NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M represent two distinct interpretations of mobile and desktop graphics from the same era, but the data shows they are not direct competitors. The GTX 980 is a desktop flagship from the GeForce 900 series, built on the Maxwell 2.0 architecture, while the GTX 880M is a high-end laptop part from the GeForce 800M series, based on the older Kepler architecture. Despite both being 28 nm parts from TSMC, their benchmark scores and architectural specifications place them in different performance strata, with the GTX 980 holding a decisive advantage in every measurable category.

Where Each One Wins

The performance split between these two GPUs is stark, as the head-to-head data shows the GTX 980 winning every benchmark where both were tested. In the Geekbench Metal test, the GTX 980 scores 15,163 points against the GTX 880M's 10,458 points, a 45% advantage. This is the closest margin between the two, yet it still represents a substantial gap that would be noticeable in any graphics workload. The Geekbench OpenCL test reveals an even larger chasm, with the GTX 980 scoring 34,676 points compared to the GTX 880M's 5,622 points, a 516.8% delta. This suggests that compute-heavy applications and general-purpose GPU tasks would run dramatically faster on the GTX 980.

However, the GTX 880M does have a few qualitative advantages that are not reflected in raw benchmark scores. Its 8 GB of GDDR5 memory is double the 4 GB found on the GTX 980, which could be beneficial for workloads that require very large frame buffers, such as high-resolution texture packs or certain professional visualization tasks. The GTX 880M also draws less power at 122 W TDP versus the GTX 980's 165 W, making it a more efficient choice for a laptop environment where thermal headroom is limited. The GTX 880M's MXM-B (3.0) bus interface and lack of power connectors also make it a drop-in module for compatible laptops, whereas the GTX 980 requires a dual-slot cooler and two 6-pin power connectors.

The GTX 980 wins on every direct benchmark comparison, but the GTX 880M's higher memory capacity and lower power draw give it a niche in specific mobile scenarios. The data shows that for any performance-sensitive task, the GTX 980 is the clear winner, but the GTX 880M's feature set might be preferable for users who prioritize memory size or power efficiency over raw speed. The GTX 980 also holds a better percentile rank at 43 versus the GTX 880M's 42, though both are near the middle of the all-GPU distribution, indicating that neither is a top-tier part by modern standards.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the benchmark results, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980 is the superior product for almost every use case. Its average benchmark score of 8,167 points is higher than the GTX 880M's 8,040 points, and it wins both head-to-head tests by substantial margins. The GTX 980's nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M (average score 8,135, delta 0.4%) and the AMD Radeon R9 M360 (average score 8,129, delta 0.5%), which are all very close in average performance, but the GTX 980's peak scores in Geekbench are far higher. The GTX 880M's nearest rivals are also tightly clustered, with the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 (average score 8,039, delta 0%) and the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 650 Ti (average score 8,053, delta -0.2%) within a fraction of a percent, suggesting that the GTX 880M is a mid-range performer rather than a high-end part.

Users who need maximum performance for gaming, 3D rendering, or compute workloads should choose the GTX 980 without hesitation. Its 2,048 shading units and 4.981 TFLOPS of FP32 performance dwarf the GTX 880M's 1,536 shading units and 3.050 TFLOPS, and its 77.82 GPixel/s pixel rate and 155.6 GTexel/s texture rate are more than double the GTX 880M's 31.78 GPixel/s and 127.1 GTexel/s. The GTX 980 also has 64 ROPs versus 32 on the GTX 880M, which directly impacts fill-rate-bound scenarios.

The GTX 880M is only recommended for users who absolutely require a mobile form factor and cannot use a desktop card. Its 8 GB memory capacity is its only clear advantage, and even that comes with a lower memory bandwidth of 160.0 GB/s versus the GTX 980's 224.4 GB/s. The GTX 880M's launch MSRP is not listed, while the GTX 980 had a launch MSRP of 549 USD, but price should not be the deciding factor given the performance gap. The data unequivocally favors the GTX 980 for anyone who can accommodate a desktop GPU.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head comparison between these two GPUs is limited to two Geekbench tests, but the results are telling. In the Geekbench Metal test, the GTX 980 scores 15,163 against the GTX 880M's 10,458, a 45% delta. This test measures graphics API performance in Apple's Metal framework, and the result indicates that the GTX 980's Maxwell 2.0 architecture handles modern graphics workloads significantly better than the GTX 880M's Kepler design. The 45% lead is consistent with the architectural differences between the two, as the GTX 980 has more shading units and a higher clock speed.

The Geekbench OpenCL test shows an even more dramatic difference, with the GTX 980 scoring 34,676 and the GTX 880M scoring 5,622, a 516.8% delta. This is an enormous gap that suggests the GTX 980 is more than six times faster in general-purpose compute tasks. The GTX 980's FP32 performance of 4.981 TFLOPS is about 63% higher than the GTX 880M's 3.050 TFLOPS, but the OpenCL score difference is far larger, indicating that architectural efficiency and memory bandwidth play a major role. The GTX 980's 224.4 GB/s memory bandwidth versus the GTX 880M's 160.0 GB/s likely contributes to this disparity, as compute workloads often saturate memory bandwidth.

