GeForce GTX 980 Mobile vs GTX 1070 Max-Q

VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q and GeForce GTX 980 Mobile, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 1070 Max-Q
2017
8 GB GDDR5, 115 Watt
18.08

GTX 980 Mobile outperforms GTX 1070 Max-Q by a moderate 19% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking309257
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data19.85
Power efficiency10.827.43
ArchitecturePascal (2016−2021)Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)
GPU code nameGP104GM204
Market segmentLaptopLaptop
Release date27 June 2017 (7 years ago)21 September 2015 (9 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$395.82

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

Detailed specifications

General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.

Pipelines / CUDA cores20482048
Core clock speed1215 MHz1064 MHz
Boost clock speed1379 MHz1216 MHz
Number of transistors7,200 million5,200 million
Manufacturing process technology16 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)115 Watt100-200 Watt
Texture fill rate176.5136.2
Floating-point processing power5.648 TFLOPS4.358 TFLOPS
ROPs6464
TMUs128128

Form factor & compatibility

Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).

Laptop sizelargelarge
Bus supportno dataPCI Express 3.0
InterfacePCIe 3.0 x16MXM-B (3.0)
Supplementary power connectorsNoneno data
SLI options-+

VRAM capacity and type

Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.

Memory typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount8 GB4 GB
Memory bus width256 Bit256 Bit
Memory clock speed2002 MHz7.0 GB/s
Memory bandwidth256.3 GB/s224 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display ConnectorsNo outputsDual Link DVI-I, HDMI 2.0, 3x DisplayPort 1.2
Multi monitor supportno data4 displays
VGA аnalog display supportno data+
DisplayPort Multimode (DP++) supportno data+
HDMI-+
HDCP-+
Maximum VGA resolutionno data2048x1536
G-SYNC support++
Audio input for HDMIno dataInternal

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

GameStream-+
GeForce ShadowPlay-+
GPU Boostno data2.0
GameWorks-+
H.264, VC1, MPEG2 1080p video decoder-+
Optimus-+
BatteryBoost-+
VR Ready+no data

API compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 (12_1)12 (12_1)
Shader Model6.46.4
OpenGL4.64.5
OpenCL1.21.2
Vulkan1.2.1311.1.126
CUDA6.1+

Synthetic benchmark performance

Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.


Combined synthetic benchmark score

This is our combined benchmark score. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 1070 Max-Q 18.08
GTX 980 Mobile 21.60
+19.5%

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 1070 Max-Q 18688
+8.6%
GTX 980 Mobile 17201

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GTX 1070 Max-Q 44090
+11.1%
GTX 980 Mobile 39702

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 1070 Max-Q 14679
+12.5%
GTX 980 Mobile 13047

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1070 Max-Q 99552
+29.8%
GTX 980 Mobile 76705

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1070 Max-Q 334256
GTX 980 Mobile 347481
+4%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04

GTX 1070 Max-Q 92
GTX 980 Mobile 107
+15.8%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03

GTX 1070 Max-Q 48
GTX 980 Mobile 49
+2.9%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02

GTX 1070 Max-Q 7
+11.5%
GTX 980 Mobile 6

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04

GTX 1070 Max-Q 63
+18.1%
GTX 980 Mobile 54

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01

GTX 1070 Max-Q 45
+29.9%
GTX 980 Mobile 35

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01

GTX 1070 Max-Q 34
+11.3%
GTX 980 Mobile 31

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01

GTX 1070 Max-Q 75
+26.8%
GTX 980 Mobile 59

SPECviewperf 12 - Showcase

GTX 1070 Max-Q 75
+26.8%
GTX 980 Mobile 59

SPECviewperf 12 - Maya

This part of SPECviewperf 12 workstation benchmark uses Autodesk Maya 13 engine to render a superhero energy plant static scene consisting of more than 700 thousand polygons, in six different modes.

GTX 1070 Max-Q 92
GTX 980 Mobile 107
+15.8%

SPECviewperf 12 - Catia

GTX 1070 Max-Q 63
+18.1%
GTX 980 Mobile 54

SPECviewperf 12 - Solidworks

GTX 1070 Max-Q 48
GTX 980 Mobile 49
+2.9%

SPECviewperf 12 - Siemens NX

GTX 1070 Max-Q 7
+11.5%
GTX 980 Mobile 6

SPECviewperf 12 - Creo

GTX 1070 Max-Q 45
+29.9%
GTX 980 Mobile 35

SPECviewperf 12 - Medical

GTX 1070 Max-Q 34
+11.3%
GTX 980 Mobile 31

Gaming performance

Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.

