ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 Review | 118 Data compared

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  • Avg. price in UK: ~£180
  • Avg. price in US: ~$200
  • VRAM: 2 GB
  • Memory bus width: 128 bit
  • Thermal Design Power (TDP): 120 W

ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 review. Compare 118 technical specifications and user reviews to see how it ranks among graphics cards and if it is worth buying.

3.9

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%

3.3

Technical Score

10.0%

9.2

User score

Poor
3.3

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%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

1.3

Memory

12.0%

7.2

Power & Cooling

11.0%

5.3

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.0

Design

4.0%

7.9

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%

8.8

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(282)
amazon
5.0
(1)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(288)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

Exceptional
  • 3.1
    Gaming

    Score components:

    45.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 4.1
    Video editing

    Score components:

    35.0%

    7.0

    AV1 encode

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    15.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.4
    1080p

    Score components:

    55.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    25.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    10.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    10.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.4
    1440p

    Score components:

    50.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    30.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    15.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

  • 2.7
    4K

    Score components:

    40.0%

    1.0

    Floating-point performance

    35.0%

    1.0

    VRAM

    20.0%

    ?

    Ray tracing cores / units

    5.0%

    7.6

    PCI Express (PCIe) version

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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 Zotac GeForce GTX 960 is a performance-segment graphics card based on the 28nm Maxwell 2.0 architecture, featuring 1,024 CUDA cores and a 128-bit memory interface with either 2GB or 4GB of GDDR5 VRAM. It operates at a base clock of 1177 MHz and a boost clock of 1240 MHz, supported by a 120W TDP and a single 6-pin power connector. Key pros include its compact 8.11-inch length suitable for small form factor cases, a premium metal backplate for durability, and Zotac's FREEZE technology which allows the dual fans to remain silent during idle loads. However, notable cons include its limited 128-bit memory bus which can bottleneck performance at higher resolutions, and its age, as it may struggle with modern AAA titles without significantly lowering settings.

Technical Specifications of ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960

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%

1.9

Performance

24.0%

1.3

Memory

12.0%

7.2

Power & Cooling

11.0%

5.3

Platform & Features

5.0%

8.0

Design

4.0%

7.9

Connectivity & Media

3.3
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a technical score of 3.29 points, which is lower than that of 95.3% 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%

8.8

User reviews

30.0%

10

Popularity

User score:
United Kingdom
amazon
4.4
(282)
amazon
5.0
(1)
United States
Amazon_logo.png
4.4
(288)

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

9.2
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a user score of 9.16 points, which is higher than that of 81% 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
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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%

3.9

Overall score

40.0%

9.6

Price

5.6
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a quality-to-price ratio of 5.6 points, which is lower than 89.4% 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

2,435 points
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 scores 2435 points in 3DMark Time Spy, which is lower than 89.7% of graphics cards and equal to 0.9% 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

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

2,801 points
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 scores 2801 points in PassMark DirectCompute, which is lower than 67.7% 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

2.54 TFLOPS
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 delivers 2.54 TFLOPS floating-point performance, which is lower than that of 95.2% 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

2 GB
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has 2 GB of VRAM, which is less than 94.5% of graphics cards and equal to 3.9% 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
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

128 bit
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 uses a 128 bit memory bus, which is narrower than that of 69.8% of graphics cards and equal to that of 26.1% 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

112.2 GB/s
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

x16
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 uses x16 PCIe lanes, which is more than 31.5% of graphics cards and equal to 68.6% 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

?
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

?
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
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

?
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
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 offers 3 DisplayPort outputs, which is more than 20.9% of graphics cards and equal to 77.3% 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
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

5.4 Gbps
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 supports DisplayPort link rates up to 5.4 Gbps, which is slower than on 90.9% of graphics cards and equal to 8% 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
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a TDP of 120 W, which is lower than that of 83.2% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.6% 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

120 W
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 draws 120 W under peak load, which is lower than 84.4% of graphics cards and equal to 1.5% 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
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 recommends a 400 W PSU, which is lower than that of 91.7% of graphics cards and equal to that of 2.5% 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

?
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

?
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

206 mm
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 is 206 mm long, which is shorter than 88.1% of graphics cards and equal in length to 0.1% 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

111.15 mm
ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 is 111.15 mm tall, which is shorter than 88.1% of graphics cards and equal in height to 1.4% 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

?
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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ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 vs the average graphics card

