power | 4.981 TFLOPS | 104.8 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 64 | 176 |
| TMUs | 128 | 680 |
| Tensor Cores | no data | 680 |
| Ray Tracing Cores | no data | 170 |
Form factor & compatibility
Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).
| Bus support | PCI Express 3.0 | no data |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |
| Length | 267 mm | 304 mm |
| Height | 4.376" (11.1 cm) | no data |
| Width | 2-slot | 2-slot |
| Recommended system power (PSU) | 500 Watt | no data |
| Supplementary power connectors | 2x 6-pin | 1x 16-pin |
| SLI options | + | - |
VRAM capacity and type
Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.
| Memory type | GDDR5 | GDDR7 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 4 GB | 32 GB |
| Memory bus width | 256 Bit | 512 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 7.0 GB/s | 1750 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 224 GB/s | 1.79 TB/s |
| Shared memory | - | - |
Connectivity and outputs
Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.
| Display Connectors | Dual Link DVI-I, HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.2 | 1x HDMI 2.1b, 3x DisplayPort 2.1b |
| Multi monitor support | 4 displays | no data |
| VGA аnalog display support | + | no data |
| DisplayPort Multimode (DP++) support | + | no data |
| HDMI | + | + |
| HDCP | + | - |
| Maximum VGA resolution | 2048x1536 | no data |
| G-SYNC support | + | - |
| Audio input for HDMI | Internal | no data |
Supported technologies
Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.
| GameStream | + | - |
| GeForce ShadowPlay | + | - |
| GPU Boost | 2.0 | no data |
| GameWorks | + | - |
| H.264, VC1, MPEG2 1080p video decoder | + | - |
| Optimus | + | - |
| BatteryBoost | + | - |
API and SDK compatibility
List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 12 (12_1) | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |
| Shader Model | 6.4 | 6.8 |
| OpenGL | 4.5 | 4.6 |
| OpenCL | 1.2 | 3.0 |
| Vulkan | 1.1.126 | 1.4 |
| CUDA | + | 10.1 |
| DLSS | - | + |
Synthetic benchmark performance
Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark score.
Passmark
This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.
Gaming performance
Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.
Average FPS across all PC games
Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:
| Full HD | 94
−116%
| 203
+116%
|
| 1440p | 51
−265%
| 186
+265%
|
| 4K | 39
−279%
| 148
+279%
|
Cost per frame, $
| 1080p | 5.84
+68.6%
| 9.85
−68.6%
|
| 1440p | 10.76
−0.2%
| 10.75
+0.2%
|
| 4K | 14.08
−4.2%
| 13.51
+4.2%
|
- GTX 980 has 69% lower cost per frame in 1080p
- GTX 980 and RTX 5090 have nearly equal cost per frame in 1440p
- GTX 980 and RTX 5090 have nearly equal cost per frame in 4K
FPS performance in popular games
Full HD
Low Preset
| Atomic Heart | 75−80
−230%
|
250−260
+230%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 55−60
−287%
|
210−220
+287%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 60−65
−300%
|
240−250
+300%
|
Full HD
Medium Preset
| Atomic Heart | 75−80
−230%
|
250−260
+230%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 109
−80.7%
|
190−200
+80.7%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 55−60
−287%
|
210−220
+287%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 60−65
−300%
|
240−250
+300%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 80
−171%
|
210−220
+171%
|
| Fortnite | 242
−24.8%
|
300−350
+24.8%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 90
−282%
|
300−350
+282%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 75−80
−221%
|
250−260
+221%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 93
−90.3%
|
170−180
+90.3%
|
| Valorant | 170−180
−282%
|
650−700
+282%
|
Full HD
High Preset
| Atomic Heart | 75−80
−230%
|
250−260
+230%
|
| Battlefield 5 | 90
−119%
|
190−200
+119%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 55−60
−287%
|
210−220
+287%
|
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 260−270
−4.1%
|
270−280
+4.1%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 60−65
−300%
|
240−250
+300%
|
| Dota 2 | 120−130
−213%
|
400−450
+213%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 73
−197%
|
210−220
