EVGA

Will performance difference widen between the 970 and 980 as NVIDIA optimizes drivers?

Author
Post
Essentials Only Full Version
nine9s
New Member
  • Total Posts : 31
  • Reward points : 0
  • Joined: 2008/07/18 15:51:45
  • Status: offline
  • Ribbons : 0
2014/10/24 12:46:24 (permalink)
It looks like right now, all else equal, the 980 performs about 12-15% better than the 970.  Do you think as Nvidia  optimizes future drivers that difference will widen or will the difference always be about that much?
#1

7 Replies Related Threads
    TheBatman1337
    New Member
    • Total Posts : 70
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2009/08/27 21:52:22
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 1
    Re: Will performance difference widen between the 970 and 980 as NVIDIA optimizes drivers? 2014/10/24 13:29:09 (permalink)
    I don't think anyone could know that, perhaps not even NVidia.
     
    More likely you'll see them focus on improving the new features they have added alongside these cards rather than working to improve one card over the other. How performance will wash out as a result it pretty unpredictable.
     
    970 is probably always going to be better performance per dollar while the 980 is more for enthusiasts. 
    #2
    ty_ger07
    Insert Custom Title Here
    • Total Posts : 21174
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2008/04/10 23:48:15
    • Location: traveler
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 270
    Re: Will performance difference widen between the 970 and 980 as NVIDIA optimizes drivers? 2014/10/24 14:22:47 (permalink)
    By comparing their hardware specifications, I think the most difference you should expect to see between the two of them is around 20%.  Will the difference grow from 15% to 20% as the drivers mature?  Who knows.
    #3
    lazerath
    New Member
    • Total Posts : 6
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2010/04/28 22:49:10
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 0
    Re: Will performance difference widen between the 970 and 980 as NVIDIA optimizes drivers? 2014/10/24 14:35:59 (permalink)
    It will depend entirely on the game(s) for the most part.
     
    The 980 has approx 30% more Texture Fill Rate then they 970. The 980 also has 384 more cuda cores then the 970 has to that will be a factor as well. You'll probably see on average 10-30% higher frame rates with the 980 over the 970 on games that are very tough on the gpu, however, games that are not so power hungry you will most likely see less of a difference in performance. 
     
    Hope that helps at least a little!
    #4
    ty_ger07
    Insert Custom Title Here
    • Total Posts : 21174
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2008/04/10 23:48:15
    • Location: traveler
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 270
    Re: Will performance difference widen between the 970 and 980 as NVIDIA optimizes drivers? 2014/10/24 14:42:26 (permalink)
    lazerath
    The 980 has approx 30% more Texture Fill Rate then they 970. The 980 also has 384 more cuda cores then the 970 has to that will be a factor as well. You'll probably see on average 10-30% higher frame rates with the 980 over the 970 on games that are very tough on the gpu, however, games that are not so power hungry you will most likely see less of a difference in performance. 



    I have to disagree a bit with your numbers.
     
    Shaders: GTX 980 has ~ 19% more than GTX 970
    Texture Fill Rate: GTX 980 ~ 24% faster than GTX 970
    Pixel Fill Rate: GTX 980 ~ 7% faster than GTX 970
    Memory: GTX 980 0% faster than GTX 970
     
    I do agree that the difference will be very application specific.  I figure 20% difference between the two will be the most you will likely see (not 30%).
    #5
    Fennicillin
    iCX Member
    • Total Posts : 391
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2013/12/07 19:44:52
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 0
    Re: Will performance difference widen between the 970 and 980 as NVIDIA optimizes drivers? 2014/10/24 14:44:06 (permalink)
    Can probably expect about 5-10% performance increases through the driver side over the life of the generation. Intel actually managed to wring out a lot of performance from HD4000 series on their last driver update.

     
     
    #6
    nine9s
    New Member
    • Total Posts : 31
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2008/07/18 15:51:45
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 0
    Re: Will performance difference widen between the 970 and 980 as NVIDIA optimizes drivers? 2014/10/24 16:34:00 (permalink)
    Fennicillin
    Can probably expect about 5-10% performance increases through the driver side over the life of the generation. Intel actually managed to wring out a lot of performance from HD4000 series on their last driver update.




     
    A 5 to 10% increase on both so no widening between them?   Or do you mean the 980 might widen another 5 to 10% over the 970 for a 17 to 25% increase over the 970 with driver improvements? 
    #7
    Fennicillin
    iCX Member
    • Total Posts : 391
    • Reward points : 0
    • Joined: 2013/12/07 19:44:52
    • Status: offline
    • Ribbons : 0
    Re: Will performance difference widen between the 970 and 980 as NVIDIA optimizes drivers? 2014/10/24 16:45:22 (permalink)
    I think the performance gap will stay as is, price drops are inevitable and will probably better reflect the performance difference once AMD releases their new generation.

     
     
    #8
    Jump to:
  • Back to Mobile