Notebookcheck

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 is a high end desktop graphics card based on the Maxwell architecture. As the faster GTX 980, the GTX 970 uses the GM204 chip, but with reduced shaders (2048 vs. 1664) and TMUs (128 vs 103). The graphics card is equipped with 4 GB GDDR5 (7 GHz effective). 3.5 GB of the 4 GB are connected with 224 Bit, the rest only with a 32 Bit interface. This can lead to some stuttering or reduced frame rates in games that use the full 4 GB. The similar named mobile GeForce GTX 970M is clearly slower as it features only 1280 shader cores.

Despite the unique memory configuration, the GTX 970 performs on average on par with the older GeForce GTX 780 Ti or a AMD Radeon R9 290X.

The GM204 supports CUDA, 3D Vision, PhysX, GeForce Experience, Surround, GameStream, GPU Boost 2.0, Adaptive Vertical Sync / G-SYNC, SLI, DSR, MFAA and Virtual Reality latency improvements.

The Maxwell architecture is very power efficient. While gaming, the card only uses as much power as the Radeon R9 285 which is more than 35% slower on average.

ManufacturerNVIDIA
GeForce GTX 900 Series
GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) compare 4096 @ 1126 - 1228 MHz256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 980 Ti compare 2816 @ 1000 - 1200 MHz256 Bit @ 7000 MHz
GeForce GTX 980 compare 2048 @ 1126 - 1216 MHz256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop) compare 2048 @ 1126 - 1228 MHz256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 970 1664 @ 1050 - 1178 MHz224 + 32 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 960 compare 1024 @ 1127 - 1178 MHz128 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 950 compare 768 @ 1024 - 1188 MHz128 Bit @ 3300 MHz
CodenameGM204
ArchitectureMaxwell
Pipelines1664 - unified
Core Speed1050 - 1178 (Boost) MHz
Memory Speed3500 MHz
Memory Bus Width224 + 32 Bit
Memory TypeGDDR5
Max. Amount of Memory4096 MB
Shared Memoryno
DirectXDirectX 12_1
Transistor Count5200 Million
technology28 nm
FeaturesCUDA, 3D Vision, PhysX, GeForce Experience, Surround, GameStream, GPU Boost 2.0, Adaptive Vertical Sync, G-SYNC, SLI
Date of Announcement19.09.2014
Link to Manufacturer Pagehttp://www.geforce.com/hardware/desktop-...

