GTX 970 for Blender
Maxwell 2.0 GPU with very low recorded Cycles performance. Not recommended as a GPU purchase for Blender rendering; if already owned, check version support and test your own scenes.
Last updated: October 1, 2026
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$299.00
Checked Oct 2, 2026
- Blender Cycles score
- 219
- 52.9× slower than
- VRAM
- 4 GB
- Below Blender’s recommended VRAM
- Released
- 2014
- Render support
- OptiX, CUDA
- Power draw (TDP)
- 148 W
- Suggested system PSU
- 300 W
Technical specifications
GPU
- ArchitectureMaxwell 2.0
- CUDA cores1,664
Memory
- TypeGDDR5
- Bandwidth224.4 GB/s
- Bus width256-bit
Clocks & manufacturing
- Boost clock1178 MHz
- Base clock1050 MHz
- Process size28 nm
- GPU chipGM204
Power & PSU sources
GPU power ratings
TDP: 148 W
Secondary source: RightNow GPU Database / TechPowerUp ↗ · Checked Sep 23, 2026 · Reference card
System power supply
Suggested PSU: 300 W
Secondary source: RightNow GPU Database / TechPowerUp ↗ · Checked Sep 23, 2026 · Reference system
Third-party source suggestion; not the manufacturer’s minimum system requirement.
GPU power ratings and whole-system PSU recommendations measure different things. Check the exact card and the source’s system assumptions.
GTX 970 Blender benchmarks
Estimated time to render one benchmark frame · Lower is faster.
Blender 5.1.1 · OptiX · 8 runs
About these estimates
Times estimate one frame of each benchmark scene from the same runs, Blender version and backend as the displayed Cycles score. The calculation uses 240 samples for Junkshop, 256 for Monster and 300 for Classroom, plus a 19% estimation buffer. Actual project render times vary. Results from different Blender versions may not be directly comparable.
Is GTX 970 good for Blender?
A concise editorial read on where this GPU looks strong, the tradeoffs to keep in mind, and who it suits best.
What stands out
- Maxwell 2.0 architecture
- 1664 CUDA cores
Tradeoffs to know
- Meets Blender’s 2 GB VRAM minimum but falls below its 8 GB recommendation for Windows/Linux. Usability depends on GPU and driver compatibility and your scene’s memory needs.
- Very low recorded benchmark throughput; not recommended as a GPU purchase for Blender rendering. This is editorial guidance, not an official minimum score. Check Blender-version support separately.
- Limited VRAM for current professional standards
- Older generation technology
Who should choose it
- GTX 970 is not recommended as a GPU purchase for current Blender rendering.
- Check current GPU-rendering support. Historical benchmark results are not proof of compatibility with current Blender.
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