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EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£45
  • Avg. price in US: ~$40
  • VRAM: 4 GB
  • Memory bus width: 256 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 145 W

EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

4.7

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%

4.2

Technical Score

10.0%

9.2

User score

Poor
4.2

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

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

Score components:

44.0%

2.4

Performance

24.0%

3.9

Memory

12.0%

8.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.6

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.5

Design

4.0%

6.6

Connectivity & Media

Poor
9.2

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%

8.9

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
(723)
amazon
4.6
(258)
amazon
4.5
(97)
amazon
4.2
(44)
United States
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4.4
(1031)
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4.6
(731)
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4.5
(354)
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4.0
(114)
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4.5
(100)
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4.2
(53)
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4.1
(32)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Exceptional
  • 6.4
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.7
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.4
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 6.1
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 5.7
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    ?

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.6

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • evga-geforce-gtx-970-gaming
evga-geforce-gtx-970-gaming

Best prices in UK

Best rankings

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

Verdict

The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming is a high-performance graphics card built on NVIDIA's 28nm Maxwell architecture, featuring 1,664 CUDA cores and 4GB of GDDR5 memory with a 256-bit interface. It typically offers a base clock of 1,050MHz and a boost clock of 1,178MHz, delivering reliable 1080p gaming performance even in modern titles with adjusted settings. Key advantages include its excellent power efficiency with a 145W TDP and the efficient ACX 2.0 dual-fan cooling system, which ensures quiet operation and low temperatures. However, its main drawback is the controversial VRAM configuration, where only 3.5GB of its 4GB capacity operates at full speed, leading to potential stuttering in memory-intensive scenarios, and it lacks support for modern features like hardware-accelerated ray tracing.

Technical Specifications of EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming

Technical Score

What it is: An assessment of the graphics card's technical performance, covering key areas such as gaming and rendering performance, ray tracing, memory configuration, power efficiency, cooling, connectivity, features, and build quality.

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

Score components:

44.0%

2.4

Performance

24.0%

3.9

Memory

12.0%

8.6

Power & Cooling

11.0%

4.6

Platform & Features

5.0%

7.5

Design

4.0%

6.6

Connectivity & Media

4.2
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a technical score of 4.17 points, which is lower than that of 88.1% 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%

8.9

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.6
(723)
amazon
4.6
(258)
amazon
4.5
(97)
amazon
4.2
(44)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(1031)
Amazon_logo.png
4.6
(731)
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
(354)
Amazon_logo.png
4.0
(114)
Amazon_logo.png
4.5
(100)
Amazon_logo.png
4.2
(53)
Amazon_logo.png
4.1
(32)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

9.2
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a user score of 9.23 points, which is higher than that of 82.7% of products in this category.
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.
10
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a popularity of 10 points, which is higher than 77.9% 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%

4.7

Overall score

40.0%

10

Price

6.3
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a quality-to-price ratio of 6.3 points, which is lower than 71.7% 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

?
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

N/A
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

?
PassMark (DirectCompute) result
What it is: PassMark score for DirectCompute performance tests
When it matters: When compute workloads matter alongside gaming performance.

Importance: LOW

4,080 points
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming scores 4080 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is lower than 53.2% of graphics cards and equal to 1.1% 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

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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
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming uses GDDR5 memory, which is older than on 85% 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

256 bit
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming uses a 256 bit memory bus, which is wider than that of 49.5% of graphics cards and equal to that of 36.1% 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

224.3 GB/s
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming reaches 224.3 GB/s memory bandwidth, which is lower than that of 83.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 0.1% 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
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports PCIe 3.0, which is older than on 77.6% 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

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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

?
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
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports Vulkan 1.4, which is more advanced than on 26.6% of graphics cards and equal to 73.4% 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
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports OpenGL 4.6, which is more advanced than on 4.8% of graphics cards and equal to 95.2% 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
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports up to 4 displays, which is more than 7.8% of graphics cards and equal to 89.2% 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
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports a maximum digital resolution of 4096x2160, which is lower than that of 56.4% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.4% 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

