GTX 980 Final Speccs. Pics, pricing too (updated)

From VideoCardZ, wall of text+img incoming...

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 has 2048 CUDA cores

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 pictured

Not 1920, not 2560, but 2048 CUDAs are powering the new flagship card from NVIDIA.

GeForce GTX 980 has 16 Streaming Multiprocessors Maxwell (SMM), which give us 2048 CUDA cores in total. For comparison, GTX 970 has only 13 SMMs (1664 CUDAs), so there’s a 384 CUDA difference between these two cards.

GeForce GTX 980 is advertised as GK104 replacement, it is much more power efficient and much more powerful than first Kepler processor.

We will cover 2nd Generation Maxwell in detail very soon. Maxwell GM204 has some very neat features for gamers.

This post was only meant to confirm there are 2048 CUDAs in 980, hence not the most detailed table below.

Game24? How bout’ GameOver.

Are you having a boring Sunday? Well if you do, then we bring you something interesting to see.

What you’re looking at is the new GeForce GTX 980. Today we are solely looking at the design. Specifications will be covered in our next post.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 has been a mystery until now. The new flagship will adopt GeForce GTX TITAN/780/780Ti cooling solution. It is a blower type cooler capable of dissipating 250W of power. This time it will only have to deal with 180 Watts, leaving plenty of headroom for overclocking.

Now let’s take closer look at the card. First up, there are some cosmetic changes, like the one below.

However the biggest improvement can be seen on the back. NVIDIA has adopted TITAN Z backplate for its new flagship.

There is a removable part over power connectors. We do not know why yet.

GeForce GTX 980 has two 6pin power connectors. There is a space for another 8pin connector, but we are more than sure it is not necessary. It is said that GeForce GTX 980 will require only 180W, so PCI-E interface and two 6-pin connectors are more than enough.

The memory layout has of course changed, as we have modules with higher capacity. This particular sample is using Samsung K4G41325FC-HC28 4Gb (128Mx32) modules.

What pictures do not show is the new display output configuration. NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 has five display outputs: DVI, HDMI, and three DisplayPorts. We heard that GTX 980 and 970 may feature HDMI 2.0 support, but we were unable to confirm it.

The power section has been redesigned. GTX 980 has 5 GPU phases (780 Ti had 6), but the VRM has been greatly improved.

Anyway, it’s late, so enough talking, have a look at the PCB, you can also see the new bracket (which looks similar to TITAN Z).

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 and GTX 970 Pricing Revealed from TechPOwerUp:

Apparently, NVIDIA is convinced that it has a pair of winners on its hands, with its upcoming GeForce GTX 980 and GTX 970 graphics cards, and is preparing to price them steeply. The GeForce GTX 980 is expected to start at US $599, nearly the same price as the GeForce GTX 780 Ti. The GTX 970, on the other hand, will start at US $399, danger-close to cannibalizing the GTX 780.

Across the brands, the GTX 980 is launching at the same pricing AMD's Radeon R9 290X launched at; and the GTX 970 at that of the R9 290. AMD's cards have since settled down to $449 for the R9 290X, and R9 290 at $350. Both the GTX 980 and GTX 970, will be available in non-reference board designs, although reference-design GTX 980 will dominate day-one reviews. Based on the 28 nm GM204 silicon, the GTX 980 features 2,048 CUDA cores, 128 TMUs, 32 ROPs; while the GTX 970 features 1,664 CUDA cores, and 104 TMUs. Both feature 256-bit wide memory interfaces, holding 4 GB of GDDR5 memory.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 final specifications from VideoCardZ. Thanks to @Truth_Hurts_U

On September 19th, NVIDIA will finally reveal its new GeForce 900 series.

Two cards will be announced during a special event for gamers (Game24): GTX 980 and GTX 970.

While the GTX 970 is just a gap-filler, GeForce GTX 980 is much more – a proper new flagship card.

Introducing Maxwell GM204

First, let’s have a look at the new processor, the GM204. This is the first GPU based on ‘Second Generation Maxwell‘ architecture. When GM107 was announced, I think everyone was expecting GM2xx architecture to use smaller node, but unfortunately, we are still on 28nm fabrication node.

