NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 vs AMD Radeon RX 590
The AMD Radeon RX 590 is the faster card by roughly 6%. Here is how the two compare across every spec that matters for gaming.
| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 | AMD Radeon RX 590 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance score | 17/100 | 18/100 |
| Tier | D | C |
| VRAM | 4 GB | 8 GB |
| Power draw (TDP) | 165 W | 225 W |
| Launch MSRP | $549 | $279 |
| Performance per $100 | 3.1 | 6.5 |
| Release year | 2014 | 2018 |
| DLSS | — No | — No |
| FSR | ✓ Yes | ✓ Yes |
| XeSS | — No | — No |
| Ray tracing | — No | — No |
Which should you buy?
The AMD Radeon RX 590 is the stronger performer of the two, and it is the default choice if raw frame rate is what you care about. The AMD Radeon RX 590 carries more VRAM (8GB vs 4GB), which matters at 1440p and above and for texture-heavy titles. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 draws 60W less, so it is easier on your power supply and case cooling — check the PSU calculator before committing. On launch pricing, the AMD Radeon RX 590 offers better performance per dollar.