NVIDIA today released the GeForce GTX 980 & GTX 970 graphics cards based on Maxwell architecture. The GeForce GTX 980 is the world’s fastest GPU, yet with a TDP of just 165W, it’s also the most efficient. This remarkable combination of performance and energy efficiency is all made possible thanks to NVIDIA’s Maxwell architecture. Maxwell GPUs have been designed to deliver 2x the performance/watt of prior generation GeForce GPUs.
But record-breaking performance and efficiency isn’t GeForce GTX 980’s only distinguishing feature. GeForce GTX 980 GPUs support all-new graphics features that will allow gamers to experience their games like never before. Lighting takes a dramatic step forward thanks to NVIDIA Voxel Global Illumination (VXGI). VXGI technology allows the GeForce GTX 980 to render fully dynamic global illumination at frame rates that have never been possible. The result is game environments that look more realistic and engaging.
Games will also look better thanks to new anti-aliasing modes like Multi-Frame sampled AA Aq(MFAA), which combines multiple AA sample positions to produce a result that looks like higher quality anti-aliasing but with better performance (for example an image that looks similar to 4xMSAA at the performance cost of roughly 2xMSAA). GeForce GPUs will also support Dynamic Super Resolution (DSR), bringing the crispness of higher resolutions like 4K to gamers’ existing displays. The GeForce ecosystem also remains the most innovative, with features like ShadowPlay, which now supports recording at resolutions up to 4K at 60 fps. And with the wave of G-SYNC displays hitting the market this fall, gamers no longer have to put up with the distracting screen tearing that currently plagues gaming when v-sync is disabled, or stutter that’s generated by the display.
The next generation of games will not only look better and run faster on the GeForce GTX 980, they’ll also be more immersive thanks to virtual reality headsets like the Oculus Rift. With VR Direct, NVIDIA have developed a number of advancements for virtual reality reducing latency, improving image quality, and bringing a whole range of content to VR that wasn’t there before.
GEFORCE GTX 980
The GeForce GTX 980 was crafted to delight gamers. Its GM204 GPU is the fastest GPU in the world, and with its next-generation graphics features, gamers can enjoy the upcoming wave of DirectX 12 games in their full glory. But building a great chip that’s also backed up by the industry’s most trusted software isn’t enough. The enthusiasts who buy our flagship GeForce GPUs want a product with a premium feel.
With exotic materials like magnesium alloy fan housing and an aluminum frame with trivalent chromium plating, the GeForce GTX 690 was stunning when it debuted in 2012. Every component on the board was meticulously built. NVIDIA then carried this theme over to the GeForce GTX TITAN last year and literally took it to another level earlier this year with the 2.5 slot cooler found on the GeForce GTX TITAN Z. Gamers love the industrial design used on their latest GeForce GPUs: from the LED backlit GeForce logo to the aluminum used on the shroud.
New to the GeForce GTX 980 reference board design is a partially removable backplate. Gamers with one GeForce GTX 980, or with two GTX 980 cards running in SLI with adequate spacing between them can simply plug in and enjoy their games. For these users the GeForce GTX 980’s backplate is a stylish addition that provides additional protection for the board as well as additional cooling for the back of the PCB and board components.
For gamers with 3-Way SLI configurations (or users who have their GeForce GTX 980 cards running directly side-by-side without an open slot between them) a portion of the backplate is removable.
As you can see in the image above, a section on the end of the backplate can be removed in order to improve airflow. While it may seem like a small area, our engineers spent a considerable amount of time studying airflow between boards and determined that this region is critical for feeding air directly into the adjacent fan. Removing this segment of the backplate significantly improves airflow between boards when the cards are directly adjacent to each other, and GeForce GTX 980 users can still enjoy the aesthetic benefits of the backplate.
