Is the NVIDIA GTX 980 Still Worth It in 2019 for 3D Rendering and Cinema 4D?

When it comes to deciding whether the NVIDIA GTX 980 is still worth your investment in 2019, especially for tasks like 3D rendering and Cinema 4D, it's important to consider several factors. Let's explore these factors in detail to help you make an informed decision.

Introduction

The NVIDIA GTX 980 was a powerhouse when it was first released in September 2014. However, the passage of time has brought newer, more capable GPUs to the market. Here's a breakdown of why and when you might still want to choose the GTX 980 over newer alternatives.

Pricing and Availability

The first point to consider is the price. Given that the GTX 980 is more than five years old, its prices have naturally dropped. You can still find 980s for relatively cheap, especially if they were once used for mining. Despite these discounts, it's essential to weigh the cost against the investment in a newer, more efficient card.

Performance Considerations

For 3D Rendering and Cinema 4D: When it comes to 3D rendering and Cinema 4D, the GTX 980 offers decent performance, especially for 1080p workloads. However, it may struggle with 4K rendering and higher resolutions. If you're looking for occasional 4K performance and some high-end rendering capabilities, the GTX 980 might still be a viable option.

Newer Alternatives: In 2019, newer GPUs like the GTX 1070 and the RTX 2060/GTX 1660 Ti offer significantly better performance. The GTX 1070, in particular, provides the same 1070-level performance as the GTX 980 but with superior efficiency and higher clock speeds. Additionally, the RTX 2060 provides over 1.5x the performance of a 1660 Ti while only consuming a similar power budget, making it a compelling choice for both gaming and rendering tasks.

Overclocking and Potential Boosts

Overclocking: Overclocking the GTX 980 can improve its performance, but the results are somewhat limited. The GTX 980 features a 28nm GM204 core, which is not as efficient in terms of power consumption as the 16nm GP104 core found in the GTX 1070. Although the 980 can be overclocked to a boost clock of around 1950MHz, this is still less than the 1683MHz boost clock of the 1070. This means that a mildly overclocked 1070 can outperform a stock 980, even at similar power consumption levels.

Value vs. Performance: While the GTX 980 can be overclocked to give it a boost, you might find that newer cards offer better value for money. For example, a mildly overclocked 1660 Ti or even a 1070 can provide better performance at a lower cost and with lower power consumption. The GTX 980, despite its older architecture, might struggle due to its limited 1216MHz boost clock compared to the 1683MHz of the 1070.

Alternatives for Rendering

GTX 980 Ti: If you specifically need the power for rendering and you already own a 980 Ti, it might be worth considering. The 980 Ti has a significantly higher core count and can outperform the GTX 1070 in certain rendering scenarios. However, the 980 Ti is rare and might come at a premium price around $250. The small advantage in terms of rendering speed might not justify the cost unless you frequently need the highest performance levels for time-sensitive tasks.

Conclusion

While the NVIDIA GTX 980 can still offer good performance for gaming and certain rendering tasks, it's increasingly challenging to justify its purchase over newer, more efficient cards. The GTX 1070 or even a 1660 Ti would be better choices for most users, offering better performance and value for your money. The old GTX 980 is a legacy performer that might still work for some use cases, but for many tasks, especially in rendering and future-proofing your setup, newer GPUs are the way to go.