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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Notebook)

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Notebook)

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 980 SLI is a high-end DirectX 12-compatible graphics solution for laptops, consisting of two GeForce GTX 980 cards. Each card has a 28 nm GM204 GPU based on the Maxwell architecture with similar specifications as the desktop GeForce GTX 980. The clocks for the SLI-setup are usually identical to a single GTX 980.

With SLI, each card renders a single frame (AFR mode). Therefore, it may suffer from micro-stuttering in low fps ranges of 30 fps. This happens because of different time-spans between two frames (e.g., irregular delays between sequential frames).

The performance is on a level with the two desktop GTX 980 cards in SLI. Due to the different cooling solutions, the long-term performance may be slightly lower compared to a well cooled desktop, but Nvidia assures there will only be small degrades in performance. As with all SLI combinations, the performance depends on the driver support for the used benchmark and game. In our tests with an MSI GT80S, the 980 SLI was the fastest graphics solution for laptops. The 980M SLI was 17% slower, a single 980 26% slower. Therefore, the 980 SLI for laptops offers enough performance for all demanding games from 2015 in high details and 4K resolution.

The core features are also the same as the desktop 980, so expect support for DirectX 12 (FL 12_1). There will be no support for the new H.265 video engine as found on the desktop GTX 950.

The power consumption of a single card is a lot higher than other mobile graphics cards like the GeForce GTX 980M (100 Watt TDP). According to Nvidia, the TDP of the reference design is still 165 Watt like in the desktop version. So, the TDP of the SLI combination may be as high as 330 Watt. Therefore, only big laptops with efficient cooling methods can house the GeForce GTX980 for laptops.

ManufacturerNVIDIA
GeForce GTX 900 Series
GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Notebook) 4096 @ 1126 - 1228 (Boost) MHz2x 256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 980 2048 @ 1126 - 1216 (Boost) MHz256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 980 (Notebook) 2048 @ 1126 - 1228 (Boost) MHz256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 970 1664 @ 1050 - 1178 (Boost) MHz224 + 32 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 960 1024 @ 1127 - 1178 (Boost) MHz128 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 950 768 @ 1024 - 1188 (Boost) MHz128 Bit @ 3300 MHz
CodenameN16E-GXX SLI
ArchitectureMaxwell
Pipelines4096 - unified
Core Speed *1126 - 1228 (Boost) MHz
Memory Speed *3500 MHz
Memory Bus Width2x 256 Bit
Memory TypeGDDR5
Max. Amount of Memory2x 4096 MB
Shared Memoryno
DirectXDirectX 12 (FL 12_1)
Power Consumption200-400 Watt
Transistors10400 Million
technology28 nm
FeaturesCUDA, 3D Vision, PhysX, GeForce Experience, Surround, GameStream, GPU Boost 2.0, Adaptive Vertical Sync, G-SYNC, SLI
Notebook Sizelarge
Date of Announcement22.09.2015
* The specified clock rates are only guidelines for the manufacturer and can be altered by them.

