Notebookcheck Logo

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop)

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop)

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.

GeForce GTX 900 Series

GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 4096 @ 1.13 - 1.23 GHz256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 980 Ti compare 2816 @ 1 - 1.2 GHz256 Bit @ 7000 MHz
GeForce GTX 980 compare 2048 @ 1.13 - 1.22 GHz256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop) compare 2048 @ 1.13 - 1.23 GHz256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 970 compare 1664 @ 1.05 - 1.18 GHz224 + 32 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 960 compare 1024 @ 1.13 - 1.18 GHz128 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 950 compare 768 @ 1.02 - 1.19 GHz128 Bit @ 3300 MHz
CodenameN16E-GXX SLI
ArchitectureMaxwell
Pipelines4096 - unified
Core Speed1126 - 1228 (Boost) MHz
Memory Speed3500 MHz
Memory Bus Width256 Bit
Memory TypeGDDR5
Max. Amount of Memory2x 8192 MB
Shared Memoryno
APIDirectX 12_1, OpenGL 4.5
Power Consumption330 Watt
Transistor Count10.4 Billion
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

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - 3DMark 11 + Fire Strike + Time Spy
11.6 pt (35%)
3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Graphics
min: 147015     avg: 155239     median: 155238 (41%)     max: 163462 Points
3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Graphics
min: 422037     avg: 440931     median: 440930 (53%)     max: 459824 Points
3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total +
3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX +
3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 +
SPECviewperf 12
specvp12 sw-03 +
specvp12 snx-02 +
specvp12 showcase-01 +
specvp12 mediacal-01 +
specvp12 maya-04 +
specvp12 energy-01 +
specvp12 creo-01 +
specvp12 catia-04 +
Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit +
Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit +
- 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.

low 1280x720
197.4  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
145.4  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
124.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
119.3  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
48.3  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Overwatch

Overwatch

2016
low 1280x720
299.9  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
299.8  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
299.8  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
297.4  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
143  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
Doom

Doom

2016
low 1280x720
192.7  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
189.8  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
168.7  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
160.3  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
70.3  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1280x720
133.4  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
122.4  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
121.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
93.1  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
75.1  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1280x720
84.8  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
79.7  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
72  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
70.6  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
54.6  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1280x720
226  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
189.9  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
126.5  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
100.6  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
55.1  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1280x720
98  fps    + Compare
med. 1920x1080
97  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
86  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
85  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
56  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
XCOM 2

XCOM 2

2016
low 1280x720
129.6  fps    + Compare
med. 1920x1080
109.5  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
108  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
59.9  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
39  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
107.3  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
95  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
94.7  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
94.4  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
60.9  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
279.8  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
232.2  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
150.9  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
136.4  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
50.2  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
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.
low 1024x768
161.7  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
150.6  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
114.4  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
110.4  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
62.6  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
94.9  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
93.4  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
85.3  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
34.8  fps    + Compare
4K 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
4K 3840x2160
55.6  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
175.3  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
169.2  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
152.8  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
152.7  fps    + Compare
4K 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
4K 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
4K 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.
low 1280x720
160  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
148  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
96  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
64  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
32  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
270.3  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
203.4  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
131.9  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
74  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
51.2  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
low 1024x768
394  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
178.9  fps    + Compare
high 1920x1080
137.3  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
124.4  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
85.6  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
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.
low 1024x768
199.6  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
199.5  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
198.9  fps    + Compare
ultra 1920x1080
176.8  fps    + Compare
4K 3840x2160
91.6  fps    + Compare
» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.
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.
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.
low 1024x768
548  fps    + Compare
med. 1366x768
521  fps    + Compare
high 1366x768
507  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.
lowmed.highultraQHD4K
Mirror's Edge Catalyst197.4145.4124.4119.348.3
Overwatch299.9299.8299.8297.4143
Doom192.7189.8168.7160.370.3
Need for Speed 2016133.4122.4121.493.175.1
Hitman 201684.879.77270.654.6
The Division226189.9126.5100.655.1
Far Cry Primal9897868556
XCOM 2129.6109.510859.939
Rise of the Tomb Raider107.39594.794.460.9
Rainbow Six Siege279.8232.2150.9136.450.2
Just Cause 3158147.792.779.3
Star Wars Battlefront161.7150.6114.4110.462.6
Assassin's Creed Syndicate94.993.485.334.837.7
Fallout 4189.2183.8149.4129.955.6
Call of Duty: Black Ops 3175.3169.2152.8152.760.8
Anno 2205170.1157.18831.535.4
FIFA 16357.3319.8266.4118.6
Mad Max277244.9230.8
Batman: Arkham Knight160148966432
The Witcher 3270.3203.4131.97451.2
Dirt Rally394178.9137.3124.485.6
Battlefield Hardline198.4197.9195.4176.1
Evolve274.8225.7199177.8
Dragon Age: Inquisition197.8187.7159.2123.5
Far Cry 4137.9136.9120.4113.6
Alien: Isolation284.6269.1238.7185.4
Middle-earth: Shadow of Mordor227.8203186.1160.9
Sims 4191.7172.7144.3138.4
GRID: Autosport342191.3155.2142.9
Watch Dogs10694.378.569.3
Thief131.9130.8130.3113.8
Battlefield 4199.6199.5198.9176.891.6
Metro: Last Light155.9151.2143.8111.9
BioShock Infinite293.3259.7241.6178.1
Tomb Raider548521507276.9
Crysis 3163.7147.912891.7
< 30 fps
< 60 fps
< 120 fps
≥ 120 fps


5
30


6
29


10
26

3
15
18




11
8
1

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

Add one or more devices and compare

In the following list you can select (and also search for) devices that should be added to the comparison. You can select more than one device.

restrict list:

show all (including archived), 2024, 2023
v1.26
log 05. 12:13:13

#0 no ids found in url (should be separated by "_") +0s ... 0s

#1 not redirecting to Ajax server +0s ... 0s

#2 did not recreate cache, as it is less than 5 days old! Created at Mon, 04 Mar 2024 05:34:43 +0100 +0.001s ... 0.001s

#3 composed specs +0.058s ... 0.059s

#4 did output specs +0s ... 0.059s

#5 start showIntegratedCPUs +0s ... 0.059s

#6 getting avg benchmarks for device 7167 +0.032s ... 0.091s

#7 got single benchmarks 7167 +0.01s ... 0.101s

#8 got avg benchmarks for devices +0s ... 0.101s

#9 min, max, avg, median took s +0.506s ... 0.607s

#10 before gaming benchmark output +0s ... 0.607s

#11 Got 162 rows for game benchmarks. +0.018s ... 0.625s

#12 composed SQL query for gamebenchmarks +0s ... 0.625s

#13 got data and put it in $dataArray +0.032s ... 0.657s

#14 benchmarks composed for output. +1.568s ... 2.224s

#15 return log +0.074s ... 2.298s

Please share our article, every link counts!

» 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

Class 2

Radeon PRO W6600M *

Class 3

UHD Graphics 32EUs
UHD Graphics 750

Class 4

Class 5

* Approximate position of the graphics adapter

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