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - 3DMark 11 + Fire Strike + Time Spy
45 pt (46%)
Intel HD Graphics (Bay Trail) -97%
...
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Max-Q -10%
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Max-Q -8%
NVIDIA Quadro P5000 -8%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 (Desktop) -7%
AMD Radeon RX Vega M GH -6%
AMD Radeon R9 290X -5%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q -4%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M SLI -4%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M SLI -2%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop) 0%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 4%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780 Ti 4%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (Desktop) 4%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M SLI 6%
AMD Radeon R9 390X 6%
AMD Radeon RX 570 (Desktop) 10%
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile 10%
AMD Radeon RX 480 (Desktop) 11%
...
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 SLI (Laptop) 116%
0%
100%
3DMark - Time Spy Score 2560x1440
3693 Points (25%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Time Spy Graphics 2560x1440
3544 Points (24%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Ice Storm Unlimited Graphics Score 1280x720 offscreen
422295 Points (77%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Cloud Gate Standard Score 1280x720
min: 23657     avg: 25575     median: 25575 (38%)     max: 27493 Points
+ 2 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Cloud Gate Standard Graphics 1280x720
min: 71472     avg: 72819     median: 72819 (37%)     max: 74166 Points
+ 2 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Fire Strike Score 1920x1080
min: 9399     avg: 9713     median: 9434 (32%)     max: 10307 Points
+ 3 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Fire Strike Graphics 1920x1080
min: 11155     avg: 11802     median: 11954 (29%)     max: 12296 Points
+ 3 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark - Ice Storm Standard Graphics 1280x720
321805 Points (43%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark 11 - Performance 1280x720
min: 12033     avg: 13207     median: 13249 (34%)     max: 14339 points
+ 3 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
3DMark 11 - Performance GPU 1280x720
min: 15071     avg: 15780     median: 16033 (31%)     max: 16237 points
+ 3 benchmarks and specifications   - Hide comparison chart
3DMark Vantage
P Result 1280x1024 +
P GPU no PhysX 1280x1024 +
3DMark 06 Standard 1280x1024 +
Unigine Valley 1.0 - Extreme HD DirectX 1920x1080
59.1 fps (35%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit +
Cinebench R15
OpenGL 64Bit +
GFXBench (DX / GLBenchmark) 2.7
T-Rex HD Offscreen C24Z16 1920x1080 +
GFXBench 3.0 - Manhattan Offscreen OGL off screen
396 fps (63%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
GFXBench - Car Chase Offscreen off screen
217 fps (50%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
GFXBench - Car Chase Onscreen on screen
41.5 fps (16%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - Room GPUs-only
1874 Samples/s (19%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - Sala GPUs-only
3020 Samples/s (28%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
ComputeMark v2.1 - Normal, Score 1024x600
8549 Points (30%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
Power Consumption - FurMark 1.19 GPU Stress Test - Power Consumption (external Monitor) 1280x720 *
316 Watt (72%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
Power Consumption - The Witcher 3 Power Consumption (external Monitor) ultra 1920x1080 *
267 Watt (57%)
+ 1 benchmarks and specifications   + Show comparison chart
- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card
- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

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 detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.

Ghost Recon Breakpoint

Ghost Recon Breakpoint

2019
high 1920x1080
52  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
36  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
FIFA 20

FIFA 20

2019
QHD 2560x1440
153  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
86  fps    + Compare
Borderlands 3

Borderlands 3

2019
med. 1920x1080
74  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
48.6  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
36.7  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Control

Control

2019
low 1280x720
153  fps    + Compare
med. 1920x1080
50  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
36  fps    + Compare
QHD 2560x1440
22.8  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
F1 2019

F1 2019

2019
high 1920x1080
110  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
72  fps    + Compare
QHD 2560x1440
49.3  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
30.3  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Dirt Rally 2.0

Dirt Rally 2.0

2019
ultra 1920x1080
46.7  fps    + Compare
QHD 2560x1440
35  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
20.6  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Metro Exodus

Metro Exodus

2019
low 1280x720
99  fps    + Compare
med. 1920x1080
49  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
37.2  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
31.1  fps    + Compare
QHD 2560x1440
23.9  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
13.2  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Apex Legends

Apex Legends

2019
ultra 1920x1080
70  fps    + Compare
QHD 2560x1440
45.5  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
23.3  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Just Cause 4

Just Cause 4

2018
ultra 1920x1080
57.8  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
19.9  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Darksiders III

Darksiders III

2018
ultra 1920x1080
68  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
20.6  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Battlefield V

Battlefield V

2018
ultra 1920x1080
47.5  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
19.7  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Fallout 76

Fallout 76

2018
ultra 1920x1080
59.8  fps    + Compare
QHD 2560x1440
47.9  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Hitman 2

Hitman 2

2018
ultra 1920x1080
58.1 61 ~ 60 fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
F1 2018

F1 2018

2018
high 1920x1080
98  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
63  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
25.9  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Final Fantasy XV Benchmark

Final Fantasy XV Benchmark

2018
low 1280x720
101  fps    + Compare
med. 1920x1080
55.3  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
35.6  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
12.8  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
Fortnite

Fortnite

2018
high 1920x1080
82  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
60  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
22  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Star Wars Battlefront 2

Star Wars Battlefront 2

2017
ultra 1920x1080
66  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
9.4  fps    + Compare