ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition Review | 118 Data compared
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ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£180
  • Avg. price in US: ~$250
  • VRAM: 4 GB
  • Memory bus width: 128 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 120 W

ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how this product ranks in the Graphics cards category and whether it is worth buying.

3.8

Overall score

What it is: An overall evaluation of the graphics card's quality, based on technical analyses and user reviews.

When it matters: When you need a quick reference to identify the best graphics cards on the market.

Score components:

90.0%

3.8

Technical Score

10.0%

?

User score

Poor
3.8

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of technical performance for products in the Graphics cards category across these key areas: Performance, Memory, Platform & Features, Connectivity & Media, Power & Cooling, Design.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

2.0

Performance

24.0%

1.9

Memory

12.0%

8.9

Power & Cooling

11.0%

6.5

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.0

Design

4.0%

7.9

Connectivity & Media

Poor
?

User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

?

User reviews

30.0%

?

Popularity

  • 2.0
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.1

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.3

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.5
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    2.3

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.1

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.0
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.1

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    2.3

    VRAM

    10.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 1.8
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.1

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    2.3

    VRAM

    15.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 1.8
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.1

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    2.3

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • No image
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Best prices in UK

    N/A~ £180

Best rankings

?

Available: ranking among products currently available (including other versions of this product).
All: ranking among all products in the database.

Verdict

The ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition is a factory-overclocked Maxwell-based graphics card featuring a core clock of 1279 MHz and a boost clock of 1342 MHz. Built on the 28nm GM206 architecture, it includes 1024 shading units and comes with either 2GB or 4GB of GDDR5 memory on a 128-bit bus with an effective speed of 7012 MHz. Its primary characteristics include the DirectCU II cooling system with CoolTech fan technology for 20% cooler performance and the Super Alloy Power 5-phase design for enhanced stability. Pros include excellent power efficiency with a 120W TDP requiring only a single 8-pin connector, quiet 0dB fan operation during light loads, and versatile connectivity with three DisplayPort 1.2, one HDMI 2.0, and one DVI-I output. Main cons are the narrow 128-bit memory bus which limits high-resolution bandwidth and the card's age, making it less suitable for modern AAA titles at ultra settings.

Technical Specifications of graphics card ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of technical performance for products in the Graphics cards category across these key areas: Performance, Memory, Platform & Features, Connectivity & Media, Power & Cooling, Design.

When it matters: When you want to compare graphics cards based on technical performance and available features.

Score components:

44.0%

?

Performance

24.0%

?

Memory

12.0%

?

Power & Cooling

11.0%

?

Platform & Features

5.0%

?

Design

4.0%

?

Connectivity & Media

3.8
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a technical score of 3.79 points, which is lower than that of 93.6% of products in this category.
User score

What it is: A rating that combines user reviews and the total number of reviews received by the graphics card.

When it matters: When you want to understand how a graphics card performs in real use and how reliable it is in terms of performance, temperatures, noise, stability, and long-term ownership.

Score components:

70.0%

0.0

User reviews

30.0%

1.0

Popularity

?
Popularity
What it is: An indicator based on the number of reviews received by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you prefer a graphics card that has already been chosen and reviewed by many other users.
1.0
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a popularity of 1 points, which is lower than 57.7% of products in this category.
Ratio quality/price

What it is: An indicator that combines the graphics card's overall rating with its cost.

When it matters: When you are looking for a graphics card that offers a strong balance of performance, features, and price.

Score components:

60.0%

3.8

Overall score

40.0%

9.6

Price

5.5
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.5 points, which is lower than 94.7% of products in this category.
3DMark Time Spy benchmark score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Time Spy, a synthetic DirectX 12 test often used as a quick gaming-performance reference.
When it matters: When you need a fast rough performance sort before digging into game-specific reviews and frame-rate data.

Importance: LOW

2,400 points
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition scores 2,400 points in 3DMark Time Spy, which is lower than 94.4% of graphics cards and equal to 0.1% of graphics cards.
3DMark Port Royal score
What it is: Benchmark result from 3DMark Port Royal, a synthetic test focused on ray tracing performance.
When it matters: When ray tracing matters in the games you actually play and you want one quick way to separate stronger and weaker RT cards.

Importance: LOW

0 points
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition scores 0 points in 3DMark Port Royal, which is lower than 83.2% of graphics cards and equal to 16.8% of graphics cards.
PassMark (G3D) result
What it is: Overall GPU performance score in PassMark G3D benchmark
When it matters: When you need one broad score to sort cards into rough performance tiers.

