NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 in 2025: Is It Worth Considering the Legend of the Past?
Introduction
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 is a legendary graphics card released in 2014. Despite its venerable age, it can still be found in the PCs of enthusiasts. But is it still relevant in 2025? Let's see who this GPU is suitable for and what tasks it can handle in the era of ray tracing and neural network technologies.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Maxwell Architecture: Humble, Yet Efficient
The GTX 980 is built on the Maxwell architecture (GM204), created using a 28-nm manufacturing process. This was a step forward compared to the previous Kepler generation: energy efficiency increased by 30%, and performance per watt doubled.
Lack of Modern Technologies
The card does not support ray tracing (RTX), DLSS, or FidelityFX Super Resolution (FSR). In 2025, this is a key drawback: most games require hardware acceleration for RT effects, and upscaling has become standard for 4K. However, basic features such as NVIDIA Adaptive V-Sync and DSR (Dynamic Super Resolution) are present.
2. Memory: Volume and Bandwidth
GDDR5: Classic, but Not High-End
The GTX 980 is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory and a 256-bit bus. The bandwidth is 224 GB/s. In comparison, modern entry-level cards (e.g., RTX 4050) use GDDR6 with bandwidth starting from 360 GB/s.
Impact on Performance
4 GB of video memory is critically insufficient for games in 2025, even at medium settings in 1080p. For instance, in Cyberpunk 2077: Phantom Liberty or Starfield at Ultra textures, FPS drops occur due to buffer overflow. However, for projects from 2015 to 2020 (like The Witcher 3 or GTA V), this amount is adequate.
3. Gaming Performance
1080p: Acceptable for Older Games
In Full HD, the GTX 980 shows decent results:
- The Witcher 3 (Ultra, without HairWorks): 60–70 FPS.
- Fortnite (Epic, without RT): 45–55 FPS.
- CS2 (High): 120–140 FPS.
1440p and 4K: Not for Modern Projects
At 1440p, the average FPS in new games drops to 25–35 frames (e.g., Horizon Forbidden West on Medium). 4K mode is suitable for less demanding indie projects or streaming via GeForce NOW.
Ray Tracing: Lack of Support
RT effects are unavailable as Maxwell does not have hardware RT Core blocks. In games with software emulation (like Quake II RTX), performance drops below 10 FPS.
4. Professional Tasks
CUDA: Basic Capabilities
The card has 2048 CUDA cores. For editing in DaVinci Resolve or Premiere Pro, it is sufficient for working on Full HD projects, but rendering 4K will take 3–4 times longer than on an RTX 3050.
3D Modeling and Scientific Calculations
In Blender or Autodesk Maya, the GTX 980 can handle simple scenes, but Cycles Render will be slow. For machine learning or scientific simulations, it's better to choose cards with Tensor Core support (Ampere or Ada Lovelace).
5. Power Consumption and Heat Generation
TDP of 165W: Modest for 2025
Modern mid-range GPUs (RTX 4060) have a similar TDP but offer higher performance. The recommended power supply is 500W with an 8-pin cable.
Cooling and Cases
The reference NVIDIA cooler (turbo fan) is noisy under load (up to 38 dB). For quieter operation, it’s better to choose models with custom coolers (e.g., MSI Twin Frozr). The case should have good ventilation: at least 2 intake fans and 1 exhaust fan.
6. Comparison with Competitors
Against AMD Radeon R9 390 (2015)
The GTX 980 wins in energy efficiency (165W vs. 275W for R9 390) but loses in memory volume (4 GB vs. 8 GB). In DX12 games, the R9 390 sometimes outperforms Maxwell due to asynchronous computations.
Against Modern Budget GPUs
- NVIDIA RTX 3050 (2022): 2–3 times faster in games, supports DLSS and RT, 8 GB GDDR6. Price: $250.
- AMD RX 6600 (2021): Better optimized for Vulkan, 8 GB GDDR6, FSR 2.0. Price: $220.
7. Practical Tips
Power Supply
Minimum 500W with an 80+ Bronze certification. Examples: Corsair CX550M, EVGA 500 BQ.
Compatibility with Platforms
- PCIe 3.0 x16: Compatible with PCIe 4.0/5.0 motherboards, but bandwidth is limited.
- Drivers: NVIDIA support was discontinued in 2024. The last stable version is 552.44.
Settings Optimization
In games of 2025, disable:
- Volumetric post-effects (Motion Blur, Depth of Field).
- Ultra textures (choose Medium or High).
- Anti-aliasing above FXAA.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Low price on the secondary market ($70–100).
- Energy efficiency for its class.
- Quiet operation in custom versions.
Cons:
- No support for RTX/DLSS.
- Only 4 GB of video memory.
- Outdated drivers.
9. Conclusion: Who is the GTX 980 For?
This graphics card is a viable option for:
1. Budget Builds: If you need a PC for office tasks and older games.
2. Temporary Solutions: While you save for an RTX 5060.
3. Retro Gamers: To run projects from the 2010s at max settings.
Why Not to Get the GTX 980 in 2025?
Even budget newcomers like the Intel Arc A580 ($150) offer more memory, support for modern APIs, and upscaling technologies.
Conclusion
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 is a respected veteran, but time spares no legend. In 2025, it should only be considered as a stopgap solution or part of a nostalgic build. For comfortable gaming in new releases, look towards GPUs with 8+ GB of memory and support for FSR 3.0 or DLSS 3.5.