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Can the NVIDIA GTX 980 run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition? (2026)

✅ Yes — easily

~120 FPS at 1080p with optimized settings

The NVIDIA GTX 980 is a entry-level card with 4GB of VRAM, and The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition is a relatively light game to run. Paired with a balanced Intel Core i5-8600K-class CPU it averages about 120 FPS at 1080p with FrameCoach's tuned settings — up from roughly 120 FPS with everything on High.

Resolution	All-High FPS	Optimized FPS
1080p	120	120
1440p	72	72
4K	41	63

💡 The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition: Runs easily on modern hardware (vanilla); Volumetric/God Rays is the one expensive setting. Texture mods change VRAM use a lot.

At 1080p expect around 120 FPS, at 1440p about 72 FPS, and at 4K roughly 63 FPS with optimized settings. The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition doesn't use upscaling, so the gains come from trimming the heaviest settings.

🎛 See the full best-settings guide for The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition on the NVIDIA GTX 980 →

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Can other GPUs run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition?

Can the NVIDIA GTX 980 run other games?

Frequently asked

Can the NVIDIA GTX 980 run The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition?

Yes — easily. With FrameCoach's optimized balanced settings, the NVIDIA GTX 980 averages about 120 FPS at 1080p in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition.

What FPS does the NVIDIA GTX 980 get in The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition at 1080p?

Around 120 FPS at 1080p with optimized settings (up from about 120 FPS on all-High).

How do I make The Elder Scrolls V: Skyrim Special Edition run better on the NVIDIA GTX 980?

keep ray tracing off, and lower the heaviest settings a notch. FrameCoach's full per-setting guide for this exact combo shows what each option costs.

FPS figures are estimates from a generalized model (hardware tier × game load × per-setting weights), not live benchmarks — real performance varies by scene, drivers and game version.