+197%
|
| Fortnite | 116
−160%
|
300−350
+160%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 83
−314%
|
300−350
+314%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 75−80
−221%
|
250−260
+221%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 72
−142%
|
170−180
+142%
|
| Metro Exodus | 60−65
−13.1%
|
69
+13.1%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 79
−124%
|
170−180
+124%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 85
−413%
|
400−450
+413%
|
| Valorant | 170−180
−282%
|
650−700
+282%
|
Full HD
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 82
−140%
|
190−200
+140%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 55−60
−267%
|
202
+267%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 60−65
−300%
|
240−250
+300%
|
| Dota 2 | 120−130
−213%
|
400−450
+213%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 69
−214%
|
210−220
+214%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 59
−483%
|
300−350
+483%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 75−80
−246%
|
270−280
+246%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 56
−216%
|
170−180
+216%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 46
−661%
|
350
+661%
|
| Valorant | 170−180
−282%
|
650−700
+282%
|
Full HD
Epic Preset
| Fortnite | 91
−232%
|
300−350
+232%
|
1440p
High Preset
| Counter-Strike 2 | 24−27
−632%
|
183
+632%
|
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 180−190
−174%
|
500−550
+174%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 50−55
−238%
|
160−170
+238%
|
| Metro Exodus | 35−40
−446%
|
202
+446%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 170−180
+0%
|
170−180
+0%
|
| Valorant | 210−220
−124%
|
450−500
+124%
|
1440p
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 62
−216%
|
190−200
+216%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 27−30
−457%
|
150−160
+457%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 48
−331%
|
200−210
+331%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 48
−538%
|
300−350
+538%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 45−50
−233%
|
160−170
+233%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 45−50
−598%
|
321
+598%
|
1440p
Epic Preset
| Fortnite | 53
−185%
|
150−160
+185%
|
4K
High Preset
| Atomic Heart | 21−24
−482%
|
128
+482%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 12−14
−1238%
|
174
+1238%
|
| Grand Theft Auto V | 59
−217%
|
180−190
+217%
|
| Metro Exodus | 21−24
−626%
|
167
+626%
|
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 29
−1203%
|
378
+1203%
|
| Valorant | 160−170
−108%
|
300−350
+108%
|
4K
Ultra Preset
| Battlefield 5 | 32
−325%
|
130−140
+325%
|
| Counter-Strike 2 | 12−14
−323%
|
55
+323%
|
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 12−14
−550%
|
75−80
+550%
|
| Dota 2 | 85−90
−237%
|
290−300
+237%
|
| Far Cry 5 | 24
−608%
|
170−180
+608%
|
| Forza Horizon 4 | 34
−797%
|
300−350
+797%
|
| Forza Horizon 5 | 24−27
−246%
|
90−95
+246%
|
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 20
−380%
|
95−100
+380%
|
4K
Epic Preset
| Fortnite | 25
−216%
|
75−80
+216%
|
This is how GTX 980 and RTX 5090 compete in popular games:
- RTX 5090 is 116% faster in 1080p
- RTX 5090 is 265% faster in 1440p
- RTX 5090 is 279% faster in 4K
Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:
- in Counter-Strike 2, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the RTX 5090 is 1238% faster.
All in all, in popular games:
- RTX 5090 is ahead in 60 tests (98%)
- there's a draw in 1 test (2%)
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 28.84 | 100.00 |
| Recency | 19 September 2014 | 30 January 2025 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 4 GB | 32 GB |
| Chip lithography | 28 nm | 5 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 165 Watt | 575 Watt |
GTX 980 has 248.5% lower power consumption.
RTX 5090, on the other hand, has a 246.7% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 10 years, a 700% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 460% more advanced lithography process.
The GeForce RTX 5090 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 980 in performance tests.
Other comparisons
We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.
