GeForce GTX 960 vs GeForce GTX 980M

Find out if it is worth upgrading your current GPU setup by comparing GeForce GTX 960 and GeForce GTX 980M. Here you can take a closer look at graphics cards specs, such as core clock speed, memory type and size, display connectors, etc. The price, overall benchmark and gaming performances are usually defining factors when it comes to choosing between GeForce GTX 960 and GeForce GTX 980M. Make sure that the graphics card has compatible dimensions and will properly fit in your new or current computer case. Also these graphics cards may have different system power recommendations, so take that into consideration and upgrade your PSU if necessary.

GeForce GTX 980M is a Laptop Graphics Card

Note: GeForce GTX 980M is only used in laptop graphics. It has lower GPU clock speed compared to the desktop variant, which results in lower power consumption, but also 10-30% lower gaming performance. Check available laptop models with GeForce GTX 980M here:

Main Specs

  GeForce GTX 960 GeForce GTX 980M
Power consumption (TDP) 120 Watt
Interface PCIe 3.0 x16 MXM-B (3.0)
Supplementary power connectors 1x 6-pins None
Memory type GDDR5 GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount 4 GB 8 GB
Display Connectors 1x DVI, 1x HDMI, 3x DisplayPort No outputs
Recommended system power (PSU) 400 Watt
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  • GeForce GTX 960 is connected by PCIe 3.0 x16, and GeForce GTX 980M uses MXM-B (3.0) interface.
  • GeForce GTX 980M has 4 GB more memory, than GeForce GTX 960.
  • GeForce GTX 960 is used in Desktops, and GeForce GTX 980M - in Laptops.
  • GeForce GTX 960 and GeForce GTX 980M are build with Maxwell architecture.
  • Core clock speed of GeForce GTX 960 is 89 MHz higher, than GeForce GTX 980M.
  • GeForce GTX 960 and GeForce GTX 980M are manufactured by 28 nm process technology.
  • Memory clock speed of GeForce GTX 980M is 2493 MHz higher, than GeForce GTX 960.

Game benchmarks

high / 1080p 35−40 35−40
ultra / 1080p 21−24 24−27
QHD / 1440p 16−18 18−20
4K / 2160p 10−11 10−11
low / 720p 60−65 60−65
medium / 1080p 40−45 45−50
The average gaming FPS of GeForce GTX 980M in Assassin's Creed Odyssey is 3% more, than GeForce GTX 960.

Full Specs

  GeForce GTX 960 GeForce GTX 980M
Architecture Maxwell Maxwell
Code name GM206 GM204
Type Desktop Laptop
Release date 22 January 2015 7 October 2014
Pipelines 1024 1536
Core clock speed 1127 MHz 1038 MHz
Boost Clock 1178 MHz 1127 MHz
Transistor count 2,940 million 5,200 million
Manufacturing process technology 28 nm 28 nm
Texture fill rate 72 billion/sec 51.84
Floating-point performance 2,413 gflops 3,462 gflops
Length 9.5" (24.1 cm)
Memory bus width 128 Bit 256 Bit
Memory clock speed 7.0 GB/s 2500 MHz
Memory bandwidth 112 GB/s 160 GB/s
Shared memory - -
G-SYNC support + +
DirectX 12 (12_1) 12 (12_1)
Shader Model 6.4 6.4
OpenGL 4.4 4.5
OpenCL 1.2 1.1
Vulkan 1.1.126 1.1.126
CUDA + +
Monero / XMR (CryptoNight) 0.27 kh/s
CUDA cores 1024 1536
Bus support PCI Express 3.0 PCI Express 3.0
Height 4.376" (11.1 cm)
SLI options + +
Multi monitor support 4 displays
HDMI +
HDCP +
Maximum VGA resolution 2048x1536
Audio input for HDMI Internal
Bitcoin / BTC (SHA256) 318 Mh/s 383 Mh/s
Laptop size large
DisplayPort Multimode (DP++) support +
H.264, VC1, MPEG2 1080p video decoder +
Optimus +
Decred / DCR (Decred) 0.92 Gh/s
Ethereum / ETH (DaggerHashimoto) 8 Mh/s
Zcash / ZEC (Equihash) 141.47 Sol/s
GameStream + +
GeForce ShadowPlay + +
GPU Boost 2.0 2.0
GameWorks + +
BatteryBoost +
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