Moving around to the GeForce GTX 980’s I/O bracket, NVIDIA provide three DisplayPort connectors, an HDMI 2.0 connector (allowing you to run 4K@60Hz), and a dual-link DVI output for a total of five connectors. Up to four can be used at any time.
This configuration provides a significant amount of flexibility for GTX 980 users: three G-SYNC displays can be driven from one GeForce GTX 980 card for instance. Here it’s important to note that when connecting multiple displays between more than one card, you may see performance differences (similar to previous GPUs). For example, a 3-Way SLI configuration with one display connected to each card, versus plugging all three connectors into the same card.
Heat from the GPU’s fan also exhausts out the I/O bracket, helping to reduce temperatures within the system chassis.
Underneath the GeForce GTX 980’s metal shroud lies an aluminum heatsink. Embedded in the base of this heatsink are three copper heatpipes which are responsible for drawing heat off the GPU. NVIDIA use high purity water in the heatpipes to improve their effectiveness. Heat from the heatpipes is then dissipated by the aluminum heatsink.
Under load the cooler is quite effective at keeping the GPU cool; even when the card is overclocked. By default GPU Boost 2.0 will automatically boost GTX 980 to the highest clock frequency it can achieve as long as the GPU temperature remains at or below 80C.With a base clock speed of 1126MHz, and boost clock of 1216MHz, the GeForce GTX 980 runs at higher clock frequencies than any other GPU we’ve ever built. To provide maximum headroom for overclocking, we’ve integrated dynamic power balancing circuitry that ensures the GPU gets power evenly across all three power sources (the PCI Express interface, and each 6-pin PCIe power connector).
Under normal conditions, the power sent to the GPU is balanced across all three power sources, but when a user overclocks their graphics card they can unbalance the power delivery and draw more power from one source than the others, potentially maxing out that power input. With this feature the board steers power from one input to another, so if one power source is maxed out, the board can draw more power from the others to make up the difference. This feature is exclusive to the GeForce GTX 980 and was also used on the GeForce GTX 780 Ti — it’s not present on the GeForce GTX 970 reference design.
A 4-phase power supply with overvoltaging capability is responsible for supplying GTX 980’s GM204 GPU with power. An additional power phase is dedicated for the board’s GDDR5 memory. When combined with the GeForce GTX 980’s powerful cooler, this power+cooling solution has more than enough horsepower to delight enthusiasts who wish to overclock their graphics card. In our testing we’re able to routinely hit speeds of 1400MHz when overclocking the GeForce GTX 980 and we encourage you to give it a try! Most remarkably, at these speeds the GeForce GTX 980 only runs moderately hotter and generates very little noise when gaming.
The GeForce GTX 980 is great for 2560×1600 gaming with maximum graphics settings and high levels of AA enabled. For enthusiasts who want to game at even higher resolutions like 4K, NVIDIA recommends two GeForce GTX 980 cards running in SLI for the best gaming experience. A single GeForce GTX 980 graphics card can also run many games at 4K with enjoyable frame rates, but you’ll want SLI for the most demanding games with maximum game settings and AA.
GeForce GTX 980 ships with 2048 CUDA Cores and 16 SM units. The memory subsystem of GeForce GTX 980 consists of four 64-bit memory controllers (256-bit) with 4GB of GDDR5 memory.
The base clock speed of the GeForce GTX 980 is 1126MHz. The typical Boost Clock speed is 1216MHz. The Boost Clock speed is based on the average GeForce GTX 980 card running a wide variety of games and applications. Note that the actual Boost clock will vary from game-to-game depending on actual system conditions. GeForce GTX 980’s memory speed is 7000MHz data rate.
The GeForce GTX 980 reference board measures 10.5” in length. Display outputs include one dual-link DVI, one HDMI and three DisplayPort connectors. Two 6-pin PCIe power connectors are required for operation.