Average FPS across all PC games

Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:

Full HD95
−2.1%
97
+2.1%
4K43
−11.6%
48
+11.6%

Cost per frame, $

1080pno data4.08
4Kno data8.25

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Counter-Strike 2 30−35
−21.9%
35−40
+21.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 35−40
−19.4%
40−45
+19.4%
Elden Ring 55−60
−21.1%
65−70
+21.1%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Battlefield 5 81
+19.1%
65−70
−19.1%
Counter-Strike 2 30−35
−21.9%
35−40
+21.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 35−40
−19.4%
40−45
+19.4%
Forza Horizon 4 75−80
−22.7%
90−95
+22.7%
Metro Exodus 45−50
−18.4%
55−60
+18.4%
Red Dead Redemption 2 40−45
−16.7%
45−50
+16.7%
Valorant 70−75
−19.2%
85−90
+19.2%

Full HD
High Preset

Battlefield 5 95
+39.7%
65−70
−39.7%
Counter-Strike 2 30−35
−21.9%
35−40
+21.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 35−40
−19.4%
40−45
+19.4%
Dota 2 107
+91.1%
56
−91.1%
Elden Ring 55−60
−21.1%
65−70
+21.1%
Far Cry 5 81
+15.7%
70−75
−15.7%
Fortnite 110
−1.8%
110−120
+1.8%
Forza Horizon 4 75−80
−22.7%
90−95
+22.7%
Grand Theft Auto V 105
+25%
84
−25%
Metro Exodus 45−50
−18.4%
55−60
+18.4%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 98
−44.9%
140−150
+44.9%
Red Dead Redemption 2 40−45
−16.7%
45−50
+16.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 55−60
−44.6%
81
+44.6%
Valorant 70−75
−19.2%
85−90
+19.2%
World of Tanks 210−220
−10%
240−250
+10%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 68
+0%
65−70
+0%
Counter-Strike 2 30−35
−21.9%
35−40
+21.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 35−40
−19.4%
40−45
+19.4%
Dota 2 110
+44.7%
75−80
−44.7%
Far Cry 5 60−65
−11.1%
70−75
+11.1%
Forza Horizon 4 75−80
−22.7%
90−95
+22.7%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 75
−89.3%
140−150
+89.3%
Valorant 70−75
−19.2%
85−90
+19.2%

1440p
High Preset

Dota 2 27−30
−25%
35−40
+25%
Elden Ring 27−30
−27.6%
35−40
+27.6%
Grand Theft Auto V 27−30
−25%
35−40
+25%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 160−170
−4.8%
170−180
+4.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2 16−18
−25%
20−22
+25%
World of Tanks 120−130
−16.9%
140−150
+16.9%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 35−40
−18.9%
40−45
+18.9%
Counter-Strike 2 14−16
−20%
18−20
+20%
Cyberpunk 2077 14−16
−21.4%
16−18
+21.4%
Far Cry 5 45−50
−27.7%
60−65
+27.7%
Forza Horizon 4 45−50
−21.7%
55−60
+21.7%
Metro Exodus 40−45
−19.5%
45−50
+19.5%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 24−27
−25%
30−33
+25%
Valorant 45−50
−23.9%
55−60
+23.9%

4K
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 14−16
−28.6%
18−20
+28.6%
Dota 2 30−35
−93.5%
60
+93.5%
Elden Ring 12−14
−23.1%
16−18
+23.1%
Grand Theft Auto V 30−35
−93.5%
60
+93.5%
Metro Exodus 12−14
−23.1%
16−18
+23.1%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 84
+29.2%
65−70
−29.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2 12−14
−16.7%
14−16
+16.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 30−35
−93.5%
60
+93.5%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 18−20
−22.2%
21−24
+22.2%
Counter-Strike 2 14−16
−28.6%
18−20
+28.6%
Cyberpunk 2077 5−6
−40%
7−8
+40%
Dota 2 30−35
−19.4%
35−40
+19.4%
Far Cry 5 21−24
−21.7%
27−30
+21.7%
Fortnite 21−24
−23.8%
24−27
+23.8%
Forza Horizon 4 24−27
−23.1%
30−35
+23.1%
Valorant 21−24
−28.6%
27−30
+28.6%

This is how GTX 1070 Max-Q and GTX 980 Mobile compete in popular games:

  • GTX 980 Mobile is 2% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 980 Mobile is 12% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Dota 2, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 1070 Max-Q is 91% faster.
  • in Dota 2, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 980 Mobile is 94% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 1070 Max-Q is ahead in 7 tests (11%)
  • GTX 980 Mobile is ahead in 55 tests (87%)
  • there's a draw in 1 test (2%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 18.08 21.60
Recency 27 June 2017 21 September 2015
Maximum RAM amount 8 GB 4 GB
Chip lithography 16 nm 28 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 115 Watt 100 Watt

GTX 1070 Max-Q has an age advantage of 1 year, a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 75% more advanced lithography process.

GTX 980 Mobile, on the other hand, has a 19.5% higher aggregate performance score, and 15% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 980 Mobile is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q in performance tests.


Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.

Vote for your favorite

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q
GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Mobile
GeForce GTX 980 Mobile

Other comparisons

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Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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