GeForce GTX 980 is equipped with full fat GM204, the 400 variant. This GPU has 16 Streaming Multiprocessors “Maxwell” (SMM). What you didn’t know, is that GM204 has 64 Raster Operating Units. Yes, GM204 has 64 ROPs, that’s more than Kepler GK110.

The GM204 has in fact, the same number of Texture Mapping Units (TMUs) — 128, but thanks to higher core clock, texture fillrate is actually higher.

There are 5.2 billion transistors packed into GM204, and the GPU has a die size of 398 mm².

And for those wondering how large L2 Cache is, then the answer is: the same as GM107 — 2MB.

NVIDIA Maxwell GM204 has some cool features like Dynamic Super Resolution, which is basically new upscaling technology advertised as ‘4k Quality on a 1080p display’.

Other interesting technology is Third Generation Delta Color Compression. This technology will help increase memory efficiency, which is definitely required with 256b interface.

The final buzzword for you is Multi-Pixel Programmable Sampling, technology improving sample randomization, and reducing quantization artifacts.

GM204 die shot and block diagram

GM204 is split into four Graphics Processing Clusters (GPCs). Each GPC has 4 SMMs. There are four 64b memory controllers. Large L2 Cache is accompanied by 64 ROPs.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Final Specifications

GeForce GTX 980 has 2048 CUDA cores, 128 TMUs and 64 ROPs. Card is equipped with 4GB GDDR5 memory and 256-bit interface. It has a bandwidth of GTX 770, which is 224 GB/s. By comparing it to Kepler parts, we notice that Maxwell-based graphics cards arrive with relatively higher clock speeds, GTX 980 has a base clock of 1126 MHz and boost clock of 1216 MHz.

The biggest news here is that GTX 980 has only a TDP of 165W. That’s amazing power reduction compared to 250W GK110.

Last but not least, I can now confirm that GeForce GTX 980 has HDMI 2.0 support. And if you somehow missed my previous news, GTX 980 has 5 display outputs: DVI-I, HDMI2.0 and three DisplayPorts 1.2 (not 1.3).

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 will be released on September 19th. Card is expected to cost around $599 USD (unconfirmed).

Hmmmm.... getting ready to be disapoint. Lower cores and lower Vram bandwidth.... :(

Will they really be released on the 19th? From what I understand the NDA is lifted on the 19th. I doubt Nvidia is just gonna pull a "Sega".

Gimme gimme gimme

Base on rumors.

Gtx 980 is 4.16% slower clock for clock then 780 Ti.

GTX 980 needs 912 MHz base clock to equal stock 780 Ti at 875 MHz.

GTX 980 needs 967 MHz boost clock to equal stock 780 Ti at 928 MHz.

780 Ti Kingpin has 1072 MHz base clock and 1137 MHz boost clock.

GTX 980 needs 1117 MHz base clock and 1185 MHz boost clock to compete with Kingpin.

Kingpin is 22.5% higher clocks then stock.

Stock 780 Ti is 5.04 TFlops.

Kingping is 22.5% x 5.04 TFlops = 6.174 TFlops.

If GTX 980 is 15% overclocked from competing clocks with Kingpin, then 7.1 TFlops is possible.

A 15% overclock with competing clocks would result in 1285 MHz base and 1363 MHz boost.

Given the power efficient design and high overclock potential it is possible, but not guaranteed... that these clocks would be obtainable.

1184 MHz base and 1256 MHz boost is possible with 6% OC from competing clocks. Which would make for 6.54 TFlops.

Any rumored price points? I'm looking to pick up a 980 asap...

OK so the nubers are not really impressive, but 150W for GTX 970 sounds sweet. It could totally put 2 of those on my PSU. The price, tho...

Lets see what the bench marks say, it's going to be very intresting when compared to the 780ti especially once the 980's have been clocked up.

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 and GTX 970 Pricing Revealed

@Coseniath:

$400...? bloody hell, it'll end up at $550+ here.

@GTR12: I really hope they will provide enough performance to justify these prices. $399 and $599.

If they will not provide enough performance to justify their prices and naming, we will, for the first time after GTX9800 series, talk about fail...

