The crystal orientation and residual stress in gallium nitride (GaN) films deposited on a single-crystal (0001) sapphire substrate using a sputtering system are examined through x-ray diffraction measurements as part of a study of low-temperature sputtering techniques for GaN. The rf sputtering system has an isolated deposition chamber to prevent contamination with impurities, and is expected to produce high-purity nitride films. GaN films are deposited at various substrate temperatures and constant gas pressure and input power. This system is found to produce GaN films with good crystal orientation, with the c axes of GaN crystals oriented normal to the substrate surface. The crystal size of films deposited at high temperature is larger than that deposited at low T, All films except that deposited at 973 K exhibit compressive residual stress, and this residual stress is found to decrease with increasing temperature. Finally, the film deposited at 973 K was tinged with white, and the surface contained numerous microcracks. (C) 2004 American Vacuum Society.