Project Zomboid on GeForce GTX 980

Meets minimumEstimate · low confidence, ±30%

Yes, at lower settings. The GeForce GTX 980 meets Project Zomboid's minimum spec but not the recommended one. We estimate ~46 fps at 1080p high (range 32–60, low confidence, ±30%), GPU-limited. For 60 fps at 1080p, use the medium preset. Its 4 GB of video memory covers the 4 GB the game requires at minimum. The cheapest current card for 60 fps at 1080p high is the Radeon RX 5600 XT (~68 fps). Model estimate, not measured; data updated 2026-09-24.

Estimated FPS by preset

Preset	1080p	1440p	4K
low	78	54	33
medium	60	42	25
high	46	32	19
ultra	37	26	15

Estimate · low confidence, ±30%

Estimated FPS from our model (v0), based on the game's published requirements and relative GPU/CPU performance. Not measured. Real results vary with drivers, patches, and scenes. Values above 300 fps show as 300+. Data updated 2026-09-24.

Best settings

60 fps at 1080p: medium preset
60 fps at 1440p: not reachable
144 fps at 1080p: not reachable

This GeForce card has no tensor cores, so DLSS is not available. Use FSR or XeSS in quality mode before dropping the preset.

What limits performance

Estimates above: GPU-limited, assuming a processor fast enough not to hold the GeForce GTX 980 back.
Processor needed for ~46 fps: Core i3-9100F or faster (slowest current desktop CPU our model expects to keep up).

Video memory

GeForce GTX 980: 4 GB
Minimum spec: 4 GB (+0 GB headroom)

Cheapest upgrade for each target

1080p, 60 fps, High

Radeon RX 5600 XT

~68 fps vs 46 now (est.)

+48% GPU performance

1440p, 60 fps, High

Arc A770 8GB

~61 fps vs 32 now (est.)

+90% GPU performance

4K, 60 fps, High

GeForce RTX 3080 12GB

~60 fps vs 19 now (est.)

+210% GPU performance

Slowest current desktop card (2020+) that reaches each target in Project Zomboid; usually the cheapest.

Project Zomboid on popular graphics cards (high preset)

Graphics card	1080p	1440p	vs GeForce GTX 980
GeForce GTX 1650	32	22	-31%
GeForce GTX 1060 6GB	44	31	-3%
GeForce GTX 980	46	32	—
GeForce RTX 2060 6GB	66	46	+45%
Radeon RX 6600	73	51	+59%
GeForce RTX 3060 12GB	79	55	+72%
GeForce RTX 4060 Laptop GPU	82	57	+79%
Radeon RX 7600	92	64	+100%
GeForce RTX 4060	93	65	+103%
GeForce RTX 3070	109	76	+138%
GeForce RTX 4070	137	96	+200%
Radeon RX 7800 XT	153	107	+234%
GeForce RTX 5070	158	111	+245%
Radeon RX 9070 XT	205	144	+348%
GeForce RTX 4080	213	149	+366%
GeForce RTX 5090	300+	238	+641%