GeForce GTX 480 vs GTX 980M

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Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 980M with GeForce GTX 480, including specs and performance data.

GTX 980M
2014
8 GB GDDR5
19.06
+79.1%

GTX 980M outperforms GTX 480 by an impressive 79% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking286427
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data1.59
Power efficiency13.753.07
ArchitectureMaxwell 2.0 (2014−2019)Fermi (2010−2014)
GPU code nameGM204GF100
Market segmentLaptopDesktop
Release date7 October 2014 (10 years ago)26 March 2010 (14 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$499

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 cores1536480
Core clock speed1038 MHz700 MHz
Boost clock speed1127 MHzno data
Number of transistors5,200 million3,100 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm40 nm
Power consumption (TDP)unknown250 Watt
Maximum GPU temperatureno data105 °C
Texture fill rate51.8442.06
Floating-point processing power1.659 TFLOPS1.345 TFLOPS
ROPs6448
TMUs9660

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
Bus supportPCI Express 3.016x PCI-E 2.0
InterfaceMXM-B (3.0)PCIe 2.0 x16
Lengthno data267 mm
Heightno data4.376" (111 mm) (11.1 cm)
Widthno data2-slot
Supplementary power connectorsNone1x 6-pin + 1x 8-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 typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount8 GB1536 MB
Memory bus width256 Bit384 Bit
Memory clock speed2500 MHz1848 MHz (3696 data rate)
Memory bandwidth160 GB/s177.4 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 outputsTwo Dual Link DVI, Mini HDMI
Multi monitor supportno data+
VGA аnalog display support+no data
DisplayPort Multimode (DP++) support+no 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 Boost2.0no data
GameWorks+-
H.264, VC1, MPEG2 1080p video decoder+-
Optimus+-
BatteryBoost+-
Ansel+no data

API compatibility

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

DirectX12 (12_1)12 (11_0)
Shader Model6.45.1
OpenGL4.54.2
OpenCL1.11.1
Vulkan1.1.126N/A
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 19.06
+79.1%
GTX 480 10.64

Passmark

This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.

GTX 980M 7355
+79.1%
GTX 480 4106

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 12517
+150%
GTX 480 5014

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 9682
+165%
GTX 480 3650

GeekBench 5 OpenCL

Geekbench 5 is a widespread graphics card benchmark combined from 11 different test scenarios. All these scenarios rely on direct usage of GPU's processing power, no 3D rendering is involved. This variation uses OpenCL API by Khronos Group.

GTX 980M 23724
+80.9%
GTX 480 13113

Octane Render OctaneBench

This is a special benchmark measuring graphics card performance in OctaneRender, which is a realistic GPU rendering engine by OTOY Inc., available either as a standalone program, or as a plugin for 3DS Max, Cinema 4D and many other apps. It renders four different static scenes, then compares render times with a reference GPU which is currently GeForce GTX 980. This benchmark has nothing to do with gaming and is aimed at professional 3D graphics artists.

GTX 980M 66
+22.2%
GTX 480 54

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:

900p173
+82.1%
95−100
−82.1%
Full HD69
+97.1%
35−40
−97.1%
1440p31
+93.8%
16−18
−93.8%
4K27
+92.9%
14−16
−92.9%

