The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 900 series was a groundbreaking lineup of graphics cards that revolutionized the gaming industry when it was first released in 2014. With its Maxwell architecture, the GTX 900 series offered unparalleled performance, power efficiency, and features that set a new standard for graphics processing units (GPUs). However, with the rapid advancement of technology, the question remains: is the GTX 900 series still good?
Understanding the GTX 900 Series
The GTX 900 series was a family of high-performance GPUs that included the GTX 950, GTX 960, GTX 970, GTX 980, and GTX 980 Ti. These graphics cards were designed to provide exceptional gaming performance, support for advanced technologies like DirectX 12 and NVIDIA’s proprietary technologies like G-Sync and PhysX.
Key Features of the GTX 900 Series
Some of the key features of the GTX 900 series include:
- Maxwell Architecture: The GTX 900 series was based on NVIDIA’s Maxwell architecture, which provided a significant boost in performance and power efficiency compared to the previous Kepler architecture.
- High-Performance GPUs: The GTX 900 series included some of the fastest GPUs available at the time, with the GTX 980 Ti being the flagship model.
- Advanced Technologies: The GTX 900 series supported advanced technologies like DirectX 12, NVIDIA G-Sync, and PhysX, which provided a more immersive gaming experience.
- Power Efficiency: The GTX 900 series was designed to be power-efficient, with some models consuming as little as 60W of power.
Performance of the GTX 900 Series
The GTX 900 series was known for its exceptional performance, with some models offering frame rates of over 100 FPS in popular games. However, with the release of newer graphics cards, the performance of the GTX 900 series has become less competitive.
Benchmarking the GTX 900 Series
To give you an idea of the performance of the GTX 900 series, here are some benchmark results from popular games:
| Game | GTX 950 | GTX 960 | GTX 970 | GTX 980 | GTX 980 Ti |
| — | — | — | — | — | — |
| Assassin’s Creed Odyssey | 40 FPS | 50 FPS | 60 FPS | 70 FPS | 80 FPS |
| The Witcher 3 | 30 FPS | 40 FPS | 50 FPS | 60 FPS | 70 FPS |
| Fortnite | 60 FPS | 70 FPS | 80 FPS | 90 FPS | 100 FPS |
As you can see, the GTX 900 series still offers decent performance in popular games, but it may not be able to handle more demanding titles at high resolutions and frame rates.
Is the GTX 900 Series Still Good?
While the GTX 900 series is no longer the most powerful graphics card lineup available, it can still provide a good gaming experience for those on a budget or with lower system specifications.
Pros of the GTX 900 Series
Some of the pros of the GTX 900 series include:
- Affordability: The GTX 900 series is now relatively affordable, with prices starting from around $100 for the GTX 950.
- Power Efficiency: The GTX 900 series is still relatively power-efficient, making it a good option for those with lower-wattage power supplies.
- Wide Compatibility: The GTX 900 series is compatible with a wide range of systems, including older motherboards and CPUs.
Cons of the GTX 900 Series
Some of the cons of the GTX 900 series include:
- Lower Performance: The GTX 900 series is no longer the most powerful graphics card lineup available, and may not be able to handle more demanding games at high resolutions and frame rates.
- Limited Features: The GTX 900 series does not support some of the latest features like ray tracing and artificial intelligence-enhanced graphics.
- Older Architecture: The GTX 900 series is based on an older architecture, which may not be as efficient or effective as newer architectures.
Alternatives to the GTX 900 Series
If you’re looking for a more powerful graphics card, there are several alternatives to the GTX 900 series available.
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1000 Series
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1000 series is a more powerful lineup of graphics cards that offers better performance and features than the GTX 900 series.
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2000 Series
The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2000 series is a more recent lineup of graphics cards that offers even better performance and features than the GTX 1000 series, including support for ray tracing and artificial intelligence-enhanced graphics.
AMD Radeon RX 500 Series
The AMD Radeon RX 500 series is a lineup of graphics cards that offers competitive performance to the GTX 900 series, but at a lower price point.
Conclusion
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 900 series was a groundbreaking lineup of graphics cards that revolutionized the gaming industry when it was first released. While it may not be the most powerful graphics card lineup available today, it can still provide a good gaming experience for those on a budget or with lower system specifications. If you’re looking for a more powerful graphics card, there are several alternatives available, including the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1000 series, NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2000 series, and AMD Radeon RX 500 series.
Is the GTX 900 Series Still Good for Gaming?
The GTX 900 series is still capable of handling less demanding games at lower resolutions and graphics settings. However, it may struggle with more demanding titles, especially those that utilize advanced graphics technologies like ray tracing and artificial intelligence-enhanced graphics.
If you’re looking to play older games or less demanding titles, the GTX 900 series can still provide a good gaming experience. However, if you’re looking to play the latest games at high resolutions and graphics settings, you may want to consider a more modern graphics card.
Can the GTX 900 Series Handle 4K Resolution?
The GTX 900 series is not well-suited for 4K resolution gaming. While it can technically handle 4K resolutions, it will likely struggle to maintain high frame rates, especially in more demanding games. You may need to reduce graphics settings or resolution to achieve smoother performance.
If you’re looking to game at 4K resolution, you’ll likely want to consider a more modern graphics card with more powerful hardware and advanced technologies like ray tracing and artificial intelligence-enhanced graphics. These cards are better equipped to handle the demands of 4K gaming.
How Does the GTX 900 Series Compare to Modern Graphics Cards?
The GTX 900 series is significantly less powerful than modern graphics cards. Modern cards have more advanced hardware, including more CUDA cores, higher clock speeds, and faster memory. They also support advanced technologies like ray tracing, artificial intelligence-enhanced graphics, and variable rate shading.
In general, modern graphics cards offer significantly better performance than the GTX 900 series, especially in more demanding games. If you’re looking for the best possible gaming experience, you’ll likely want to consider a more modern graphics card.
Can the GTX 900 Series Handle Ray Tracing and AI-Enhanced Graphics?
The GTX 900 series does not support ray tracing or artificial intelligence-enhanced graphics. These technologies require more advanced hardware and software, which is not available on the GTX 900 series.
If you’re looking to take advantage of these advanced technologies, you’ll need to consider a more modern graphics card that supports them. Modern cards like the NVIDIA GeForce RTX series offer support for ray tracing, artificial intelligence-enhanced graphics, and other advanced technologies.
Is the GTX 900 Series Still Supported by NVIDIA?
The GTX 900 series is no longer supported by NVIDIA with new driver updates. While you can still use the card with existing drivers, you won’t receive any new features, performance enhancements, or bug fixes.
If you’re looking for a graphics card with ongoing support and updates, you’ll likely want to consider a more modern card. Modern cards receive regular driver updates, which can improve performance, fix bugs, and add new features.
Can the GTX 900 Series Be Used for Non-Gaming Applications?
The GTX 900 series can still be used for non-gaming applications like video editing, 3D modeling, and scientific simulations. While it may not be the most powerful card for these applications, it can still provide good performance, especially for less demanding tasks.
If you’re looking for a graphics card for non-gaming applications, the GTX 900 series can still be a good option. However, if you’re looking for the best possible performance, you may want to consider a more modern card with more advanced hardware and software.
Is the GTX 900 Series Worth Upgrading From?
Whether or not the GTX 900 series is worth upgrading from depends on your specific needs and preferences. If you’re looking to play the latest games at high resolutions and graphics settings, you may want to consider upgrading to a more modern graphics card.
However, if you’re happy with your current gaming experience and don’t need the latest and greatest features, you may not need to upgrade. The GTX 900 series can still provide a good gaming experience, especially for less demanding games.