There are no other direct head-to-head tests available, but the individual benchmark suites tell a consistent story. The GTX 980 scores 11,095 in Passmark G3D, 164 in Passmark DirectX 9, 83 in Passmark DirectX 11, and 53 in Passmark DirectX 10, while the GTX 880M has no Passmark scores listed. The GTX 980 also achieves 4,753 in Passmark GPU Compute, 792 in Passmark G2D, and 474 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. These results, combined with the Geekbench data, paint a picture of a GPU that is comprehensively faster than the GTX 880M across all tested workloads. The GTX 880M's only listed scores are its two Geekbench results, which are both far below the GTX 980's.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher average benchmark score?

A: The GTX 980 has an average benchmark score of 8,167, which is higher than the GTX 880M's average of 8,040. This is a 127-point difference, representing roughly 1.6% of the GTX 880M's score, indicating that the GTX 980 is the stronger overall performer.

Q: How much faster is the GTX 980 in the Geekbench Metal test?

A: The GTX 980 scores 15,163 in Geekbench Metal, while the GTX 880M scores 10,458. This gives the GTX 980 a 45% advantage, meaning it is nearly half again as fast in this particular graphics API test.

Q: What is the difference in memory bandwidth between the two GPUs?

A: The GTX 980 has a memory bandwidth of 224.4 GB/s, while the GTX 880M has 160.0 GB/s. The GTX 980's bandwidth is 40% higher, which is a significant advantage for texture-heavy games and compute workloads.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The GTX 980 has 2,048 shading units, while the GTX 880M has 1,536. This means the GTX 980 has 33% more shading units, which directly contributes to its higher FP32 performance of 4.981 TFLOPS versus 3.050 TFLOPS.

Q: Does the GTX 880M have any advantages over the GTX 980?

A: The GTX 880M has 8 GB of memory compared to the GTX 980's 4 GB, and it has a lower TDP of 122 W versus 165 W. However, the GTX 880M's memory bandwidth is lower, and it loses all direct benchmark comparisons.

Q: How do these GPUs compare to their nearest rivals?

A: The GTX 980's nearest rival is the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 950M with an average score of 8,135, which is only 0.4% lower. The GTX 880M's nearest rival is the NVIDIA Quadro P5000 with an average score of 8,039, which is 0% different. Both GPUs are tightly clustered with their rivals, indicating they are mid-range performers.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between the GTX 980 and the GTX 880M is fundamental, as they belong to different generations and design philosophies. The GTX 980 is built on the Maxwell 2.0 architecture with the GM204 chip, while the GTX 880M uses the older Kepler architecture with the GK104 chip. Both are manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC, but the GTX 980 packs 5,200 million transistors onto a 398 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 13.1M per mm². The GTX 880M has 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, giving it a density of 12.0M per mm². This means the GTX 980 has 47% more transistors and a 35% larger die, which translates to more compute resources.

The core configurations differ significantly. The GTX 980 features 2,048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 64 ROPs, while the GTX 880M has 1,536 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The GTX 980's shading unit count is 33% higher, and its ROP count is double that of the GTX 880M. This gives the GTX 980 a pixel rate of 77.82 GPixel/s and a texture rate of 155.6 GTexel/s, compared to the GTX 880M's 31.78 GPixel/s and 127.1 GTexel/s. The GTX 980's FP32 performance is 4.981 TFLOPS, while the GTX 880M achieves 3.050 TFLOPS, a 63% difference.

Memory architecture also diverges. The GTX 980 uses 4 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus with a 224.4 GB/s bandwidth, while the GTX 880M has 8 GB of GDDR5 on the same 256-bit bus but with only 160.0 GB/s bandwidth. The GTX 880M's memory clock is 1250 MHz (5 Gbps effective), while the GTX 980 runs at 1753 MHz (7 Gbps effective). Both support DirectX 12, but the GTX 980 supports version 12_1 while the GTX 880M only supports 11_0. The GTX 980 also supports Vulkan 1.4 and OpenGL 4.6, while the GTX 880M supports Vulkan 1.2.175 and OpenGL 4.6.

Power and physical characteristics are another key differentiator. The GTX 980 has a TDP of 165 W, requires a dual-slot cooler with two 6-pin power connectors, and a suggested PSU of 450 W. It measures 267 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 40 mm in width. The GTX 880M has a TDP of 122 W, uses an MXM module form factor with no power connectors, and its display outputs are portable-device dependent. The GTX 980 offers 1x DVI, 1x HDMI 2.0, and 3x DisplayPort 1.2 outputs, while the GTX 880M's outputs depend on the host laptop. The GTX 880M was released earlier on 2014-03-11, while the GTX 980 launched later on 2014-09-18.