The Lands Between are vast and unforgiving, filled with challenging enemies and breathtaking landscapes. A key ingredient for conquering this world is a powerful gaming rig, and the GTX 980, a veteran GPU from the Maxwell generation, may make you wonder if it’s up to the task.
This article will explore the capabilities of the GTX 980 in running Elden Ring, providing an in-depth analysis of performance, settings, and potential bottlenecks.
Can a GTX 980 Run Elden Ring?
The short answer is yes, a GTX 980 can run Elden Ring. However, it’s important to understand that achieving a smooth and enjoyable experience requires a nuanced approach to settings and expectations.
GTX 980 Performance: Expectations vs. Reality
The GTX 980 is a capable card, but it’s a few generations behind the current crop of GPUs. The demanding nature of Elden Ring means you’ll need to make some compromises to achieve playable frame rates.
Elden Ring Minimum & Recommended Specs: A Benchmark
Let’s start by comparing the GTX 980 with Elden Ring’s official minimum and recommended specifications:
Minimum:
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 3GB / AMD Radeon RX 580 4GB
- RAM: 12GB
Recommended:
- GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 / AMD Radeon RX Vega 56
- RAM: 16GB
The GTX 980 sits somewhere between the minimum and recommended specs, indicating potential for playable performance, but not necessarily a smooth, high-quality experience.
Performance Benchmarks: Setting the Stage
To provide a clearer picture, let’s look at some benchmark results:
- Low Settings: With a GTX 980, you can expect to achieve around 30-40 frames per second (FPS) at 1080p resolution with most settings set to low. This means a playable experience but with noticeable drops in particularly demanding areas.
- Medium Settings: Aiming for medium settings will likely result in 20-30 FPS, which could be frustrating due to frequent stuttering and dips in performance.
Understanding the Bottlenecks
The GTX 980 might struggle with Elden Ring’s demanding open world environments.
- CPU Bottleneck: The GTX 980 might be bottlenecked by a weaker CPU, especially in areas with many enemies or complex interactions. Consider upgrading your CPU if possible for smoother performance.
- Memory Bottleneck: 8GB of RAM might not be enough for Elden Ring, especially with its vast open world and demanding assets. Aim for 16GB or more for a smoother experience.
Tweaking Your Settings: Optimizing for Performance
Don’t despair! Even with a GTX 980, there are ways to improve your experience in Elden Ring:
- Lowering Resolution: Lowering the resolution to 720p or 900p can significantly improve frame rates.
- Lowering Graphical Settings: Explore the in-game options, like texture quality, shadows, and anti-aliasing, to find the sweet spot between visual fidelity and performance.
- Turning Off Features: Disable features like motion blur and depth of field, which can impact performance.
- Using VSync: Enabling VSync can reduce screen tearing, but it can also introduce input lag. Experiment with it to see if it works for you.
- Using FPS Limiting: If you find that your frame rate is consistently fluctuating, using an FPS limiter can help create a more stable experience.
GTX 980 vs. Other GPUs: A Comparative View
To understand where the GTX 980 stands, let’s compare it to other GPUs in Elden Ring:
- GTX 1060 3GB: The GTX 1060 3GB is the minimum recommended GPU for Elden Ring. It offers a noticeably smoother experience than the GTX 980, especially at medium settings.
- RX 580: This AMD GPU sits around the same performance level as the GTX 1060 3GB, providing similar performance characteristics in Elden Ring.
- GTX 1070: This GPU is significantly more powerful than the GTX 980, allowing you to play at higher settings with smoother frame rates.
Alternatives: Upgrading Your GPU
If you’re not satisfied with the GTX 980’s performance in Elden Ring, you might consider upgrading your GPU. Here are some suggestions for affordable options:
- GTX 1060 6GB: The 6GB version of the GTX 1060 offers better performance than the 3GB model, making it a good stepping stone for smoother gameplay.
- RX 570: The RX 570 is a budget-friendly AMD GPU that can provide decent performance in Elden Ring, especially at medium settings.
- GTX 1650: This newer NVIDIA GPU is a strong performer for its price point, offering a noticeable upgrade over the GTX 980.
Conclusion: A Playable Experience, With Some Work
While the GTX 980 can run Elden Ring, it requires careful optimization and compromise. Lowering settings, making adjustments, and potentially upgrading your CPU and RAM will be key to achieving a playable experience.
Remember, Elden Ring is a demanding game, and even the recommended specs don’t guarantee a completely smooth experience. If you’re looking for consistent high frame rates and max settings, a more powerful GPU will be necessary.
However, don’t let this discourage you. With careful tuning and some patience, you can still conquer the Lands Between and experience the epic story and challenging gameplay that Elden Ring offers, even with a GTX 980.
FAQ
Q1: Can a GTX 980 run Elden Ring at all?
A: While the GTX 980 is an older card, it can technically run Elden Ring. However, you won’t be able to achieve the desired performance levels. Elden Ring is a demanding game, and your GTX 980 may struggle to maintain a smooth and enjoyable experience, especially at higher resolutions. You’ll likely experience frequent frame rate drops, particularly in busy areas or during intense combat.
Q2: What kind of performance can I expect from a GTX 980?
A: You can expect a playable experience, but you’ll have to make compromises. You’ll likely need to lower the graphical settings to low or medium and reduce the resolution to 1080p to achieve a stable 30 FPS. You’ll also experience a noticeable drop in visual fidelity, sacrificing details like shadows, textures, and anti-aliasing.
Q3: What are the recommended specs for Elden Ring?
A: The recommended specs for Elden Ring call for an Nvidia GeForce GTX 1060 or an AMD Radeon RX 480, both significantly more powerful than a GTX 980. These GPUs can handle the game at 1080p with high settings and a stable 60 FPS.
Q4: What are the minimum specs for Elden Ring?
A: The minimum specs for Elden Ring require an Nvidia GeForce GTX 960 or an AMD Radeon RX 470, which are more powerful than a GTX 980. You can run the game at lower settings and resolution to meet the minimum specs, but your experience will be considerably less enjoyable.
Q5: Are there any ways to improve performance on a GTX 980?
A: While the GTX 980 is relatively outdated, you can try tweaking some settings to improve performance. You can lower the resolution, disable features like anti-aliasing, and reduce graphical settings like shadows, textures, and effects. You could also consider using a program like DSR (Dynamic Super Resolution) to render the game at a higher resolution and then downscale it to 1080p, potentially improving visual fidelity.
Q6: Should I upgrade my graphics card if I want to play Elden Ring smoothly?
A: If you’re aiming for a smooth and visually pleasing Elden Ring experience, upgrading your graphics card is highly recommended. You’ll need a modern card like a GTX 1060 or a Radeon RX 480 to meet the recommended specs and enjoy the game at higher settings and resolutions.
Q7: What are some alternative graphics cards for Elden Ring?
A: If you’re looking for a more modern and affordable option for Elden Ring, you can consider graphics cards like the GTX 1650, GTX 1660, or RX 580. These cards offer a significant performance boost over the GTX 980 and can deliver a smooth and enjoyable experience at 1080p with medium to high settings.