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.

Manufacturer

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 900 Series

GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop)	4096 @ 1.13 - 1.23 GHz	256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 980 Ti	2816 @ 1 - 1.2 GHz	256 Bit @ 7000 MHz
GeForce GTX 980	2048 @ 1.13 - 1.22 GHz	256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 980 (Laptop)	2048 @ 1.13 - 1.23 GHz	256 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 970	1664 @ 1.05 - 1.18 GHz	224 + 32 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 960	1024 @ 1.13 - 1.18 GHz	128 Bit @ 3500 MHz
GeForce GTX 950	768 @ 1.02 - 1.19 GHz	128 Bit @ 3300 MHz

Codename

N16E-GXX SLI

Architecture

Maxwell

Pipelines

4096 - unified

Core Speed

1126 - 1228 (Boost) MHz

Memory Speed

3500 MHz

Memory Bus Width

256 Bit

Memory Type

GDDR5

Max. Amount of Memory

2x 8192 MB

Shared Memory

DirectX

DirectX 12_1

Transistor Count

10400 Million

technology

28 nm

Features

CUDA, 3D Vision, PhysX, GeForce Experience, Surround, GameStream, GPU Boost 2.0, Adaptive Vertical Sync, G-SYNC, SLI

Notebook Size

large

Date of Announcement

22.09.2015

Benchmarks

Performance Rating - 3DMark 11 + Fire Strike + Time Spy

66.7 pt (71%)

AMD Radeon HD 8180 -98%

...

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (Desktop) -13%

AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 -12%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Laptop GPU -11%

NVIDIA Titan X Pascal -9%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super (Desktop) -7%

AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (Desktop) -4%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super (Desktop) -4%

AMD Radeon VII -3%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile -2%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop)

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 (Desktop) 1%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 3%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 SLI (Desktop) 4%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 SLI (Laptop) 12%

AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 19%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Ti (Desktop) 21%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 25%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 SLI (Laptop) 25%

NVIDIA Titan RTX 27%

...

AMD Radeon RX 6800 XT 41%

100%

3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Score

min: 32522 avg: 33811 median: 33811 (45%) max: 35100 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	32522
Asus GX800 Prototype	6820HK @4.4 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1328 / 3700 MHz 16 GB	64 GB	35100

3DMark - 3DMark Cloud Gate Graphics

min: 147015 avg: 155239 median: 155238 (77%) max: 163462 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	147015
Asus GX800 Prototype	6820HK @4.4 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1328 / 3700 MHz 16 GB	64 GB	163462

3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Score

min: 17165 avg: 18339 median: 18339 (47%) max: 19513 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	17165
Asus GX800 Prototype	6820HK @4.4 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1328 / 3700 MHz 16 GB	64 GB	19513

3DMark - 3DMark Fire Strike Standard Graphics

min: 23351 avg: 25453 median: 25453 (50%) max: 27555 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	23351
Asus GX800 Prototype	6820HK @4.4 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1328 / 3700 MHz 16 GB	64 GB	27555

3DMark - 3DMark Ice Storm Graphics

min: 422037 avg: 440931 median: 440930 (59%) max: 459824 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	422037
Asus GX800 Prototype	6820HK @4.4 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1328 / 3700 MHz 16 GB	64 GB	459824

3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Score

min: 20055 avg: 21341 median: 21341 (50%) max: 22627 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	20055
Asus GX800 Prototype	6820HK @4.4 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1328 / 3700 MHz 16 GB	64 GB	22627

3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance GPU

min: 30045 avg: 33169 median: 33169 (56%) max: 36293 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications - Hide comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	30045
Asus GX800 Prototype	6820HK @4.4 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1328 / 3700 MHz 16 GB	64 GB	36293

AMD Radeon HD 6250 -99%

...

AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 -12%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super Mobile -11%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Super (Desktop) -11%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Max-Q -11%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (Desktop) -10%

AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 -8%

AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (Desktop) -8%

AMD Radeon RX 5700 (Desktop) -5%

NVIDIA Titan X Pascal -2%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop)

AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (Desktop) 2%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 Super (Desktop) 4%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 Laptop GPU 5%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Super Mobile 6%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Mobile 6%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Ti (Desktop) 13%

AMD Radeon VII 14%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti 14%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3070 19%

...

AMD Radeon RX 6900 XT 78%

100%

3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total +

3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. total

47704 Points (47%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	47704

3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX +

3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX

60089 Points (55%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications - Hide comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	60089

ATI Radeon HD 3200 -100%

...

NVIDIA Quadro P5000 -12%

AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 -9%

NVIDIA Quadro RTX 3000 (Laptop) -9%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 (Desktop) -8%

AMD Radeon RX 5500 XT (Desktop) -4%

AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 -4%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super (Desktop) -3%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Ti -2%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 Mobile -2%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop)

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 Max-Q 1%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (Desktop) 1%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 (Desktop) 3%

NVIDIA Quadro RTX 4000 (Laptop) 4%

NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 Max-Q 5%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1080 Mobile 5%

AMD Radeon VII 5%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (Desktop) 7%

AMD Radeon RX 5600 XT (Desktop) 7%

...

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 72%

100%

3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 +

3DMark 06

35639 Points (66%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	35639

SPECviewperf 12
specvp12 sw-03 +

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 sw-03

50.8 fps (22%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	50.83

specvp12 snx-02 +

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 snx-02

6.1 fps (2%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	6.05

specvp12 showcase-01 +

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 showcase-01

61.2 fps (25%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	61.15

specvp12 mediacal-01 +

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 mediacal-01

30.2 fps (28%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	30.18

specvp12 maya-04 +

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 maya-04

88.9 fps (38%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	88.88

specvp12 energy-01 +

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 energy-01

6.8 fps (22%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	6.8

specvp12 creo-01 +

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 creo-01

35.4 fps (20%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	35.42

specvp12 catia-04 +

SPECviewperf 12 - specvp12 catia-04

52.2 fps (18%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	52.21

Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit +

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit

min: 79.2 avg: 82.6 median: 82.6 (35%) max: 85.93 fps

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	79.2
Asus GX800 Prototype	6820HK @4.4 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1328 / 3700 MHz 16 GB	64 GB	85.93

Cinebench R15
Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit +

Cinebench R15 - Cinebench R15 OpenGL 64 Bit

min: 117.93 avg: 126 median: 125.9 (35%) max: 133.78 fps

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	117.93
Asus GX800 Prototype	6820HK @4.4 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1328 / 3700 MHz 16 GB	64 GB	133.78

GFXBench 3.0 - GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan Offscreen

382 fps (42%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	381.7

GFXBench 3.0 - GFXBench 3.0 Manhattan

59.7 fps (16%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	59.7

LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - LuxMark v2.0 Room GPU

3660 Samples/s (37%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	3660

LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - LuxMark v2.0 Sala GPU

5814 Samples/s (19%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	5814

ComputeMark v2.1 - ComputeMark v2.1 Result

8892 points (19%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
MSI GT80S 6QF	6820HK @4.1 GHz	GeForce GTX 980 SLI (Laptop) 1064 / 3500 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	8892

- 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.