  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
  • 79.37 mm shorter card length
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 is shorter than the average graphics card (206 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 is shorter than the average graphics card (206 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.206 mm vs 285.37 mm
  • 15.85 mm lower card height
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 is shorter than the average graphics card (111.2 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
    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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 is shorter than the average graphics card (111.2 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.111.15 mm vs 127 mm
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.1 vs 0
  • 14.5% higher user score
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.16 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.
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a higher user score than the average graphics card (9.16 vs 8.000).9.16 vs 8
  • 2.94x cheaper
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£180 vs £530).
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 is cheaper than the average graphics card (£180 vs £530).£180 vs £530
  • Supports multi-GPU linking
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 0.2% faster VRAM clock
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 supports multi-GPU linking, the average graphics card does not.
  • 1 more DVI outputs
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has more DVI outputs than the average graphics card (1 vs 0). The average graphics card has 0 DVI outputs.
  • 44.2% lower TDP
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower TDP than the average graphics card (120 W vs 215 W). The average graphics card has a TDP of 215 W.
  • 38.5% lower PSU requirement
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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.
  • 79.37 mm shorter card length
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 is shorter than the average graphics card (206 mm vs 285.37 mm). The average graphics card has a length of 285.37 mm.
  • 15.85 mm lower card height
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 is shorter than the average graphics card (111.2 mm vs 127 mm). The average graphics card has a height of 127 mm.
  • 50.4% lower boost clock speed
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,240 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.
  • 32 fewer compute units
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (8 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.
  • 38.7% lower base clock speed
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,177 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.
  • 120 fewer TMUs
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (64 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.
  • 80% lower texture rate
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (75.3 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.
  • 32 fewer ROPs
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has fewer ROPs than the average graphics card (32 vs 64). The average graphics card has 64 ROPs.
  • 78.5% lower gaming score
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower gaming score than the average graphics card (2,435 points vs 11,337 points). The average graphics card has a gaming score of 11,337 points.
  • 89% lower compute throughput
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower compute throughput than the average graphics card (2.5 TFLOPS vs 23.105 TFLOPS). The average graphics card has compute throughput of 23.105 TFLOPS.
  • 3,328 fewer FP32 units
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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.
  • 10 GB less VRAM
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.
  • 75% lower memory bandwidth
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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.
  • 62.5% smaller L1 cache
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 does not support DLSS, the average graphics card does.
  • 8 older
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 was released earlier than the average graphics card (2,015 vs 2,023).
  • Older PCIe version
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 supports an older PCIe version than the average graphics card (3 vs 4.0).
  • No XeSS support
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 does not support XeSS, the average graphics card does.
  • No mesh shaders
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 does not support mesh shaders, the average graphics card does.
  • Worse SAM support
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 offers worse SAM support than the average graphics card (no vs yes).
  • No sampler feedback
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 does not support sampler feedback, the average graphics card does.
  • 86.6% fewer transistors
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has fewer transistors than the average graphics card (2,940 million vs 21,900 million). The average graphics card has 21,900 million transistors.
  • No AV1 encoding
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 does not support AV1 encoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No AV1 decoding
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 does not support AV1 decoding, the average graphics card does.
  • No DSC support
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 does not support DSC, the average graphics card does.
  • Older DisplayPort version
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 supports an older DisplayPort version than the average graphics card (1.2 vs 1.4a).
  • Older HDMI version
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 supports an older HDMI version than the average graphics card (2 vs 2.1).
  • 1 fewer fans
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has fewer fans than the average graphics card (2 vs 3).
  • 5 °C lower thermal ceiling
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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.
  • 50.4% lower boost clock speed
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,240 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower boost GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,240 MHz vs 2,500 MHz). The average graphics card has a boost GPU clock of 2,500 MHz.1240 MHz vs 2500 MHz
  • 128 bit narrower memory bus
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
  • 5.6x larger process node
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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
  • 32 fewer compute units
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has fewer compute units than the average graphics card (8 vs 40). The average graphics card has 40 compute units.8 vs 40
  • 10 GB less VRAM
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has fewer VRAM than the average graphics card (2 GB vs 12 GB). The average graphics card has 12 GB VRAM.2 GB vs 12 GB
  • 38.7% lower base clock speed
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,177 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower base GPU clock than the average graphics card (1,177 MHz vs 1,920 MHz). The average graphics card has a base GPU clock of 1,920 MHz.1177 MHz vs 1920 MHz
  • 120 fewer TMUs
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has fewer TMUs than the average graphics card (64 vs 184). The average graphics card has 184 TMUs.64 vs 184
  • 80% lower texture rate
    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (75.3 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

    ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 has a lower texture rate than the average graphics card (75.3 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s). The average graphics card has a texture rate of 376.8 GTexel/s.75.3 GTexel/s vs 376.8 GTexel/s

Graphic comparison of ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 and

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Third-party reviews

United States

(Reviews last updated: June 2026)

What customers like about ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960?