GEFORCE GTX 980 SPECIFICATIONS (based on base clock)
GEFORCE GTX 970
The GeForce GTX 970 is the perfect solution for enthusiast gamers who crave performance. Based on the same GM204 GPU found in the GeForce GTX 980, the GTX 970 supports all the key features that are launching with the GTX 980 including Dynamic Super Resolution, VXGI, and MFAA.
Equipped with 13 SMX units and 1664 CUDA Cores, the GeForce GTX 970 also has the rendering horsepower to tackle next generation gaming. And with its 256-bit memory interface, 4GB frame buffer, and 7Gbps memory, the GeForce GTX 970 ships with the same memory subsystem as our flagship GeForce GTX 980, allowing gamers to crank up the settings and resolutions in graphics-intensive games like Assassin’s Creed: Unity and still enjoy fluid frame rates.
Most impressively, its TDP is just 145W!
The Base clock speed of the GeForce GTX 970 is 1050MHz, while the Boost clock speed is 1178MHz. However, NVIDIA board partners will also offer factory overclocked GeForce GTX 970 boards that run at even higher clock speeds. Running OC’ed at 1400MHz, an overclocked GeForce GTX 970 actually outperforms AMD’s Radeon R9 290X!
Like the GeForce GTX 980, the GeForce GTX 970 is designed for 2560×1600 gaming with maximum graphics settings and high levels of AA enabled. NVIDIA recommends two GeForce GTX 970 cards running in SLI for the best gaming experience at 4K. A single GeForce GTX 970 graphics card can run many games at 4K with enjoyable frame rates, but the most demanding games will not run at playable frame rates with maximum game settings and AA at this resolution on a single GTX 970 GPU.
GeForce GTX 970 ships with 1664 CUDA Cores and 13 SM units. The memory subsystem of GeForce GTX 980 consists of four 64-bit memory controllers (256-bit) with 4GB of GDDR5 memory.
The base clock speed of the GeForce GTX 970 is 1050MHz. The typical Boost Clock speed is 11178MHz. The Boost Clock speed is based on the average GeForce GTX 970 card running a wide variety of games and applications. Note that the actual Boost clock will vary from game-to-game depending on actual system conditions. GeForce GTX 970’s memory speed is 7000MHz data rate.
The GeForce GTX 970 reference board measures 10.5” in length. Display outputs include one dual-link DVI, one HDMI and three DisplayPort connectors. Two 6-pin PCIe power connectors are required for operation.
The GeForce GTX 970 is released alongside the GeForce GTX 980 and replaces the GeForce GTX 770 in NVIDIA’s lineup.
GEFORCE GTX 970 SPECIFICATIONS (based on base clock)
REFERENCE PERFORMANCE RESULTS – GTX 980
Results measured on Core i7-3960X CPU, Windows 8.1 64-bit, 343.82 NVIDIA drivers, Catalyst 14.7 RC3 AMD drivers with default settings. Note that a retail Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Battlefield 4 Limited Edition GPU running in uber mode (1GHz) was used for this testing. (Courtesy of NVIDIA)
REFERENCE PERFORMANCE RESULTS – GTX 980 SLI
Results measured on Core i7-3960X CPU, Windows 8.1 64-bit, 343.82 NVIDIA drivers, Catalyst 14.7 RC3 AMD drivers with default settings. Note that a retail Sapphire Radeon R9 290X Battlefield 4 Limited Edition GPU running in uber mode (1GHz) was used for this testing. (Courtesy of NVIDIA)
REFERENCE PERFORMANCE RESULTS – GTX 970
Results measured on Core i7-3960X CPU, Windows 8.1 64-bit, 343.82 NVIDIA drivers, Catalyst 14.7 RC3 AMD drivers. (Courtesy of NVIDIA)
PRICING & AVAILABILITY
The GTX 980 and GTX 970 will be available immediately today (September 19th, 2014) at the price tag of USD $549 and USD $329. There are no other changes to any other products. In addition, the GTX 780 Ti, 780 and 770 are being discontinued at launch.
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