NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 in 2025: Nostalgia or Relevance?
Introduction
Released in 2014, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 has become a legend among gamers thanks to its price-to-performance ratio. However, after 11 years, its capabilities are being called into question. Let's explore how relevant this card is in 2025, how it handles modern tasks, and whether it should be considered for a PC build.
1. Architecture and Key Features
Maxwell Architecture: A Modest Foundation
The GTX 970 is built on the Maxwell architecture (GM204), developed using a 28nm process. This generation brought a 40% improvement in energy efficiency compared to the previous Kepler series. However, modern GPUs such as the RTX 40 series utilize a 4nm process and the Ada Lovelace architecture.
Lack of Modern Technologies
The GTX 970 does not support ray tracing (RTX), DLSS, or FidelityFX Super Resolution. These features have become standard in gaming since 2018, but their operation requires hardware blocks (like RT cores) that Maxwell lacks.
Key Features from 2014
- Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR): Enhances image clarity in games.
- MFAA: Anti-aliasing with lower resource usage.
- ShadowPlay: Gameplay recording with minimal impact on FPS.
2. Memory: A Controversial Aspect
GDDR5 and the "3.5 GB Problem"
The card is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 memory, but due to its non-standard configuration, access to 512 MB is slower. This has led to FPS drops in games that use more than 3.5 GB (for instance, Cyberpunk 2077 even on low settings in 2025 requires 6 GB).
Bandwidth
The 256-bit bus and 7 GHz frequency provide 224 GB/s. In comparison, the RTX 4060 with GDDR6 (192-bit, 17 GHz) offers 272 GB/s. In modern games with high-resolution textures, the GTX 970 lags due to its narrow bandwidth.
3. Gaming Performance
1080p: Acceptable for Older Titles
- CS2: 120–150 FPS (low settings).
- The Witcher 3: 45–55 FPS (medium settings).
- GTA V: 60–70 FPS (high settings).
1440p and 4K: Not Recommended
Even in less demanding games like Fortnite, average FPS drops to 30–40 at 1440p. The card is unfit for 4K gaming.
Ray Tracing: No Support
All games with RTX (such as Alan Wake II) on GTX 970 either run without ray tracing or require software emulation, reducing FPS to 10–15.
4. Professional Tasks
CUDA: Limited Assistance
The card features 1664 CUDA cores, allowing for accelerated rendering in Blender or Adobe Premiere Pro. However, the 4 GB of memory is a serious limitation. For example, rendering a 4K scene may fail due to insufficient VRAM.
Scientific Computing
For machine learning or simulation tasks, the GTX 970 falls behind even budget modern cards. For instance, the RTX 3050 (8 GB GDDR6) is 3–4 times faster thanks to its Ampere architecture.
5. Power Consumption and Heat Generation
TDP of 145W: Modest, but Needs Attention
The recommended power supply is 500W (for example, Corsair CX550). The card is compatible with most Mid-Tower cases but requires good ventilation.
Cooling
The reference version was equipped with a turbine, but partner models (ASUS Strix, MSI Gaming) offered 2–3 fans. In 2025, even used cards should be cleaned of dust and have their thermal paste replaced.
6. Comparison with Competitors
AMD Radeon R9 390 (2015)
- 8 GB GDDR5, GCN 1.1 architecture.
- Better performance in games that use a lot of VRAM.
- Higher power consumption (275W TDP).
NVIDIA GTX 1060 (2016)
- 6 GB GDDR5, Pascal architecture.
- 15–20% faster in DX12 games.
- Support for newer drivers.
In 2025, Competitors — Budget Newcomers
- Intel Arc A580 (8 GB GDDR6): 120–150 FPS at 1080p, supports XeSS.
- AMD RX 6600 (8 GB GDDR6): 100–130 FPS at 1080p, priced at $199.
7. Practical Tips
Power Supply
Minimum 500W with an 8-pin cable. Avoid cheap noname models — unstable voltage can damage the card.
Compatibility with Platforms
- PCIe 3.0 x16: works on PCIe 4.0/5.0, but without speed gain.
- OS Support: Current drivers are only available for Windows 10. Windows 11 and Linux require manual configuration.
Drivers
NVIDIA discontinued official support for the GTX 900 series in 2021. The last stable version is 472.12. New games may encounter issues.
8. Pros and Cons
Pros
- Low price on the secondary market ($50–80).
- Energy efficiency for its class.
- Reliability (if kept cool).
Cons
- Only 4 GB of memory (3.5 GB is fast).
- No support for ray tracing and DLSS.
- Outdated drivers.
9. Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider the GTX 970?
This card is suitable for:
1. Budget Builds: If you need a PC for office tasks and older games.
2. Retro Gamers: To run projects from the 2010s on medium settings.
3. Temporary Solution: While you save for an RTX 4060 or RX 7600.
Why Not to Choose GTX 970 in 2025?
Even budget newcomers (like the Intel Arc A380 at $120) offer support for modern technologies and warranty. The GTX 970 is an option for those willing to accept limitations in exchange for nostalgia or an ultra-low budget.
If you find a GTX 970 in perfect condition for $50 — give it a try. But remember: the future belongs to GPUs with AI accelerators and larger memory capacities.