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In this article, I give you my EVGA GeForce GTX 980 TI FTW 6GB review with specs included. FTW stands for ‘For the win’ in the gaming world, and it does suit this card very well. First of all, who should even be reading this review? Why should you care, and why is this card right for you?

The people who should be reading this review are in two categories. Category number one – perhaps you’ve looked at the lower-level cards, and you are not happy. I did a review of the GTX 970, which I consider to be primarily designed for gaming at 1440p resolution, but with that card, there are some compromises. You have to run at medium to high-level details to get 60 frames per second in a lot of games. It is not a card you can put everything to maximum and just run like the wind, the GTX 980 Ti is. I mentioned that in that review of the GTX 970 if you are playing on a single 1440p monitor.

Now, just to clarify, in case that term is relatively new to you. 1080p is 1920 by 1080; it’s 2 million pixels. 1440 is 2560 across by 1440 pixels; it’s 3.6 million, almost double 1080p. 4K, just for reference, is 3840 across by 2160 vertically; it’s 8 million pixels. So, 1440 is in the middle.

GTX 980 TI is completely unnecessary for 1080. If you’re down at 1080, forget this and go read the 970 or the 960 reviews, but at 1440 I can tell you that you can take all the current games on the market today and you can take all their detail sliders and put them right to the ceiling.

In Grand Theft Auto 5, just put everything to Max. Max terrain, high details, super texture resolutions, everything you can, turn it all up, including anti-aliasing, and you’ll get about 75 frames a second on average out of this card, not a problem. You will get a steady frame rate at 60 frames a second with V-Sync turned on, and you’re off to the races.

Witcher 3, Fallout 4, Battlefield, Call of Duty, 1440p max, all the detail, and you still get beautiful performance. So that’s category number one: if you’re playing at a 2560 by 1440 monitor and you’re the kind of person that wants to crank it to the max and just not care and have beautiful, smooth, rock-solid performance, here’s your card.

Now, here’s the second category: people seeking a card for 4K. As a side note, if you like Team Red, which is AMD, the Fury X from AMD will also do 1440p well, but if you want to play at 4K, then the 980 Ti is the only card you should be looking at. None of the others from both AMD and Nvidia will do it, just like a GTX 970 will not do 1440p with everything at Ultra, but this will.

GTX 980 Ti will not do 4K with everything at Ultra, but it will do it pretty well. It will do it at medium to great detail, and because of the resolution of 4K, because of the 8 million pixels, you don’t need any anti-aliasing. You can turn it on, but because of the fine pitch, if you’re on a 27-inch 4K resolution, you can actually have some of the details down a bit. You can turn anti-aliasing off compared to 1440p with it on and actually get the same or better quality.

The EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW 6GB was one of the most powerful graphics cards of its generation, offering excellent performance for both 1440p and 4K gaming. Featuring factory overclocking, an efficient cooling system, and premium build quality, it was designed for enthusiasts who wanted top-tier performance without compromise.

4K Gaming Performance

Modern games can be demanding at 4K resolution. For example, a title like Grand Theft Auto V can struggle if every graphics option is pushed to the maximum. At ultra settings, frame rates may hover between 20 and 30 FPS, which many players would find less than ideal for smooth gameplay.

Reducing settings slightly from maximum to very high can significantly improve performance, often bringing frame rates closer to 45 FPS. Lowering settings further to medium can make achieving 60 FPS possible in many games.

Older titles tend to perform much better at 4K. Games such as Battlefield 4 and Fallout 4 can deliver excellent results with high-quality settings while maintaining smooth frame rates.

Affordable 4K Displays

One reason the GTX 980 Ti became attractive was the falling cost of 4K monitors. Whereas ultra-high-resolution displays were once extremely expensive, quality 27-inch 4K monitors became available for under $500.

For users wanting an even larger workspace, several manufacturers offered impressive 32-inch IPS 4K displays for under $900. These larger screens provided tremendous desktop space and enhanced productivity while delivering an immersive gaming experience.

Factory Overclocked FTW Edition

The “FTW” (For The Win) branding indicates that this model comes factory overclocked. Compared to the standard GTX 980 Ti reference specifications, the FTW version operates at significantly higher clock speeds.

While the reference card features a base clock around 1 GHz, the FTW model boosts close to 1.3 GHz. That represents nearly a 30% increase over the stock design, giving gamers noticeably higher performance without requiring manual tuning.

ACX Cooling System

One of the standout features of this graphics card is EVGA’s ACX cooling solution.

The dual-fan cooler remains silent during light workloads because the fans often stay completely off until needed. Even under gaming loads, the cooler operates remarkably quietly while maintaining excellent temperatures.

Compared to traditional blower-style coolers, the ACX design offers:

• Lower noise levels
• Better cooling efficiency
• Higher sustained boost clocks
• Improved gaming performance

Users with properly ventilated cases can expect the card to maintain peak performance with minimal noise.

Unboxing and Included Accessories

Inside the box, EVGA includes several accessories and extras:

• Installation guide
• Driver disc (though downloading the latest drivers online is recommended)
• EVGA case badge
• Promotional materials
• Power adapters
• Large EVGA poster

The card itself arrives protected inside a sturdy clamshell-style plastic case, helping prevent damage during shipping and storage.

Premium Build Quality

The GTX 980 Ti FTW feels substantial in hand. The card includes:

• Full-length backplate
• Protective covers on connectors
• Dual-fan ACX cooler
• Multiple heat pipes
• High-quality construction throughout

The black-on-black design gives it a clean and premium appearance that fits well in performance-oriented gaming systems.

Power Requirements

This graphics card requires two 8-pin PCI Express power connectors.

Because of its performance level, EVGA recommends pairing it with a quality power supply rated at 750 watts or higher. While adapter cables are included, using a modern power supply with native PCIe connectors is strongly recommended for reliability and stability.

Connectivity Options

The reviewed model provides a versatile selection of display outputs:

• Three DisplayPort connectors
• One HDMI port
• One DVI port

This configuration works especially well for multi-monitor setups. DisplayPort connections are generally the easiest option for running several monitors simultaneously without compatibility issues.

Cooling and Case Airflow

Unlike blower-style graphics cards that exhaust heat directly out the rear of the case, the ACX cooler releases most of its heat inside the chassis.

Because of this design, proper case ventilation is important. Systems with front intake fans and rear exhaust fans will allow the card to operate quietly and efficiently.

For best results, a well-ventilated mid-tower or full-tower case is recommended.

Memory and Gaming Capabilities

The GTX 980 Ti FTW comes equipped with 6GB of GDDR5 memory, making it well-suited for:

• 1440p gaming at maximum settings
• 4K gaming with optimized settings
• High-resolution texture packs
• Multi-monitor gaming setups
• Demanding AAA titles

The generous memory capacity helps maintain smooth performance when running games at higher resolutions and detail levels.

Value and Final Thoughts

The EVGA GeForce GTX 980 Ti FTW 6GB was one of the strongest enthusiast graphics cards available in its era. Its combination of factory overclocking, quiet ACX cooling, premium construction, and excellent gaming performance made it a compelling choice for serious gamers.

Players interested in smooth 1440p gaming with maximum settings or capable 4K performance would find plenty to like here. While other versions of the GTX 980 Ti were available, the FTW model stood out thanks to its aggressive factory tuning and exceptional cooling system.

For users seeking a fast, quiet, and well-built graphics card, the GTX 980 Ti FTW remained one of the most attractive options in the high-end GPU market.