Importance: LOW

6,135 points
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition scores 6,135 points in PassMark G3D, which is lower than 91.9% of graphics cards and equal to 0.2% of graphics cards.
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

3,062 points
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition scores 3,062 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is lower than 90% of graphics cards and equal to 0.1% of graphics cards.
Floating-point performance
What it is: Theoretical floating-point compute performance of the GPU.
When it matters: When rendering, AI, or heavy compute work needs strong single-precision throughput.

Importance: LOW

2.7 TFLOPS
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition delivers 2.7 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 93.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% of graphics cards.
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VRAM
What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

Importance: HIGH

4 GB
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has 4 GB of VRAM, which is less than 88% of graphics cards and equal to 6% of graphics cards.
Memory type
What it is: Type of graphics memory used (GDDR6, HBM2e, etc.)
When it matters: When memory technology is part of the buying decision because it affects bandwidth class, power use, and product positioning.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
GDDR version
What it is: Generation of GDDR memory used by the graphics card.
When it matters: When you want to separate older memory generations from newer ones before comparing bandwidth, power behavior, and market tier.

Importance: LOW

GDDR5
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85.9% of graphics cards and equal to 13.2% of graphics cards.
Memory bus width
What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

Importance: HIGH

128 bit
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition uses a 128 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 69.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 26% of graphics cards.
Maximum memory bandwidth
What it is: Maximum data transfer rate between GPU and its memory
When it matters: When 4K gaming, ray tracing, or creator work can choke a slower memory subsystem.

Importance: HIGH

112.2 GB/s
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition reaches 112.2 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 93.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.2% of graphics cards.
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PCI Express (PCIe) version
What it is: Version of PCI Express interface supported
When it matters: When you are pairing the card with an older motherboard and want to avoid leaving bandwidth or future compatibility on the table.

Importance: LOW

3.0
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.7% of graphics cards and equal to 20.3% of graphics cards.
PCIe lanes
What it is: Number of PCI Express lanes used for communication
When it matters: When limited lane width could bottleneck the card in some systems.

Importance: LOW

x16
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 23.4% of graphics cards and equal to 76.6% of graphics cards.
DirectX version
What it is: Highest supported DirectX API version
When it matters: When you play newer Windows games that depend on the latest graphics features.

Importance: LOW

12
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports DirectX 12, which is older than on 81.8% of graphics cards and equal to 16.9% of graphics cards.
Vulkan version
What it is: Highest supported Vulkan API version
When it matters: When modern games, emulators, or creative apps lean on Vulkan support.

Importance: LOW

1.4
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports Vulkan 1.4, which is more advanced than on 20.7% of graphics cards and equal to 79.3% of graphics cards.
OpenGL version
What it is: Highest supported OpenGL API version
When it matters: When older games or pro apps still depend on OpenGL compatibility.

Importance: LOW

4.6
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 1.9% of graphics cards and equal to 98.1% of graphics cards.
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Max displays supported
What it is: Total number of external displays supported simultaneously
When it matters: When you run a multi-monitor desk for sim racing, trading, or editing.

Importance: LOW

4
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports up to 4 displays, which is more than 8.3% of graphics cards and equal to 88.9% of graphics cards.
Max digital resolution
What it is: Maximum supported digital display resolution
When it matters: When you plan to drive 4K or 8K panels at their native resolution.

Importance: LOW

4096x2160
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports a maximum digital resolution of 4096x2160, which is lower than that of 92.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 4.4% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort outputs
What it is: Number of DisplayPort video outputs
When it matters: When your setup needs several high-refresh monitors without adapters.

Importance: LOW

3
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition offers 3 DisplayPort outputs, which is more than 21% of graphics cards and equal to 76.8% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort version
What it is: Version of DisplayPort standard supported
When it matters: When your monitor setup depends on newer DisplayPort features for higher refresh rates, higher resolution, or better cable flexibility.

Importance: LOW

1.2
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is older than on 93.9% of graphics cards and equal to 5.1% of graphics cards.
DisplayPort link rates
What it is: Supported data link rates for DisplayPort connections
When it matters: When you are pushing high resolution and refresh rate over DisplayPort.

