GTX 690 vs GTX 960
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | GTX 690 | GTX 960 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 2,191 | 843 | +159.9% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 34 | 25 | +36.0% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 19 | 13 | +46.2% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 10 | 7 | +42.9% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 6.3 | 2.4 | +159.8% |
| VRAM | 4 GB GDDR5 | 2 GB GDDR5 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 448 | 112 | +300.0% |
| TDP (W) | 300 | 120 | — |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $999 | $199 | +402.0% |
- GTX 690 averages 19 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 46% faster.
- GTX 960 draws less power (120W vs 300W).
Verdict: GTX 690 or GTX 960?
GTX 690 advantages
- 1440p gaming (+32%)
- 4K gaming (+30%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+62%)
- Video memory (+50%)
- Memory bandwidth (+75%)
GTX 960 advantages
- Power efficiency (+60%)
- Affordability (+80%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the GTX 690 if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the GTX 960 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the GTX 690 if you game at 4K or drive a high-resolution display.
Value for money
GTX 960 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
GTX 690 vs GTX 960: which should you choose?
GTX 690 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2012, Kepler) with 4 GB of GDDR5, averaging 19 fps at 1440p; launched at $999.
GTX 960 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2015, Maxwell) with 2 GB of GDDR5, averaging 13 fps at 1440p; launched at $199.
GTX 690 vs GTX 960: GTX 690 is faster for gaming. GTX 690 averages 19 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 46% faster. GTX 960 draws less power (120W vs 300W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the GTX 690 averages 19 fps against 13. At 4K (10 vs 7 fps) VRAM (4GB vs 2GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
Power and value
Board power is 300 W versus 120 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $999 vs $199, weigh the frame-rate lead against price and power draw for your target resolution.
The verdict
Both are credible choices in the graphics card comparison space; the specification table above lays out every metric so you can weigh the trade-offs that matter to you. Pick the one whose strengths line up with how you will actually use it.
Frequently asked questions
Is the GTX 690 better than the GTX 960?
GTX 690 takes the overall edge, though GTX 960 wins in specific areas worth weighing. GTX 690 averages 19 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 46% faster.
What is the main difference between the GTX 690 and the GTX 960?
GTX 690 averages 19 fps at 1440p versus 13 fps — about 46% faster. GTX 960 draws less power (120W vs 300W).
Which is better value?
GTX 960 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the GTX 690 if you game at 1440p. Choose the GTX 960 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
Methodology
Graphics cards are compared on 3DMark Time Spy scores, average gaming frame rates at 1080p/1440p/4K, FP32 compute throughput, VRAM capacity and type, memory bandwidth, board power (TDP) and launch MSRP — plus AI workload throughput (Stable Diffusion iterations/s and local LLM tokens/s) where measured. Vintage and server GPUs without modern benchmark results are compared on specifications only, clearly labelled. Frame rates are averages across a game suite at high settings; specific titles vary.