NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB Comparison

The data presents a stark generational contrast between the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M, a Maxwell-era mobile GPU from 2014, and the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 12 GB, an Ampere-based desktop part from 2022. The benchmark results and specifications reveal a fundamental shift in performance, architecture, and positioning.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct comparison available in the database is the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test. The result is decisive: the RTX 3080 12 GB scores 4791, while the GTX 980M scores 649. This translates to a delta of -86.5% for the GTX 980M, meaning the RTX 3080 12 GB delivers roughly 7.4 times the performance in this specific workload. This is not a marginal improvement; it is an order-of-magnitude leap in raw rendering capability.

The GTX 980M's average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 5308, but this is skewed by several older API tests. For instance, it scores 125 in PassMark DirectX 9 and 57 in PassMark DirectX 11, but only 31 in PassMark DirectX 12. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 23832 and Vulkan score of 17703 show it can handle compute tasks, but its PassMark G3D score of 7338 places it at the 31st percentile of all GPUs. The RTX 3080 12 GB, despite having only one benchmark entry, sits at the 28th percentile, which is curious given its massive lead in the shared test. This discrepancy highlights how the percentile field may be influenced by the limited test set for the newer card.

The GTX 980M's nearest rivals in the database are all low-end mobile parts: the GeForce 930A, 840M, 940M, and AMD Radeon R7 M445. Its average score is within 0.9% of these, indicating that its overall database position is among entry-level mobile GPUs. The RTX 3080 12 GB's nearest rivals are similarly modest: the AMD Radeon R5 M255, R5 M335, GeForce 940MX, and GTX 560M. Its average score is within 1.3% of these, which is misleading given its 4791 score in Steel Nomad. This suggests that the database's average score for the RTX 3080 12 GB is based on a single, newer test that does not have comparable entries for older mobile parts.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two GPUs is profound. The GTX 980M uses the GM204 chip based on Maxwell 2.0 architecture, manufactured on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It contains 5,200 million transistors on a 398 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 13.1M per mm². In contrast, the RTX 3080 12 GB uses the GA102 chip based on Ampere architecture, built on an 8 nm process at Samsung. This chip packs 28,300 million transistors onto a 628 mm² die, achieving a density of 45.1M per mm². The newer process allows for over five times the transistor count with only about 1.6 times the die area.

The memory subsystems are equally divergent. The GTX 980M has 8 GB of GDDR5 on a 256-bit bus, providing 160.4 GB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 3080 12 GB has 12 GB of GDDR6X on a 384-bit bus, delivering 912.4 GB/s. This is a 5.7-fold increase in memory bandwidth, which is critical for high-resolution textures and modern rendering techniques. The clock speeds also differ: the GTX 980M boosts to 1127 MHz, while the RTX 3080 12 GB boosts to 1710 MHz. Memory clocks are even more divergent, with the GTX 980M at 5 Gbps effective versus 19 Gbps effective for the RTX 3080 12 GB.

The compute resources show a similar scale of difference. The GTX 980M has 1536 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. The RTX 3080 12 GB has 8960 shading units, 280 TMUs, and 96 ROPs. More importantly, the RTX 3080 12 GB introduces 70 RT cores and 280 tensor cores, which the GTX 980M lacks entirely. This enables hardware-accelerated ray tracing and AI-based features like DLSS, capabilities that are simply absent on the older card. The FP32 throughput tells the story: 3.462 TFLOPS for the GTX 980M versus 30.64 TFLOPS for the RTX 3080 12 GB, an 8.8-fold increase. The RTX 3080 12 GB also offers FP16 at 30.64 TFLOPS (1:1), while the GTX 980M has no listed FP16 performance.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test?

A: The RTX 3080 12 GB scores 4791 compared to 649 for the GTX 980M, a difference of -86.5% for the older card.

Q: Does the GTX 980M support ray tracing?

A: No. The GTX 980M has zero RT cores, while the RTX 3080 12 GB has 70 RT cores for hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The GTX 980M provides 160.4 GB/s of bandwidth, while the RTX 3080 12 GB provides 912.4 GB/s, a 5.7-fold advantage.

Q: How do their transistor counts compare?

A: The GTX 980M has 5,200 million transistors, while the RTX 3080 12 GB has 28,300 million transistors.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The RTX 3080 12 GB boosts to 1710 MHz, whereas the GTX 980M boosts to 1127 MHz.

Q: Do both GPUs support DirectX 12?

A: Yes, but at different levels. The GTX 980M supports DirectX 12 (12_1), while the RTX 3080 12 GB supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2).

