# GTX 970 (Maxwell) + ComfyUI in 2026: Stable Working Setup, Safe Upgrade Path, and Rollback Guide **URL:** \ **Category:** Windows\ **Tags:** suggestion, install\ **Created:** [April 16, 2026, 12:26am UTC](https://forum.comfy.org/t/gtx-970-maxwell-comfyui-in-2026-stable-working-setup-safe-upgrade-path-and-rollback-guide/4398 "2026-04-16T00:26:45Z")\ **Posts on this page:** 1\ **Showing post:** 1
**Author:** ![ZenithBR](https://avatars.discourse-cdn.com/v4/letter/z/3e96dc/32.png) [@ZenithBR](https://forum.comfy.org/u/ZenithBR)\ **Post date:** [April 16, 2026, 12:26am UTC](https://forum.comfy.org/t/gtx-970-maxwell-comfyui-in-2026-stable-working-setup-safe-upgrade-path-and-rollback-guide/4398/1 "2026-04-16T00:26:46Z")
Yes, **ComfyUI can still work on an NVIDIA GTX 970 (4 GB VRAM)** in 2026. After a careful migration and validation process, this setup was confirmed working with: - **GPU:** NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970 - **VRAM:** 4 GB - **OS:** Windows - **Python:** `3.10.10` - **PyTorch:** `2.5.1+cu121` - **Torchvision:** `0.20.1+cu121` - **Torchaudio:** `2.5.1+cu121` - **NumPy:** `2.2.6` - **ComfyUI core:** `v0.19.1-1-g1de83f91` - **Frontend package:** `1.43.1` - **Launch mode:** `--lowvram` This is **not a “latest everything” guide**. It is a **stability-first guide** for people with older GPUs who want a **safe and reproducible path**. * * * ## **The Problem** Many GTX 970 users run into one or more of these issues when trying to update ComfyUI: - New ComfyUI versions launch, but the **interface looks old** - PyTorch/CUDA combinations break older stable setups - Updating Python creates unnecessary incompatibilities - Custom nodes fail and make it look like the whole installation is broken - Users assume the GTX 970 is no longer viable The good news: ## **The GTX 970 is still usable with ComfyUI** You just need a **conservative stack** and a **safe update workflow**. * * * ## **What Actually Worked** This setup was tested successfully: - Python 3.10.10 - torch 2.5.1+cu121 - torchvision 0.20.1+cu121 - torchaudio 2.5.1+cu121 - numpy 2.2.6 - ComfyUI core v0.19.1-1-g1de83f91 - comfyui\_frontend\_package 1.43.1 - Launch option: --lowvram Three workflows were tested successfully after the update. * * * ## **Important Notes Before You Start** ### **1. Do not rush to upgrade Python** If your goal is **stability** , **Python 3.10.10** is a good choice for this hardware and this stack. ### **2. Do not chase the newest CUDA stack blindly** A GTX 970 is an older card. The objective is **working reliably** , not chasing every new optimization. ### **3. Separate “core works” from “custom nodes are broken”** Some custom nodes may fail to load, and **ComfyUI itself can still work perfectly fine**. * * * ## **Safe Upgrade Strategy** The safest approach is: 1. **Keep your old working branch** 2. **Create a test branch** 3. **Update ComfyUI there** 4. **Fix the frontend if necessary** 5. **Validate real workflows** 6. **Promote the tested branch to your new stable branch** That is exactly what was done here. * * * ## **Step-by-Step Guide** ### **Step 1 — Check your current branch** In Windows Command Prompt: `cd /d C:\AI\ComfyUI` `git branch --show-current` `git rev-parse HEAD` This tells you: - which branch you are on - which exact commit you are using * * * ### **Step 2 — Create a test branch before touching anything** Example: `cd /d C:\AI\ComfyUI` `git checkout -b test-comfyui-update` This gives you a safe place to test updates without destroying your stable branch. * * * ### **Step 3 — Update dependencies carefully** If needed: `C:\AI\ComfyUI\.venv\Scripts\python.exe -m pip install -r manager_requirements.txt` Then launch ComfyUI: `cd /d C:\AI\ComfyUI` `C:\AI\ComfyUI\.venv\Scripts\python.exe main.py --lowvram` ### **Step 4 — Check if the frontend is outdated** This was the key issue in this case. ComfyUI launched, but the UI still looked old. The log showed this warning: `Installed frontend version 1.28.7 is lower than the recommended version 1.42.11.