GTX 970 vs Quadro RTX 6000
Head-to-head specifications
| Metric | GTX 970 | Quadro RTX 6000 | Difference |
|---|---|---|---|
| 3DMark Time Spy | 1,372 | 5,708 | -76.0% |
| Avg FPS @ 1080p | 29 | 58 | -50.0% |
| Avg FPS @ 1440p | 15 | 34 | -55.9% |
| Avg FPS @ 4K | 8 | 19 | -57.9% |
| FP32 compute (TFLOPS) | 3.9 | 16.3 | -76.0% |
| VRAM | 4 GB GDDR5 | 24 GB GDDR6 | — |
| Memory bandwidth (GB/s) | 224 | 672 | -66.7% |
| TDP (W) | 145 | 295 | — |
| Launch MSRP (USD) | $329 | $4,000 | -91.8% |
- Quadro RTX 6000 averages 34 fps at 1440p versus 15 fps — about 56% faster.
- GTX 970 draws less power (145W vs 295W).
Verdict: GTX 970 or Quadro RTX 6000?
GTX 970 advantages
- Power efficiency (+51%)
- Affordability (+92%)
Quadro RTX 6000 advantages
- 1440p gaming (+56%)
- 4K gaming (+58%)
- Synthetic benchmark performance (+76%)
- Video memory (+83%)
- Memory bandwidth (+67%)
Which should you choose?
- Choose the GTX 970 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise.
- Choose the Quadro RTX 6000 if you game at 1440p.
- Choose the GTX 970 if you want the better price for the performance.
Value for money
GTX 970 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
GTX 970 vs Quadro RTX 6000: which should you choose?
GTX 970 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2014, Maxwell) with 4 GB of GDDR5, averaging 15 fps at 1440p; launched at $329.
Quadro RTX 6000 — NVIDIA desktop graphics card (2018, Turing) with 24 GB of GDDR6, averaging 34 fps at 1440p; launched at $4,000.
GTX 970 vs Quadro RTX 6000: Quadro RTX 6000 is faster for gaming. Quadro RTX 6000 averages 34 fps at 1440p versus 15 fps — about 56% faster. GTX 970 draws less power (145W vs 295W).
1080p, 1440p and 4K
At 1440p — the most common enthusiast resolution — the Quadro RTX 6000 averages 34 fps against 15. At 4K (8 vs 19 fps) VRAM (4GB vs 24GB) and memory bandwidth matter more.
Power and value
Board power is 145 W versus 295 W, which affects PSU headroom, case cooling and noise. At launch MSRPs of $329 vs $4,000, 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 970 better than the Quadro RTX 6000?
Quadro RTX 6000 takes the overall edge, though GTX 970 wins in specific areas worth weighing. Quadro RTX 6000 averages 34 fps at 1440p versus 15 fps — about 56% faster.
What is the main difference between the GTX 970 and the Quadro RTX 6000?
Quadro RTX 6000 averages 34 fps at 1440p versus 15 fps — about 56% faster. GTX 970 draws less power (145W vs 295W).
Which is better value?
GTX 970 delivers more performance per dollar, making it the better value of the two at their listed prices.
Which should I choose?
Choose the GTX 970 if you want lower power draw, heat and noise. Choose the Quadro RTX 6000 if you game at 1440p.
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.