GeForce GTX 1070 vs GeForce GTX 980 Ti

Speed and memory

The GeForce GTX 1070 and the GeForce GTX 980 Ti are within a few percent of each other for gaming in our model, so you will not see a difference in play.

The GeForce GTX 1070 has 8 GB of video memory and the GeForce GTX 980 Ti has 6 GB. That is a small difference and unlikely to decide anything.

In our estimates for popular games at 1080p on High, the biggest gap is in Fortnite (171 against 171 fps), and the smallest is in ELDEN RING (60 against 60 fps). Games that are light enough to run above 200 fps on both cards show little difference at all.

Power and value

The GeForce GTX 1070 is rated at 150 W and the GeForce GTX 980 Ti at 250 W. With a mid-range processor that means a power supply of about 550 W for the first and 650 W for the second. A gap of 100 W shows up in heat and fan noise, and in your electricity use over a few years.

At launch the GeForce GTX 1070 cost $379 and the GeForce GTX 980 Ti $649. Per dollar, the GeForce GTX 1070 gave more performance (4.2 points per $100 against 2.5). Current prices differ, so run the same sum on what you can actually buy today.

Which one to buy

Choose the GeForce GTX 1070 if you want the faster card, and it also has at least as much memory. It makes the most sense at 1440p and above, or on a monitor with a high refresh rate.

Choose the GeForce GTX 980 Ti if the price gap matters more than the small speed difference. Whichever you pick, check reviews for the games you play, because two cards with similar scores can differ in individual titles.