1
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming offers 1 DisplayPort outputs, which is fewer than 89.5% of graphics cards and equal to 8.6% 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
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports DisplayPort 1.2, which is older than on 93.6% of graphics cards and equal to 4.8% 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

21.6 Gbps
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports DisplayPort link rates up to 21.6 Gbps, which is faster than on 56.5% of graphics cards and equal to 0.2% 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

145 W
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a TDP of 145 W, which is lower than that of 75.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.8% 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

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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

500 W
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming recommends a 500 W PSU, which is lower than that of 76.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 9.6% 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

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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

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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

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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

241 mm
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming is 241 mm long, which is shorter than 75% of graphics cards and equal in length to 1.6% 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

?
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
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming occupies 2 slot/s, which is slimmer than 49.2% of graphics cards and equal in width to 47.3% 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

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EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming vs the average graphics card

  • 56x larger L2 cache
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (1,792 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
    What it is: Total size of the GPU’s L2 cache memory
    When it matters: When cache size can help the GPU feed data faster in demanding scenes.

    Importance: LOW

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (1,792 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.1792 MB vs 32 MB
  • Includes dual BIOS
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
    What it is: Includes dual BIOS for redundancy or overclocking profiles
    When it matters: When you want a safer recovery path after tweaking fan curves or overclock settings, or you need separate quiet and performance profiles.

    Importance: LOW

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 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

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.500 W vs 650 W
  • 32.6% lower TDP
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (145 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

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (145 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.145 W vs 215 W
  • 44.37 mm shorter card length
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
    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

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.241 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 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

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.2 vs 0
  • 11.78x cheaper
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming is cheaper than the average graphics card (£45 vs £530).
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming is cheaper than the average graphics card (£45 vs £530).£45 vs £530
  • 15.4% higher user score
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.23 vs 8.000).
    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.
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.23 vs 8.000).9.23 vs 8
  • 56x larger L2 cache
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has more L2 cache than the average graphics card (1,792 MB vs 32 MB). The average graphics card has 32 MB L2 cache.
  • 0.2% faster VRAM clock
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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.
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 2 more DVI outputs
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (2 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • Includes dual BIOS
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming includes dual BIOS, the average graphics card does not.
  • 32.6% lower TDP
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (145 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 23.1% lower PSU requirement
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower PSU requirement than the average graphics card (500 W vs 650 W). The average graphics card has a PSU requirement of 650 W.
  • 44.37 mm shorter card length
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming is shorter than the average graphics card (241 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.

Total
Overall
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design
  • 52.9% lower boost clock speed
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,178 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 27 fewer compute units
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (13 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 45.3% lower base clock speed
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,050 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 71% lower texture rate
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (109.2 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 80 fewer TMUs
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (104 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 64.4% lower pixel rate
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower pixel rate than the average graphics card (58.8 GPixel/s vs 165.2 GPixel/s). The average graphics card has a pixel rate of 165.2 GPixel/s.
  • 82.9% lower FP32 performance
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower FP32 performance than the average graphics card (3.9 TFLOPS vs 22.86 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has FP32 performance of 22.86 TFLOPS.
  • 8 fewer ROPs
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (56 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 2,688 fewer FP32 units
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer FP32 units than the average graphics card (1,664 vs 4,352). The average graphics card has 4,352 FP32 units.
  • 8 GB less VRAM
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (4 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 63.1% slower memory speed
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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.
  • 49.9% lower memory bandwidth
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower memory bandwidth than the average graphics card (224.3 GB/s vs 448 GB/s). The average graphics card has a memory bandwidth of 448 GB/s.
  • 62.5% smaller L1 cache
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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.
  • 9 older
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,014 vs 2,023).
  • Older PCIe version
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • No XeSS support
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • Older encoder generation
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming uses an older encoder generation than the average graphics card (4 vs 8). The average graphics card uses encoder generation 8.
  • No sampler feedback
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 30.8% larger GPU die
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a higher GPU die size than the average graphics card (398 mm² vs 304.25 mm²). The average graphics card has a GPU die size of 304.25 mm².
  • 76.3% fewer transistors
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (5,200 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • 2 fewer DisplayPort outputs
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer DisplayPort outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 3). The average graphics card has 3 DisplayPort outputs.
  • No AV1 encoding
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No AV1 decoding
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2 vs 2.1).
  • Older HDCP version
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming supports an older HDCP version than the average graphics card (2.2 vs 2.3).
  • Lower display resolution
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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.
  • 1 fewer fans
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • 5 °C lower thermal ceiling
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower thermal ceiling than the average graphics card (98 °C vs 93 °C). The average graphics card has a thermal ceiling of 93 °C.
  • No backplate
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming does not include a backplate, the average graphics card does.
  • No RGB lighting
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming does not include RGB lighting, the average graphics card does.
  • 52.9% lower boost clock speed
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,178 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 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