Benchmarks

GFXBench 3.0 - Manhattan Offscreen OGL off screen
0%
100%
min: 381.7     avg: 381.7 (99%)     median: 381.7 (99%)     max: 381.7 fps
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
GFXBench 3.0 - Manhattan Onscreen OGL on screen
0%
100%
min: 59.7     avg: 59.7 (81%)     median: 59.7 (81%)     max: 59.7 fps
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
Cinebench R15 - OpenGL 64Bit
0%
100%
min: 117.93     avg: 117.9 (77%)     median: 117.9 (77%)     max: 117.93 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
3DMark (2013) - Fire Strike Standard Graphics 1920x1080
0%
100%
min: 23351     avg: 23351 (100%)     median: 23351 (100%)     max: 23351 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
3DMark (2013) - Fire Strike Standard Score 1920x1080
0%
100%
min: 17165     avg: 17165 (73%)     median: 17165 (73%)     max: 17165 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
3DMark (2013) - Cloud Gate Standard Graphics 1280x720
0%
100%
min: 147015     avg: 147015 (100%)     median: 147015 (100%)     max: 147015 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
3DMark (2013) - Cloud Gate Standard Score 1280x720
0%
100%
min: 32522     avg: 32522 (100%)     median: 32522 (100%)     max: 32522 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
3DMark (2013) - Ice Storm Standard Graphics 1280x720
0%
100%
min: 422037     avg: 422037 (56%)     median: 422037 (56%)     max: 422037 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
ComputeMark v2.1 - Normal, Score 1024x600
0%
100%
min: 8892     avg: 8892 (75%)     median: 8892 (75%)     max: 8892 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - Room Scene, OpenCL GPUs-only
0%
100%
min: 3660     avg: 3660 (100%)     median: 3660 (100%)     max: 3660 Samples/s
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - Sala Scene, OpenCL GPUs-only
0%
100%
min: 5814     avg: 5814 (100%)     median: 5814 (100%)     max: 5814 Samples/s
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
3DMark 11 - Performance GPU 1280x720
0%
100%
min: 30045     avg: 30045 (100%)     median: 30045 (100%)     max: 30045 points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Hide comparison chart
3DMark 11 - Performance 1280x720
0%
100%
min: 20055     avg: 20055 (100%)     median: 20055 (100%)     max: 20055 points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
3DMark Vantage - P GPU no PhysX 1280x1024
0%
100%
min: 60089     avg: 60089 (100%)     median: 60089 (100%)     max: 60089 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
3DMark Vantage - P Result no PhysX 1280x1024
0%
100%
min: 47704     avg: 47704 (100%)     median: 47704 (100%)     max: 47704 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
3DMark 06
0%
100%
min: 35639     avg: 35639 (93%)     median: 35639 (93%)     max: 35639 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
SPECviewperf 12 - Solidworks (sw-03) 1900x1060
0%
100%
min: 50.83     avg: 50.8 (48%)     median: 50.8 (48%)     max: 50.83 fps
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
SPECviewperf 12 - Siemens NX (snx-02) 1900x1060
0%
100%
min: 6.05     avg: 6.1 (7%)     median: 6.1 (7%)     max: 6.05 fps
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
SPECviewperf 12 - Showcase (showcase-01) 1900x1060
0%
100%
min: 61.15     avg: 61.2 (100%)     median: 61.2 (100%)     max: 61.15 fps
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
SPECviewperf 12 - Medical (medical-01) 1900x1060
0%
100%
min: 30.18     avg: 30.2 (91%)     median: 30.2 (91%)     max: 30.18 fps
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
SPECviewperf 12 - Maya (maya-04) 1900x1060
0%
100%
min: 88.88     avg: 88.9 (82%)     median: 88.9 (82%)     max: 88.88 fps
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
SPECviewperf 12 - Energy (energy-01) 1900x1060
0%
100%
min: 6.8     avg: 6.8 (12%)     median: 6.8 (12%)     max: 6.8 fps
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
SPECviewperf 12 - Creo (creo-01) 1900x1060
0%
100%
min: 35.42     avg: 35.4 (43%)     median: 35.4 (43%)     max: 35.42 fps
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
SPECviewperf 12 - Catia (catia-04) 1900x1060
0%
100%
min: 52.21     avg: 52.2 (53%)     median: 52.2 (53%)     max: 52.21 fps
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
Cinebench R11.5 - OpenGL 64Bit
0%
100%
min: 79.2     avg: 79.2 (65%)     median: 79.2 (65%)     max: 79.2 Points
1 benchmarks and specifications   Show comparison chart
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailled information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

Rainbow Six Siege
low 1024x768
279.8  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
232.2  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
150.9  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
136.4  fps     Compare
3840x2160
50.2  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Just Cause 3
low 1024x768
158  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
147.7  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
92.7  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
79.3  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Star Wars Battlefront
low 1024x768
161.7  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
150.6  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
114.4  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
110.4  fps     Compare
3840x2160
62.6  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Assassin's Creed Syndicate
low 1024x768
94.9  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
93.4  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
85.3  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
34.8  fps     Compare
3840x2160
37.7  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Fallout 4

Fallout 4

2015
low 1280x720
189.2  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
183.8  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
149.4  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
129.9  fps     Compare
3840x2160
55.6  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3
low 1024x768
175.3  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
169.2  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
152.8  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
152.7  fps     Compare
3840x2160
60.8  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Anno 2205

Anno 2205

2015
low 1024x768
170.1  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
157.1  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
88  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
31.5  fps     Compare
3840x2160
35.4  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
FIFA 16