` That meant: - **backend/core was updated** - **frontend package was still old** Check your installed frontend package: `C:\AI\ComfyUI\.venv\Scripts\python.exe -m pip show comfyui-frontend-package` If it is outdated, update it: `C:\AI\ComfyUI\.venv\Scripts\python.exe -m pip install --upgrade --force-reinstall comfyui-frontend-package` Check again: `C:\AI\ComfyUI\.venv\Scripts\python.exe -m pip show comfyui-frontend-package` In this tested case, it moved from: `1.28.7` to `1.43.1` After that, the UI updated correctly. * * * ### **Step 5 — Ignore non-critical custom node failures at first** The following custom node issues appeared during startup: - `APZmedia-comfyui-fast-image-save` → `turbojpeg` library missing - `comfyui_face_parsing` → `opencv-contrib-python-headless` install error / permissions issue - `ComfyUI_LayerStyle` → missing `blend_modes` Despite that, ComfyUI launched and tested workflows still worked. So the rule is: ## **Do not assume startup warnings mean the core installation failed** First confirm whether your real workflows still function. * * * ### **Step 6 — Validate with real workflows** Do not stop at “it opens”. Test: - your usual workflow - a second workflow - a third workflow That is what was done in this case, and all three worked. That is the point where a test update becomes trustworthy. * * * ### **Step 7 — Consolidate the tested branch into a stable branch** Once validated, create a clearly named stable branch: `cd /d C:\AI\ComfyUI` `git checkout -b stable-gtx970-comfyui-0191` Confirmed working branch: `stable-gtx970-comfyui-0191` Confirmed commit: `1de83f91c34a3396c667d764224054ba87027e82` * * * ### **Step 8 — Create rollback tags** This is highly recommended. Example: `git tag backup-pre-consolidation-stable-gtx970 92d97380bd02d9883295aeb2d29365cecd9a765e` `git tag stable-validated-0191 1de83f91c34a3396c667d764224054ba87027e82` This makes future recovery much easier. * * * ### **Step 9 — Save a freeze of the environment** Create a package snapshot: `C:\AI\ComfyUI\.venv\Scripts\python.exe -m pip freeze > C:\AI\ComfyUI\requirements-final-stable-comfyui-0191.txt` This is your insurance policy. * * * ### **Step 10 — Save a local environment record** Create a text file with your known good state. Example: `Branch: stable-gtx970-comfyui-0191` `Commit: 1de83f91c34a3396c667d764224054ba87027e82` `ComfyUI core: v0.19.1-1-g1de83f91` `Frontend: 1.43.1` `Python: 3.10.10` `torch: 2.5.1+cu121` `torchvision: 0.20.1+cu121` `torchaudio: 2.5.1+cu121` `numpy: 2.2.6` `GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970` `Launch mode: --lowvram` This helps enormously later. * * * ## **Final Working Configuration** `GPU: NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970` `Python: 3.10.10` `torch: 2.5.1+cu121` `torchvision: 0.20.1+cu121` `torchaudio: 2.5.1+cu121` `numpy: 2.2.6` `ComfyUI core: v0.19.1-1-g1de83f91` `Frontend: 1.43.1` `Launch mode: --lowvram` `Stable branch: stable-gtx970-comfyui-0191` `Commit: 1de83f91c34a3396c667d764224054ba87027e82` * * * ## **What I Do Not Recommend** For GTX 970 users trying to keep a reliable setup, I do **not** recommend doing all of this at once: - upgrading Python unnecessarily - switching Torch versions randomly - changing CUDA stack and ComfyUI version at the same time - assuming every custom node must work immediately - deleting your old stable branch too early That path usually leads to chaos wearing a lab coat. * * * ## **Practical Advice** If your GTX 970 setup already works, the best mindset is: ## **stability first, upgrades second** Use a branch-based workflow: - one stable branch - one test branch per experiment - one rollback point - one frozen requirements file That turns “I hope it still works” into “I know how to recover”. * * * ## **Conclusion** Yes, **ComfyUI still works on the GTX 970**. Not with every shiny optimization, not with infinite VRAM fantasies, and not by updating everything blindly — but with the right stack and a careful process, it is absolutely possible to keep this hardware productive. If you are on older NVIDIA hardware, do not assume you are locked out. Test methodically, keep rollback points, and treat frontend updates separately from core updates. That made all the difference here. --- _[View the full topic](https://forum.comfy.org/t/gtx-970-maxwell-comfyui-in-2026-stable-working-setup-safe-upgrade-path-and-rollback-guide/4398)._