Some new cards revealed.

http://wccftech.com/asus-geforce-gtx-970-strix-gainward-geforce-gtx-970-phantom-gainward-geforce-gtx-980-revealed/

Specs revealed.

http://videocardz.com/52362/only-at-vc-nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-final-specifications

http://wccftech.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-980-graphics-card-gm204-gpu-detailed-64-rops-hdmi-20-2048-cuda-cores-52-billion-transistors-operating-165w/

Wow. 1st link talks about $499 GTX980. I hope this is true lol :D.

Now about the final speccs. It seems it will be faster than 780ti. GeForce GTX 980 has 2048 CUDA cores, 128 TMUs and 64 ROPs plus 1216 MHz boost clock (vs 926 of 780ti, this is 30% more clock...) it should be enough fast for at least 10%...

Thanks @Truth_Hurts_U. I will update the post.

Based on the specs.

GTX 980 is 29% higher clock then 780 Ti.

GTX 980 is 9% lower TFlops then 780 Ti. (they have 780 Ti TFlops wrong).

GTX 980 is 38% slower clock for clock then 780 Ti.

GTX 980 is 44% higher TFlop then GTX 770.

GTX 980 is 7.7% higher clock then GTX 770.

GTX 980 is 36% higher performance clock for clock then 770.

Looks to be a meh card. Not worth the wait. But we will see benchmarks soon and I hope I'm wrong.

There are some benchmarks showing GTX980 beating GTX780ti in a game by 5% but its not so accurate since they are showing GTX980 with lower clock.

By the way, TFlop isn't important in gaming, as you said GTX780ti has like 50% higher TFlop from GTX770 without being 50% faster.

Top tier chips are usually computational beasts but all this power doesn't 100% going to gaming performance.

Just some more fun numbers.

GTX 980 (4.6 TFlops) is 84% faster then GTX 680 (2.5 TFlops).

It has been since March 2012 that the GTX 680 was released. Which will be nearing 2 years and 6 months old when GTX 980 releases.

@Coseniath: Games use single precision Flops. It's the measurement of how powerful a card is. Of course architecture plays a roll on how efficient those Flops are used.

@Truth_Hurts_U: Don't forget drivers, API and software :)

Otherwise all cards would had linear identical performance in all games ;)

Also you said "architecture plays a roll on how efficient those Flops are used", this doesn't justify why GTX780ti isn't 90% more powerful than GTX680 or 50% more powerful than GTX770.

@Coseniath:

If bear metal coding was possible on PC then they would be very close.

But it's true that drivers, DX, OpenGL and Games all have to do their part in taking advantage of raw hardware power.

@Truth_Hurts_U: True. Direct-to-metal would not only make these differences real, but it would give us great boost in our PC system.

Unfortunately, none (even from big devs like EA or Activision) nowadays wants to pay for this...

$599 for a midrange chip????

@ShepardCommandr: Nvidia board: "The year with mid-range Kepler launching at $500 was the year with the largest profits. Hmmm lets break this record. Since AMD is sleeping, launch mid-range Maxwell at $600."

20 voted to do this. 0 voted against this.

The rest is history :P.

I heard the 256 bus width does not bottleneck the GTX 980 at higher resolutions.

+1

I read the same. Also someone posted before clocks revealed that GTX980 due to the efficiency of Maxwell against Kepler would need +100-150Mhz to reach 780ti performance.

That +300Mhz more is dam impressive.

They wouldn't price the 980 at 599USD.

You can already pick up a GTX 780ti that is cheaper than that.

These are just rumors for the price.

It will be 499USD, trust me.

I really hope that you will be proven right but all the rumors going towards $599...

And 780ti would not be better. Less VRAM, less performance and not full DX12... GTX980 will dominate the market even at $599 if its around 10% faster than 780ti.

Who would buy 780ti?

Keep in mind everything released so far is not verified and just rumors.

Even the specs and benchmarks are not verified.

But I will say, I know that the 980 (at these specs) will be 499USD.

I really wish it would become the 19th already......I am getting tired of all the random rumors with no real evidence to back them up.

More VRAM and full DX12 is not rumor :P.

But yeah I agree with the rest. The best we can do is to wait for official reviews.