Importance: LOW

5.4 Gbps
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports DisplayPort link rates up to 5.4 Gbps, which is slower than on 87.8% of graphics cards and equal to 6% of graphics cards.
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Thermal Design Power (TDP)
What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

Importance: MEDIUM

120 W
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a TDP of 120 W, which is lower than that of 83% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.3% of graphics cards.
Power consumption while under peak load
What it is: Peak power draw of the graphics card under maximum load.
When it matters: When transient-heavy gaming loads could stress your power supply.

Importance: LOW

125 W
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition draws 125 W under peak load, which is lower than 84.6% of graphics cards and equal to 0.6% of graphics cards.
Recommended PSU wattage
What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

Importance: LOW

400 W
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition recommends a 400 W PSU, which is lower than that of 90.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.6% of graphics cards.
Board power limit
What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

Importance: LOW

120 W
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a board power limit of 120 W, which is lower than that of 85.6% of graphics cards and equal to that of 1.4% of graphics cards.
PCIe power spec
What it is: PCIe power delivery specification followed
When it matters: When you are checking whether the slot and external cables match the card's intended power-delivery standard.

Importance: LOW

120 W
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Size
What it is: Physical size of the GPU card
When it matters: When you need the card to fit a compact case without blocking nearby hardware.

Importance: LOW

290 x 147 x 40 mm
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition measures 290x147x 40 mm, which is more compact than 59.1% of graphics cards.
Length
What it is: Physical length of the GPU card
When it matters: When front radiators or drive cages leave only limited GPU clearance.

Importance: LOW

290 mm
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition is 290 mm long, which is longer than 51.8% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.7% of graphics cards.
Height
What it is: Physical height of the GPU card
When it matters: When side panels, brackets, or tight case layouts reduce vertical clearance.

Importance: LOW

147 mm
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition is 147 mm tall, which is taller than 90.3% of graphics cards and equal in height to 0.5% of graphics cards.
Slot width
What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

Importance: LOW

2 slot/s
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 53.4% of graphics cards and equal in width to 42.5% of graphics cards.
Weight
What it is: Total weight of the graphics card
When it matters: When sag, bracket support, or shipping stress matters in your build.

Importance: LOW

601 g
ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition weighs 601 g, which is lighter than 87.1% of graphics cards.
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ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition vs the average graphics card

  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
    What it is: Recommended wattage of the system power supply
    When it matters: When you are checking whether your current power supply is enough.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.400 W vs 650 W
  • 44.2% lower TDP
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (120 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
    What it is: Typical power consumption under full load (TDP)
    When it matters: When you need a realistic idea of power draw before choosing a PSU or case.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (120 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.120 W vs 215 W
  • 0.5 slot/s slimmer design
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.
    What it is: Number of PCIe slots occupied by the card
    When it matters: When you need room for another PCIe card or better airflow under the GPU.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s
  • 46.7% lower board power limit
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (120 W vs 225 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 225 W.
    What it is: Maximum configurable power limit for the GPU board
    When it matters: When you care about how far the card can be pushed through tuning or factory power settings.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (120 W vs 225 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 225 W.120 W vs 225 W
  • 2 more GPUs supported
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports more GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card supports 0 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.
    What it is: Maximum number of GPUs supported in a multi-GPU setup
    When it matters: When you are planning a rendering or compute setup with more than one card.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports more GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card supports 0 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.2 vs 0
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
    What it is: Number of DVI display outputs available
    When it matters: When you still use an older monitor that depends on DVI.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • Supports NVLink
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA NVLink or bridge connection for multi-GPU setups
    When it matters: When a professional or niche multi-GPU workflow needs a bridge connection.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Supports NVIDIA SLI or AMD CrossFire multi-GPU setup
    When it matters: When you still run legacy multi-GPU gaming or rendering workflows.

    Importance: LOW

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 0.2% faster VRAM clock
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a higher VRAM clock than the average graphics card (1,753 MHz vs 1,750 MHz). The average graphics card runs its VRAM at 1,750 MHz.
  • 2 more GPUs supported
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports more GPUs in multi-GPU mode than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card supports 0 GPUs in multi-GPU mode.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • Supports NVLink
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports NVLink, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (400 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 44.2% lower TDP
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (120 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 46.7% lower board power limit
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower board power limit than the average graphics card (120 W vs 225 W). The average graphics card has a board power limit of 225 W.
  • 7 °C lower load temperature
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower load temperature than the average graphics card (60 °C vs 67 °C). The average graphics card has a load temperature of 67 °C.
  • 0.5 slot/s slimmer design
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition occupies fewer slots than the average graphics card (2 slot/s vs 2.5 slot/s). The average graphics card occupies 2.5 slot/s.
  • More compact card size
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition is more compact than the average graphics card (290x147x 40 mm vs 285x127x 52 mm). The average graphics card has a size of 285x127x 52 mm.