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,178 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1178 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 5.6x larger process node
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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
  • 27 fewer compute units
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (13 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

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (13 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.13 vs 40
  • 8 GB less VRAM
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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
  • 45.3% lower base clock speed
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,050 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
    What it is: Base operating frequency of the GPU core under standard conditions
    When it matters: When you want to understand the card's guaranteed starting frequency instead of looking only at optimistic boost figures.

    Importance: HIGH

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,050 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1050 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 1 fewer fans
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
    What it is: Total number of cooling fans
    When it matters: When you compare cooler designs and want one more clue about thermal potential.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).2 vs 3
  • 71% lower texture rate
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (109.2 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 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

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (109.2 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.109.2 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s
  • 63.1% slower memory speed
    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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.
    What it is: Effective memory data rate combining clock and bus width
    When it matters: When you compare how quickly each card can push data through its memory subsystem.

    Importance: MEDIUM

    EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 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.7012 MHz vs 19000 MHz
Total
Overall
Performance
Memory
Platform & Features
Connectivity & Media
Power & Cooling
Design

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Third-party reviews

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4.6
723 Reviews
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4.5
97 Reviews
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4.2
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United States
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4.4
1031 Reviews
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4.6
731 Reviews
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4.5
354 Reviews
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4.0
114 Reviews
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4.5
100 Reviews
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4.2
53 Reviews
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4.1
32 Reviews

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming?

  • Excellent 1080p performance, capable of running most older titles at high to ultra settings at 60 FPS
  • Whisper-quiet operation, specifically with ACX 2.0 technology where fans remain off below 60°C
  • High energy efficiency compared to its performance and competitors of the same era
  • Strong factory overclocks and additional headroom for manual overclocking
  • Effective cooling solutions that keep the card well below thermal throttling thresholds
  • Competitive value for the price, often performing near more expensive cards like the GTX 980

What customers dislike about EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Gaming?

  • The 3.5GB + 0.5GB VRAM configuration can cause stuttering or performance drops if usage exceeds 3.5GB
  • Occasional reports of coil whine, particularly at very high frame rates in game menus
  • Not recommended for modern AAA titles or gaming at 4K resolution where it often chokes
  • Requires a reliable power supply (at least 500W-550W) with both 6-pin and 8-pin connectors
  • Early ACX 1.0 models had minor cooling design issues compared to the improved ACX 2.0 versions
  • Lacks modern features like native ray tracing (RTX) or DLSS support

Expert reviews

L
legitreviews.com
10/02/2016
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Hybrid Gaming Video Card Review

summary of the EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Hybrid Gaming video card review: Review Summary The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Hybrid Gaming (04G-P4-1976-KR) features an Asetek closed-loop "all-in-one" water cooling solution designed to drastically lower GPU operating temperatures. It is powered by NVIDIA's GM204 "Maxwell" GPU, packing 1664 CUDA cores and 4GB of GDDR5 memory. Pros of this card...Read more

D
digitalfoundry.net
18/10/2015
Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 review

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 is highlighted as a disruptive, game-changing graphics card that significantly reshapes the price-to-performance ratio in the high-end GPU market. Retailing at £260, it delivers raw performance that challenges or exceeds much more expensive hardware, effectively making older competing products like AMD’s R9 290 series and Nvidia’s own GTX 780 legacy models...Read more

T
techpowerup.com
18/09/2014
EVGA GTX 970 SC ACX 4 GB Review

The TechPowerUp review of the EVGA GTX 970 SC ACX 4 GB highlights the card as a high-performance, Maxwell-based solution featuring a significant factory overclock and excellent power efficiency. It provides immense value at $350, outperforming the R9 290X while supporting modern features like HDMI 2.0 and showing high overclocking potential. However, the ACX cooler, while effective...Read more

G
gamesradar.com
16/04/2024
I bought this Nvidia GTX 970 graphics card 10 years ago – here’s how it holds up in 2024 Are you looking for benchmarks on specific modern games or te...

The Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 remains surprisingly capable of running modern 2024 releases, provided players compromise heavily on visual settings. In benchmarks utilizing an Intel Core i9-13900K test rig at 1080p resolution with low settings, the 10-year-old GPU successfully delivers highly playable frame rates across multiple genres. Notably, it achieves an impressive 95 fps in Total...Read more

B
bit-tech.net
19/09/2014
Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 Review Roundup: feat. ASUS, EVGA...

The MSI GeForce GTX 970 Gaming 4G is a dual-slot graphics card featuring a factory-overclocked base clock of 1,140MHz, a boost frequency of 1,279MHz, and standard 7GHz memory. A major standout feature is the Twin Frozr V cooling system, which uses a massive nickel-plated copper baseplate, four advanced heat pipes, and dual 100mm Torx fans. This configuration includes "Zero Frozr"...Read more

H
hardwarecanucks.com
23/11/2014
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 FTW ACX 2.0 Review

The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 FTW ACX 2.0 stands out as one of the fastest pre-overclocked GTX 970 graphics cards on the market, featuring exceptionally high out-of-the-box base and Boost frequencies that allowed the core to maintain a rock-solid, sustained clock speed of 1430MHz during testing. A major pro of this card is its compact 9.5-inch design paired with the second-generation ACX...Read more

O
overclockers.com
17/11/2014
EVGA GTX 970 FTW Graphics Card Review

The EVGA GTX 970 FTW is a highly impressive, heavily factory-overclocked card featuring the GM204 GPU, 4GB GDDR5, and a whisper-quiet ACX 2.0 cooler that outperforms competitors. Its custom PCB includes an upgraded VRM design, delivering stable power and achieving real-world boost clocks over 1390 MHz out of the box. However, the card is limited by an awkward, microscopic BIOS...Read more

M
m.hexus.net
19/09/2014
Review: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 FTW - Graphics

The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 FTW offers an excellent value proposition by utilizing Nvidia’s efficient 28nm Maxwell architecture to deliver impressive performance at a competitive price point. Despite having its core composition cut to 1,664 cores and 104 texture units compared to the flagship GTX 980, architectural upgrades like an improved SMM scheduler, expanded L2 cache, and a new...Read more

B
bit-tech.net
19/09/2014
Nvidia GeForce GTX 970 Review Roundup: feat. ASUS, EVGA and MSI

The bit-tech review of the EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SC ACX2 evaluates a heavily factory-overclocked graphics card priced competitively at £287.99 (including VAT). Known as the "SuperClocked" variant, it features an impressive 11 percent out-of-the-box core speed boost, pushing the base clock up to 1,165MHz and the boost clock to 1,317MHz while keeping the 4GB of Samsung GDDR5 memory at...Read more

H
hexus.net
06/04/2015
Review: EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Super Superclocked

The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 Super Superclocked (SSC) ACX 2.0+ (model 04G-P4-3975-KR) is an upgraded, more widely available version of its limited predecessor that delivers an impressive out-of-the-box factory overclock. Priced competitively at $349.99, the card stands out due to its redesigned ACX 2.0+ cooling system, which features straight-across horizontal heatpipes and a...Read more

B
bit-tech.net
08/05/2015
EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0+ Review

summary of the EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0+ review: The EVGA GeForce GTX 970 SSC ACX 2.0+ is a redesigned, relatively compact 257mm graphics card featuring a substantial factory overclock with a base clock of 1,190MHz and a rated boost clock of 1,342MHz (a 13% increase over reference speeds). Built on a standard PCB with upgraded 6 power circuitry and fueled by an 8-pin/6-pin...Read more

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