And there will not be a 19th September. It will be like 18th September, Maxwell September, 20th September.... xD

Nvidia is releasing the official info when it holds it's 24 hour event on the 19th.

:)

@Coseniath said:

@RyviusARC said:

Nvidia is releasing the official info when it holds it's 24 hour event on the 19th.

:)

I was using UK time I guess. Since technically it starts on the 19th in the UK.

No worries I live in EU too :P.

Well I don't live in the EU I was just using the date given to me when browsing a UK based site.

Lower cores and lower bandwidth does not mean less performance. Maxwell contain less cores but are more efficient per watt. meaning that GTX 970 with only 1664 cores will be on par with GTX 780's 2304 processing performance. The GTX 970/980 have double the ROP's of the GK104, while with the titan, 780,780ti etc are GK110, were a premium gpu from kelper architecture. The 970/980 are suppose to be more a direct comparison against the GF104's kelpers aka GTX 670/680(770).

The thing is, I'm ready for new GPU's does anyone realistically think the 980's are going to be THAT good that someone like me could "upgrade" to them. I think not.

But I feel as though there is no reason for them not to be earth shattering. Apart from the tech companies holdong back of course.

In an ideal world the 580 would smash the 480, the 680 would annihilate the 580. the 780 wou..........you get my point?

Think I'll get two reference models. Should work pretty well in SLI with that low TDP.

Might be hard to sell my 780 Ti though, it has bad coil whine ;C

I will still wait for GM200/210... Whatever becomes their top Maxwell card in the next generation.

I don't even care much now about its performance now after seeing how much of a huge drop in power this card uses. Its time for me to finally replace my 680gtx... the only thing stopping me before was the 7xx line didn't impress me in power efficiency. 165watt tdp, that is excellent. Reminds me of the reason i bought the 680gtx to begin with, it was very power efficient idle and under load. Even under full load this card will be using 30 watts less then my current one, and I doubt half the games I have would even push this thing to above 50% usage... pretty much means I'll be gaming using around 60-80 watts less power now.

It'll be a bit of an investment but in the course of the next few years of gaming the power savings alone will have paid for a large chunk of the card compared to sticking with my older one. Should be faster then my 680 also and using less power so i think i'll get one when i can.

Price for the 980 is steep considering the performance it's supposed to provide. I don't know if I want to jump on ship right away, or actually wait until there's a reason I actually need one. The only game that leaves me less than fully satisfied with my setup is Watchdogs, and I don't even find that game particularly good looking or fun. What's coming out that will even take advantage of the card? The next Arkham game perhaps? I'd need a list of 5 games I want to upgrade for, and I'm struggling to think of even 2. :\

Well that was underwhelming. Looks like I'm not upgrading anytime soon.

GTX 970 is $299 according to this.

http://wccftech.com/nvidia-geforce-gtx-970-official-msrp-299-nonreference-models-retail-329349/

wow, I read something earlier today that said $399 for 970.

@lostrib: I hope WCCF didn't get it wrong. They said confirmed. If it's $299 I'll be getting one of them to hold me over. I'll OC it so it's above 4 TFlops.

Sold my GTX 690 back in June and was hoping for a bigger upgrade. I'll just resell the GTX 970 later.

This GTX 580 is I'm using is since June is killing me lol. So old...

I'm sitting on a 2GB GTX 670, so I'll see how it compares

Curious to see if I'll finally replace my 670

$599 translates to £376. adding tax I bet that'll be £450 at least.

@lostrib:

Your card is 1344 x 915 x 2 = 2.45 TFlops

GTX 970 1664 x 1051 x 2 = 3.49 TFlops

So it should be around 42% faster.

So if you get 45 FPS (670) in a game you should get 63-64 FPS (970).

Thing I'm wondering is if Maxwell is 35% better per core then Kepler. Then why is it not figured into the TFlop math.

35% x 1664 = 2246 (theoretical cores) x 1051 x 2 = 4.72 TFlop.

I guess one can only speculate till real world solid benches are released.

None of the prices are final.

Nvidia has an NDA on prices so you won't get the real prices until they say so.

Even the specs are not proven.

Wait two more days and we will all know.

Supposedly NDA is being lifted 1 day early.