Total
Overall
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 46.4% lower boost clock speed
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,342 MHz vs 2,505 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,505 MHz.
  • 40 fewer ray tracing cores
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 ray tracing cores.
  • 32 fewer compute units
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (8 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 120 fewer TMUs
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (64 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 80.2% lower texture rate
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (75.4 GTexel/s vs 381.2 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 381.2 GTexel/s.
  • 33.4% lower base clock speed
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,279 MHz vs 1920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1920 MHz.
  • 74.9% lower pixel rate
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (40.9 GPixel/s vs 163.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 163.2 GPixel/s.
  • 144 fewer AI cores
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer AI cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 144). The average graphics card has 144 AI cores.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 88% lower FP32 performance
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (2.7 TFLOPS vs 22.57 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.57 TFLOPS.
  • 72.9% lower PassMark score
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower PassMark score than the average graphics card (6,135 points vs 22,653 points). The average graphics card has a PassMark score of 22,653 points.
  • 83.6% lower gaming score
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower gaming score than the average graphics card (2,400 points vs 14,678.5 points). The average graphics card has a gaming score of 14,678.5 points.
  • 88.3% lower compute throughput
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (2.7 TFLOPS vs 22.98 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 22.98 TFLOPS.
  • 74.6% lower compute score
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower compute score than the average graphics card (3,062 points vs 12,074 points). The average graphics card has a compute score of 12,074 points.
  • 83.3% lower FP64 performance
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower FP64 performance than the average graphics card (0.1 TFLOPS vs 0.48 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP64 performance of 0.48 TFLOPS.
  • 3,328 fewer FP32 units
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,024 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
  • 8 GB less VRAM
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (4 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 75% lower memory bandwidth
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (112.2 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 63.1% slower memory speed
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower effective memory speed than the average graphics card (7,012 MHz vs 19,000 MHz). The average graphics card reaches an effective memory speed of 19,000 MHz.
  • 95.8% smaller L2 cache
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer L2 cache than the average graphics card (1 MB vs 24 MB). The average graphics card has 24 MB L2 cache.
  • 62.5% smaller L1 cache
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer L1 cache than the average graphics card (48 vs 128). The average graphics card has 128 L1 cache.
  • 5.6x larger process node
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
  • No DLSS support
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No ray tracing
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not support ray tracing, the average graphics card does.
  • 8 older
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition was released earlier than the average graphics card (2015 vs 2023).
    January 2015
  • Older PCIe version
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • No mesh shaders
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • No XeSS support
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older encoder generation
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (5 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • Older DirectX version
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports an older DirectX version than the average graphics card (12 vs 12 Ultimate).
  • No sampler feedback
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 87.2% fewer transistors
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (2,940 million vs 22,900 million). The average graphics card has 22,900 million transistors.
  • Older FSR version
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports an older FSR version than the average graphics card (1 vs 3.1).
  • No AV1 encoding
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No AV1 decoding
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • No VRR support
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not support VRR, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2.0 vs 2.1).
  • Narrower encode codec support
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports narrower hardware encode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264/H.265 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9).
  • Narrower decode codec support
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports narrower hardware decode codec support than the average graphics card (H.264/H.265/VP9/MPEG-2/VC-1 vs H.264/H.265/AV1/VP9/MPEG-2/VC-1).
  • Older HDCP version
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • Lower display resolution
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports a lower maximum digital resolution than the average graphics card (4096x2160 vs 7680x4320). The average graphics card supports a maximum digital resolution of 7680x4320.
  • Not VR ready
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition is not VR ready, while the average graphics card is.
  • 2 fewer monitors per output type
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition supports fewer monitors per output type than the average graphics card (1 vs 3). The average graphics card supports 3 monitors per output type.
  • Older NVDEC generation
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower NVDEC generation than the average graphics card (2 vs 6). The average graphics card offers NVDEC generation 6.
  • 73% lower DisplayPort bandwidth
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower DisplayPort bandwidth than the average graphics card (5.4 Gbps vs 20 Gbps). The average graphics card has DisplayPort bandwidth of 20 Gbps.
  • 1 fewer fans
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • No dual BIOS
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not include dual BIOS, the average graphics card does.
  • No RGB lighting
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 22 mm higher card profile
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition is taller than the average graphics card (147 mm vs 125 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 125 mm.
  • 46.4% lower boost clock speed
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,342 MHz vs 2,505 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,505 MHz.
    What it is: Maximum boost frequency the GPU can reach under load
    When it matters: When you want a rough idea of peak advertised frequency, while knowing real sustained clocks still depend on cooling and power limits.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,342 MHz vs 2,505 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,505 MHz.1342 MHz vs 2505 MHz
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.
    What it is: Width of the memory interface bus in bits
    When it matters: When you care about steadier performance at higher resolutions, heavier texture settings, or ray-traced workloads that stress memory traffic.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a narrower memory bus than the average graphics card (128 bit vs 256 bit). The average graphics card has a memory bus width of 256 bit.128 bit vs 256 bit
  • 8 GB less VRAM
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (4 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
    What it is: Total video memory available on the graphics card
    When it matters: When you play at high settings, use texture mods, or work with large creative projects.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (4 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.4 GB vs 12 GB
  • 5.6x larger process node
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.
    What it is: Size of the manufacturing process in nanometers
    When it matters: When process node differences may affect power, heat, and overall efficiency.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a higher process node than the average graphics card (28 nm vs 5 nm). The average graphics card uses a process node of 5 nm.28 nm vs 5 nm
  • 40 fewer ray tracing cores
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 ray tracing cores.
    What it is: Number of dedicated ray tracing processing cores or units
    When it matters: When you care about ray-traced lighting, reflections, and shadows in newer games.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer ray tracing cores than the average graphics card (0 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 ray tracing cores.0 vs 40
  • 32 fewer compute units
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (8 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
    What it is: Total number of shader multiprocessors or compute units
    When it matters: When you want a better sense of the GPU's overall parallel hardware resources before relying on game benchmarks alone.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (8 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.8 vs 40
  • 120 fewer TMUs
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (64 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
    What it is: Total count of texture mapping units on the GPU
    When it matters: When texture-heavy gaming performance matters and you want extra hardware context behind texture-rate claims.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (64 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.64 vs 184
  • 80.2% lower texture rate
    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (75.4 GTexel/s vs 381.2 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 381.2 GTexel/s.
    What it is: Number of textured pixels the GPU can process per second
    When it matters: When fast texture handling matters in high-refresh gaming workloads.