FIFA 16

2015
low 1280x720
357.3  fps     Compare
high 1366x768
319.8  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
266.4  fps     Compare
3840x2160
118.6  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Mad Max

Mad Max

2015
med. 1366x768
277  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
244.9  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
230.8  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Batman: Arkham Knight
low 1280x720
160  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
148  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
96  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
64  fps     Compare
3840x2160
32  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
The Witcher 3
low 1024x768
270.3  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
203.4  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
131.9  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
74  fps     Compare
3840x2160
51.2  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Dirt Rally
low 1024x768
394  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
178.9  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
137.3  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
124.4  fps     Compare
3840x2160
85.6  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Battlefield Hardline
low 1024x768
198.4  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
197.9  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
195.4  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
176.1  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Evolve

Evolve

2015
low 1024x768
274.8  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
225.7  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
199  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
177.8  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Dragon Age: Inquisition
low 1024x768
197.8  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
187.7  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
159.2  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
123.5  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Far Cry 4

Far Cry 4

2014
low 1024x768
137.9  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
136.9  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
120.4  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
113.6  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Alien: Isolation
low 1024x768
284.6  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
269.1  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
238.7  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
185.4  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor
low 1280x720
227.8  fps     Compare
med. 1344x756
203  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
186.1  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
160.9  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Sims 4

Sims 4

2014
low 1024x768
191.7  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
172.7  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
144.3  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
138.4  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
GRID: Autosport
low 1024x768
342  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
191.3  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
155.2  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
142.9  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Watch Dogs
low 1024x768
106  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
94.3  fps     Compare
high 1920x1080
78.5  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
69.3  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Thief

Thief

2014
low 1024x768
131.9  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
130.8  fps     Compare
high 1366x768
130.3  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
113.8  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Battlefield 4
low 1024x768
199.6  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
199.5  fps     Compare
high 1366x768
198.9  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
176.8  fps     Compare
3840x2160
91.6  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Metro: Last Light
low 1024x768
155.9  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
151.2  fps     Compare
high 1366x768
143.8  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
111.9  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
BioShock Infinite
low 1280x720
293.3  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
259.7  fps     Compare
high 1366x768
241.6  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
178.1  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Tomb Raider
low 1024x768
548  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
520.8  fps     Compare
high 1366x768
506.9  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
276.9  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Crysis 3

Crysis 3

2013
low 1024x768
163.7  fps     Compare
med. 1366x768
147.9  fps     Compare
high 1366x768
128  fps     Compare
ultra 1920x1080
91.7  fps     Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.

For more games that might be playable and a list of all games and graphics cards visit our Gaming List

v1.3

#0 Did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! +0.001s ... 0.001s

#1 min, max, avg, median took s +0.514s ... 0.515s

#2 Before gaming benchmark output +0.001s ... 0.515s

#3 return log +0.908s ... 1.424s

Notebook reviews with NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Notebook) graphics card

MSI GT80S 6QF: Intel Core i7 6820HK, 18.4", 5 kg
  Review » MSI GT80S 6QF Titan SLI Notebook Review

  External Review » MSI GT80S 6QF

» Comparison of GPUs
Detailed list of all laptop GPUs sorted by class and performance.

» Benchmark List
Sort and restrict laptop GPUs based on performance in synthetic benchmarks.

» Notebook Gaming List
Playable games for each graphics card and their average FPS results.

Class 1
GeForce GTX 590
GeForce GTX 580
Radeon HD 6970
GeForce GTX 570
Class 2
GeForce GTX 560 Ti
Radeon HD 5850
Radeon HD 7770
Radeon HD 7770
GeForce GTX 460 768MB
Radeon HD 6790
Radeon HD 5770
GeForce GTX 550 Ti
Radeon HD 4850
Class 3
GeForce GTS 450
Radeon HD 5670
GeForce GT 240
GeForce GT 430
Class 4
Radeon HD 5570
GeForce GT 220
Radeon HD 6450 GDDR5
Class 5
Radeon HD 4350
GeForce G 107M *
Chrome9HD *
Class 6
unknown *

* Approximate position of the graphics adapter

> Notebook / Laptop Reviews and News > Benchmarks / Tech > Comparison of Laptop Graphics Cards > NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Notebook)
Author: Klaus Hinum (Update: 2016-01-26)