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+87.5%
16−18
−87.5%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 51
+104%
24−27
−104%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 30−35
+100%
16−18
−100%
Battlefield 5 67
+103%
30−35
−103%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 35−40
+81%
21−24
−81%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+87.5%
16−18
−87.5%
Far Cry 5 62
+148%
24−27
−148%
Far Cry New Dawn 59
+96.7%
30−33
−96.7%
Forza Horizon 4 196
+176%
70−75
−176%
Hitman 3 35−40
+85%
20−22
−85%
Horizon Zero Dawn 90−95
+58.6%
55−60
−58.6%
Metro Exodus 65
+91.2%
30−35
−91.2%
Red Dead Redemption 2 50−55
+70%
30−33
−70%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 100
+186%
35−40
−186%
Watch Dogs: Legion 85−90
+36.9%
65−70
−36.9%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 68
+172%
24−27
−172%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 30−35
+100%
16−18
−100%
Battlefield 5 57
+72.7%
30−35
−72.7%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 35−40
+81%
21−24
−81%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+87.5%
16−18
−87.5%
Far Cry 5 52
+108%
24−27
−108%
Far Cry New Dawn 47
+56.7%
30−33
−56.7%
Forza Horizon 4 191
+169%
70−75
−169%
Hitman 3 35−40
+85%
20−22
−85%
Horizon Zero Dawn 90−95
+58.6%
55−60
−58.6%
Metro Exodus 55
+61.8%
30−35
−61.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2 50−55
+70%
30−33
−70%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 60−65
+80%
35−40
−80%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 121
+332%
27−30
−332%
Watch Dogs: Legion 85−90
+36.9%
65−70
−36.9%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 26
+4%
24−27
−4%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 30−35
+100%
16−18
−100%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 35−40
+81%
21−24
−81%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+87.5%
16−18
−87.5%
Far Cry 5 38
+52%
24−27
−52%
Forza Horizon 4 47
−51.1%
70−75
+51.1%
Hitman 3 35−40
+85%
20−22
−85%
Horizon Zero Dawn 90−95
+58.6%
55−60
−58.6%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 60−65
+80%
35−40
−80%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 33
+17.9%
27−30
−17.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion 85−90
+36.9%
65−70
−36.9%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 50−55
+70%
30−33
−70%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 33
+57.1%
21−24
−57.1%
Far Cry New Dawn 32
+100%
16−18
−100%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 20
+100%
10−11
−100%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 16−18
+143%
7−8
−143%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 21−24
+90.9%
10−12
−90.9%
Cyberpunk 2077 10−12
+120%
5−6
−120%
Far Cry 5 24
+100%
12−14
−100%
Forza Horizon 4 134
+173%
45−50
−173%
Hitman 3 21−24
+57.1%
14−16
−57.1%
Horizon Zero Dawn 35−40
+77.3%
21−24
−77.3%
Metro Exodus 38
+138%
16−18
−138%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 35−40
+153%
14−16
−153%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
+120%
10−11
−120%
Watch Dogs: Legion 110−120
+68.7%
65−70
−68.7%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 30−35
+72.2%
18−20
−72.2%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 16
+60%
10−11
−60%
Far Cry New Dawn 17
+113%
8−9
−113%
Hitman 3 14−16
+100%
7−8
−100%
Horizon Zero Dawn 95−100
+109%
45−50
−109%
Metro Exodus 18
+100%
9−10
−100%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 22
+175%
8−9
−175%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 12
+100%
6−7
−100%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 9−10
+80%
5−6
−80%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 10−11
+100%
5−6
−100%
Cyberpunk 2077 4−5
+300%
1−2
−300%
Far Cry 5 12
+100%
6−7
−100%
Forza Horizon 4 26
+100%
12−14
−100%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 21−24
+163%
8−9
−163%
Watch Dogs: Legion 8−9
+100%
4−5
−100%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 16−18
+70%
10−11
−70%

This is how GTX 980M and GTX 480 compete in popular games:

  • GTX 980M is 82% faster in 900p
  • GTX 980M is 97% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 980M is 94% faster in 1440p
  • GTX 980M is 93% faster in 4K

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

  • in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 980M is 332% faster.
  • in Forza Horizon 4, with 1080p resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 480 is 51% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 980M is ahead in 71 test (99%)
  • GTX 480 is ahead in 1 test (1%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 19.06 10.64
Recency 7 October 2014 26 March 2010
Maximum RAM amount 8 GB 1536 MB
Chip lithography 28 nm 40 nm

GTX 980M has a 79.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, a 433.3% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 42.9% more advanced lithography process.

The GeForce GTX 980M is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 480 in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 980M is a notebook card while GeForce GTX 480 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
GeForce GTX 980M
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480
GeForce GTX 480

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

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


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Questions & comments

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