  • Excellent power efficiency with a low 120W TDP
  • Compact 8-inch design fits easily in small form factor (SFF) or HTPC cases
  • FREEZE technology allows for completely silent operation when the GPU is idle
  • Includes a premium metal backplate for added rigidity and aesthetics
  • Strong out-of-the-box performance due to factory overclocking
  • Reliable performance for popular online titles like Valorant and CS2 at 60+ FPS

What customers dislike about ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960?

  • Limited 128-bit memory interface can bottle neck performance in demanding titles
  • 2GB VRAM version struggles with modern AAA games at high/ultra settings
  • Runs hotter than some competing models from other brands like Asus or EVGA
  • Smaller cooler design results in slightly more fan noise under heavy load
  • Limited manual overclocking headroom compared to larger triple-fan models

Expert reviews

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techadvisor.com
01/12/2015

The Zotac GeForce GTX 960 Amp! Edition is a mid-range graphics card built on the GM206 Maxwell architecture that hits a sweet spot for high-class gaming at a reasonable price. In benchmarks, the card manages to outperform the AMD Radeon 285 and closely trail the more expensive Radeon 280X, maintaining playable frame rates in demanding titles like Crysis 3 and Assassin's Creed Unity....Read more

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pcmag.com
27/02/2015

The Zotac GeForce GTX 960 AMP Edition is a power-efficient, compact 8-inch graphics card ideal for small form factor builds, featuring a metal backplate and a high factory overclock (1,266 MHz base/1,329 MHz boost). It provides solid, best-in-class performance among tested GTX 960 models, along with support for G-Sync and DirectX 12 at an accessible $210 price point. However, the...Read more

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tomshardware.com
20/04/2015

Performance and Specifications The Zotac GeForce GTX 960 AMP! Edition is a sturdily built, factory-overclocked graphics card featuring a 1266MHz base clock rate and a 1329MHz GPU Boost rating. Priced around $210 at launch, this compact GPU measures 208mm in length and 111.15mm in height, weighing a light 590 grams. It is equipped with a solid metal backplate, carbon fiber accents,...Read more

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tweaktown.com
22/01/2015

The ZOTAC GeForce GTX 960 AMP! Edition is a mid-range, Maxwell-based video card featuring 2GB of GDDR5 RAM on a 128-bit memory bus, priced highly competitively at $209 to $229. Out of the box, ZOTAC applies a factory overclock, boosting the base clock to 1266MHz and the boost clock to 1329MHz. In real-world 1080p testing, the card excels as a mainstream powerhouse, successfully...Read more

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techteamgb.co.uk
09/02/2015

The Zotac GTX 960 AMP! Edition is evaluated as a highly capable 1080p gaming graphics card that delivers solid performance when running under cool conditions. The card features 2GB of GDDR5 VRAM and includes compatibility with notable Nvidia technologies like G-Sync and Shadow Play. Key advantages highlighted in the review include the generous inclusion of a 5-year extended warranty...Read more

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hardwareluxx.de
22/01/2015

Based on this hardware review, the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 successfully brings the efficiency benefits of the "Maxwell" (GM206) architecture down into a highly sought-after, budget-friendly mid-range price segment (starting around €199). Built on a 28 nm process with 2.94 billion transistors, the GPU targets mainstream gamers by delivering a massive 135% performance-per-shader...Read more

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computerbase.de
06/02/2015

The ComputerBase review evaluates eight custom GeForce GTX 960 partner cards from top manufacturers like Asus, EVGA, Gainward, Inno3D, MSI, Palit, and Zotac to determine the best overall 200-Euro option built on Nvidia's Maxwell architecture. A primary benefit of these custom designs is their significantly improved secondary characteristics; specifically, the cards feature optimized...Read more

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hardware.info
22/01/2015

This Hardware Info review covers the hard launch of Nvidia's highly power-efficient Full HD GeForce GTX 960 graphics card, evaluating specific custom 2GB variants from ASUS, Inno3D, MSI, and Zotac. Structurally, the cards all feature 2048 MB of memory on a 128-bit bus, but vary notably in factory overclock clock speeds. The Inno3D iChill Ultra leads out of the box with the highest...Read more

Video reviews

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