    Importance: HIGH

    ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (75.4 GTexel/s vs 381.2 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 381.2 GTexel/s.75.39 GTexel/s vs 381.2 GTexel/s
Total
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Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
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Graphic comparison of ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition and other products in the Graphics cards category

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Third-party reviews

What customers like about ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition?

  • Whisper-quiet operation due to the 0dB fan technology which keeps fans off during low loads
  • Excellent thermal performance provided by the DirectCU II cooling system
  • Compact design that fits easily into small form factor (SFF) cases
  • Low power consumption with a thermal design power (TDP) of approximately 120W, requiring only a single 6-pin connector
  • Factory overclocked out of the box for a performance boost over reference models
  • High build quality featuring a protective and aesthetically pleasing backplate

What customers dislike about ASUS GeForce GTX 960 DirectCU II OC Black Edition?

  • Limited VRAM (2GB on base models) which can struggle with high-resolution textures or 1440p gaming
  • Narrow 128-bit memory bus width that limits memory bandwidth compared to higher-end cards
  • Performance gains over the previous generation (GTX 760) are relatively minor
  • Price-to-performance ratio was often considered less favorable compared to the more powerful GTX 970 at launch

Expert reviews

C
computerbild.de
22/01/2015
Summary of the review
Geforce GTX 960: Nvidias Maxwell-Chip im Test(tweakpc.de) | 22.01.2015 | Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 im Test - ASUS vs Gainward vs MSI(hardwareluxx.de) | 2...
(Translated)Show original
H
hardware.fr
04/09/2014
Summary of the review
Dossiers et Focus - Cartes Graphiques : Asus GeForce GTX 960 et GM206 Black Edition en test
(Translated)Show original
G
gamesvillage.it
21/01/2015
Summary of the review
Nvidia GTX 960 - Recensione - GamesVillage.it Explore the detailed technical specifications and historical performance benchmarks of the ASUS GeForce...
(Translated)Show original

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