GTX 980 vs GTX 980M Apples to Apples Comparison
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Just how close does the performance of the GTX 980M come to its desktop counterpart? Massdrop link: dro.ps Cooler Master link: linustechtips.com Pricing & discussion: linustechtips.com Support us: linustechtips.com Join our community forum: bit.ly twitter.com @LinusTech Intro Screen Music Credit: Title: Laszlo - Supernova Video Link: youtube.com iTunes Download Link: itunes.apple.com Artist Link: soundcloud.com Outro Screen Music Credit: Approaching Nirvana - Sugar High youtube.com
The video sets up an apples-to-apples head-to-head between the desktop GTX 980 and the mobile GTX 980M to quantify how the laptop version stacks up against its desktop counterpart. The host reuses a fully turboed, identically configured platform using a Core i7 4790K, 16 GB of RAM, Windows 8.1, 1080p display, and SSD, changing only the graphics card in each system. This approach mirrors the classic comparison philosophy of isolating the GPU as the single variable while keeping other bottlenecks controlled. Early context emphasizes that driver maturity has improved mobile GPUs and desktop GPUs alike, shrinking the gap in many price bands. The host explicitly notes the goal is to measure performance deltas across a standard set of tests, not to rely on anecdotal claims. By framing the test as a fair, controlled apples-to-apples comparison, the video aims to deliver concrete data rather than impressionistic guesses.
Topics · Technology · Hardware · Performance benchmarking · Gaming
Questions answered
- How does the GTX 980M performance compare to the GTX 980 desktop in this apples to apples test?
- The test shows a 30 to 40 percent performance delta in favor of the desktop GTX 980 across the evaluated benchmarks.
- What factors make desktop GPUs generally a better value than laptop GPUs in this comparison?
- Desktop systems benefit from standardized components, lower costs per performance, easier upgradability, and often a lower price per frame compared to high-end gaming laptops, which carry higher costs for mobile hardware and chassis integration.
- What future trends does the video suggest could affect mobile gaming performance?
- The video notes Skylake processors may bring power savings that enable better mobile graphics, potentially narrowing the performance gap between mobile and desktop GPUs over time.