Radeon RX 6500 XT vs GeForce GTX 980M SLI

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 980M SLI with Radeon RX 6500 XT, including specs and performance data.

GTX 980M SLI
2014
2x 8 GB GDDR5, 200 Watt
24.61

RX 6500 XT outperforms GTX 980M SLI by a minimal 1% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking224220
Place by popularitynot in top-10083
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data58.69
Power efficiency8.4415.91
ArchitectureMaxwell (2014−2017)RDNA 2.0 (2020−2024)
GPU code nameno dataNavi 24
Market segmentLaptopDesktop
Release date7 October 2014 (10 years ago)19 January 2022 (2 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$199

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 cores30721024
Core clock speed1038 MHz2610 MHz
Boost clock speed1127 MHz2815 MHz
Number of transistors2x 5200 Million5,400 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm6 nm
Power consumption (TDP)200 Watt107 Watt
Texture fill rateno data180.2
Floating-point processing powerno data5.765 TFLOPS
ROPsno data32
TMUsno data64
Ray Tracing Coresno data16

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 sizelargeno data
Interfaceno dataPCIe 4.0 x4
Widthno data2-slot
Supplementary power connectorsno data1x 6-pin
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 typeGDDR5GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount2x 8 GB8 GB
Memory bus width2x 256 Bit64 Bit
Memory clock speed5000 MHz2248 MHz
Memory bandwidthno data143.9 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 data1x HDMI 2.1, 1x DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI-+

Supported technologies

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

Optimus+-

API compatibility

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

DirectX12_112 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Modelno data6.6
OpenGLno data4.6
OpenCLno data2.2
Vulkan+1.3
CUDA+-

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 980M SLI 24.61
RX 6500 XT 24.83
+0.9%

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 980M SLI 22006
RX 6500 XT 22954
+4.3%

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 980M SLI 47841
RX 6500 XT 76445
+59.8%

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 980M SLI 18632
+18.6%
RX 6500 XT 15712

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 980M SLI 124076
+35%
RX 6500 XT 91909

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04

GTX 980M SLI 81
RX 6500 XT 111
+37.3%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03

GTX 980M SLI 42
RX 6500 XT 140
+232%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02

GTX 980M SLI 5
RX 6500 XT 87
+1665%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04

GTX 980M SLI 40
RX 6500 XT 150
+277%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01

GTX 980M SLI 28
RX 6500 XT 91
+222%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01

GTX 980M SLI 22
RX 6500 XT 58
+157%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01

GTX 980M SLI 45
RX 6500 XT 67
+47.8%

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 energy-01

GTX 980M SLI 2
RX 6500 XT 60
+2752%

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:

900p135
+3.8%
130−140
−3.8%
Full HD110
+77.4%
62
−77.4%
1440p27−30
−3.7%
28
+3.7%
4K14−16
−14.3%
16
+14.3%

Cost per frame, $

1080pno data3.21
1440pno data7.11
4Kno data12.44

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
−80%
72
+80%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 40−45
−21.4%
51
+21.4%
Battlefield 5 80−85
+0%
80−85
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
−35%
54
+35%
Far Cry 5 55−60
+0%
55−60
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 65−70
+0%
65−70
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 140−150
+0%
140−150
+0%
Hitman 3 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 110−120
+0%
110−120
+0%
Metro Exodus 85−90
+0%
85−90
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 80−85
+0%
80−85
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 100−110
+0%
100−110
+0%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 40−45
−2.4%
43
+2.4%
Battlefield 5 80−85
+0%
80−85
+0%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
+17.6%
34
−17.6%
Far Cry 5 55−60
+0%
55−60
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 65−70
+0%
65−70
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 140−150
+0%
140−150
+0%
Hitman 3 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 110−120
+0%
110−120
+0%
Metro Exodus 85−90
+0%
85−90
+0%
Red Dead Redemption 2 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 80−85
−27.4%
107
+27.4%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 50−55
+1.9%
50−55
−1.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion 100−110
+0%
100−110
+0%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 40−45
+35.5%
31
−35.5%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 40−45
+33.3%
30
−33.3%
Far Cry 5 55−60
+0%
55−60
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 140−150
+0%
140−150
+0%
Hitman 3 50−55
+0%
50−55
+0%
Horizon Zero Dawn 110−120
+23.9%
92
−23.9%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 80−85
+1.2%
83
−1.2%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 50−55
+0%
54
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 100−110
+312%
25
−312%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 60−65
+0%
60−65
+0%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 45−50
+0%
45−50
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 35−40
+0%
35−40
+0%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 24−27
+4.3%
23
−4.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−6.3%
17
+6.3%
Far Cry 5 27−30
+3.6%
27−30
−3.6%
Forza Horizon 4 140−150
+0.7%
140−150
−0.7%
Hitman 3 30−33
+3.4%
27−30
−3.4%
Horizon Zero Dawn 50−55
−29.4%
66
+29.4%
Metro Exodus 45−50
−21.3%
57
+21.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 50−55
−3.7%
56
+3.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 30−33
+0%
30−33
+0%
Watch Dogs: Legion 140−150
+0%
140−150
+0%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 40−45
+0%
40−45
+0%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 24−27
+0%
24−27
+0%
Far Cry New Dawn 18−20
+0%
18−20
+0%
Hitman 3 18−20
+90%
10
−90%
Horizon Zero Dawn 120−130
+0%
120−130
+0%
Metro Exodus 27−30
+0%
27−30
+0%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 27−30
−3.7%
28
+3.7%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 12−14
+117%
6
−117%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
Cyberpunk 2077 6−7
+50%
4
−50%
Far Cry 5 14−16
+0%
14−16
+0%
Forza Horizon 4 30−35
+0%
30−35
+0%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 30−33
+20%
25
−20%
Watch Dogs: Legion 10−12
+10%
10
−10%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 21−24
+0%
21−24
+0%

This is how GTX 980M SLI and RX 6500 XT compete in popular games:

  • GTX 980M SLI is 4% faster in 900p
  • GTX 980M SLI is 77% faster in 1080p
  • RX 6500 XT is 4% faster in 1440p
  • RX 6500 XT is 14% faster in 4K

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

  • in Watch Dogs: Legion, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 980M SLI is 312% faster.
  • in Cyberpunk 2077, with 1080p resolution and the Low Preset, the RX 6500 XT is 80% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 980M SLI is ahead in 16 tests (22%)
  • RX 6500 XT is ahead in 10 tests (14%)
  • there's a draw in 46 tests (64%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 24.61 24.83
Recency 7 October 2014 19 January 2022
Chip lithography 28 nm 6 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 200 Watt 107 Watt

RX 6500 XT has a 0.9% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 7 years, a 366.7% more advanced lithography process, and 86.9% lower power consumption.

Given the minimal performance differences, no clear winner can be declared between GeForce GTX 980M SLI and Radeon RX 6500 XT.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 980M SLI is a notebook card while Radeon RX 6500 XT is a desktop one.


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

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M SLI
GeForce GTX 980M SLI
AMD Radeon RX 6500 XT
Radeon RX 6500 XT

Comparisons with similar GPUs

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

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Questions & comments

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