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two GPUs:

• Chip: GM204 (GTX 980M) versus GA102 (RTX 3080 12 GB)
• Architecture: Maxwell 2.0 versus Ampere
• Generation: GeForce 900M versus GeForce 30
• Process Node: 28 nm (TSMC) versus 8 nm (Samsung)
• Transistors: 5,200 million versus 28,300 million
• Die Size: 398 mm² versus 628 mm²
• Transistor Density: 13.1M / mm² versus 45.1M / mm²
• Base Clock: 1038 MHz versus 1260 MHz
• Boost Clock: 1127 MHz versus 1710 MHz
• Memory Clock: 5 Gbps effective versus 19 Gbps effective
• Memory Size: 8 GB versus 12 GB
• Memory Type: GDDR5 versus GDDR6X
• Memory Bus Width: 256 bit versus 384 bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 160.4 GB/s versus 912.4 GB/s
• Shading Units: 1536 versus 8960
• TMUs: 96 versus 280
• ROPs: 64 versus 96
• RT Cores: None versus 70
• Tensor Cores: None versus 280
• Pixel Rate: 72.13 GPixel/s versus 164.2 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 108.2 GTexel/s versus 478.8 GTexel/s
• FP32: 3.462 TFLOPS versus 30.64 TFLOPS
• FP16: Not listed versus 30.64 TFLOPS (1:1)
• TDP: Not listed versus 350 W
• Slot Width: MXM Module versus Dual-slot
• Power Connectors: None versus 1x 12-pin
• Suggested PSU: Not listed versus 750 W
• Bus Interface: MXM-B (3.0) versus PCIe 4.0 x16
• Display Outputs: Portable Device Dependent versus 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
• DirectX Support: 12 (12_1) versus 12 Ultimate (12_2)
• Release Date: 2014-10-06 versus 2022-01-10
• Predecessor: GeForce 800M versus GeForce 20
• Successor: GeForce 10 Mobile versus GeForce 40
• Launch MSRP: Not listed versus 799 USD

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 980M's domain is legacy compatibility and mobile integration. It is an MXM module with no power connectors, designed for laptops where low power draw and compact size are paramount. Its DirectX 12 (12_1) support, while older, still covers many games from its era. In the database, its PassMark scores for older APIs are its strongest showings: 125 in DirectX 9 and 57 in DirectX 11. It also has a higher percentile rank (31st) than the RTX 3080 12 GB (28th), which reflects its broader benchmark coverage across multiple API generations. For users running legacy software or needing a mobile GPU in an older laptop, it remains functional.

The RTX 3080 12 GB wins in every modern performance category. It is overwhelmingly faster in the Steel Nomad DX12 test, offers ray tracing and tensor cores, has nearly six times the memory bandwidth, and provides more than eight times the FP32 throughput. Its 12 GB of GDDR6X memory and 384-bit bus make it suitable for high-resolution gaming and content creation. Its PCIe 4.0 x16 interface and display outputs (1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a) are modern standards. The 350 W TDP and 750 W suggested PSU indicate a desktop-class power requirement, which is the trade-off for its performance.

The Verdict

The database data is unambiguous: the RTX 3080 12 GB is the superior product for any modern workload. The 86.5% delta in the shared benchmark is not a small advantage but a complete generational overhaul. The GTFO. The presence of RT cores, tensor cores, and a 5.7-fold memory bandwidth advantage means it can handle ray tracing, DLSS, and high-resolution textures that the GTX 980M cannot even attempt. The GTX 980M's 31st percentile rank, despite its broad benchmark coverage, confirms it is now an entry-level part, rivaled only by low-end mobile GPUs like the GeForce 940M and AMD Radeon R7 M445.

However, the GTX 980M still has a niche. Its MXM form factor and lack of power connectors make it a drop-in replacement for compatible laptops. Its 8 GB of VRAM is still respectable for its class, and its support for DirectX 12 (12_1) means it can run some modern titles at low settings. For users with a compatible mobile platform who cannot upgrade the entire system, it may be a viable option, provided the 31st percentile performance is acceptable.

For everyone else, the choice is clear. The RTX 3080 12 GB, with its 28th percentile rank and 4791 Steel Nomad score, is the definitive choice for gaming at high settings, content creation, or any task requiring substantial compute. The 799 USD launch MSRP reflects its high-end positioning, but the database shows it delivers accordingly. The GTX 980M was a strong part in 2014, but the RTX 3080 12 GB is a different class of hardware entirely.