GeForce GTX 680 vs GeForce GTX 690

CPU

GPU

GeForce GTX 680

2012Core: 1006 MHzBoost: 1058 MHz

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GeForce GTX 690

2012Core: 915 MHzBoost: 1019 MHz

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GeForce GTX 680 vs GeForce GTX 690 Performance Spectrum

GeForce GTX 680

4 GB 195

5,609

+1.3%

GeForce RTX 2070 Super Mobile

RTX 4000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

GeForce GTX 690

2 GB 300

5,536

0.0%

GeForce RTX 2060 with Max-Q Design

GeForce RTX 2060

GeForce RTX 2070 Super Mobile

RTX 4000 Ada Generation Laptop GPU

About G3D Mark

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

GeForce GTX 680 vs GeForce GTX 690 FPS Benchmarks

Predicted gaming performance across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 9800X3D to isolate GPU performance.

Search any supported game below to compare 1080p FPS for both components.

GeForce GTX 680 vs GeForce GTX 690: Pros, Cons & Final Verdict

See where each GPU makes more sense in practice: raw FPS, VRAM, features, power draw, pricing, and long-term headroom.

GeForce GTX 680

2012

Why buy it

✅Costs $500 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
✅Delivers 102.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 11.2 vs 5.5 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $999 MSRP).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 2 GB).
✅Draws 195W instead of 300W, a 105W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 690 across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌2012 hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.

GeForce GTX 690

2012

Why buy it

✅0.1% more average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌2012 hardware with 2 GB of VRAM is already well past its comfortable zone for modern gaming, so it is hard to recommend now.
❌
100.2% HIGHER MSRP
$999 MSRPvs$499 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 5.5 vs 11.2 G3D/$ ($999 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌53.8% higher power demand at 300W vs 195W.

Quick Answers

Which GPU is faster for gaming right now?

GeForce GTX 690 is the faster gaming card right now. In our data, it leads by 0.1% in average FPS across 50 tracked games in our benchmark data. PassMark G3D leans toward GeForce GTX 680 instead at 5,609 vs 5,536, so for this question the real-game FPS result matters more than the synthetic split.

Which GPU is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce GTX 680 is the safer long-term pick for 2026 and beyond. The case is simple: 4 GB vs 2 GB of VRAM. That gives it more room for heavier textures and higher settings over time.

Which GPU is the better buy today?

GeForce GTX 680 makes the most sense to buy today. It is $500 cheaper on MSRP at $499 vs $999, and it leads G3D-per-dollar by 102.8% (11.2 vs 5.5), which is enough to swing the recommendation its way. GeForce GTX 690 still makes more sense if max raw gaming performance matters more than value.

GeForce GTX 680 vs GeForce GTX 690 Technical Specifications

Side-by-side specs, architecture details, clocks, memory, power, and platform differences.

GeForce GTX 680

The GeForce GTX 680 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 22 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 1006 MHz to 1058 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 195W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,609 points. Launch price was $499.

GeForce GTX 690

The GeForce GTX 690 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in May 3 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 915 MHz to 1019 MHz. It has 3072 ×2 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 300W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,536 points. Launch price was $999.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 680 scores 5,609 and the GeForce GTX 690 reaches 5,536 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.3% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 680 is built on Kepler while the GeForce GTX 690 uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,536 (GeForce GTX 680) vs 3,072 (GeForce GTX 690). Raw compute: 3.25 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 680) vs 3.13 TFLOPS ×2 (GeForce GTX 690). Boost clocks: 1058 MHz vs 1019 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 690
G3D Mark Score	5,609+1%	5,536
Architecture	Kepler	Kepler
Process Node	28 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	1536	3072 ×2+100%
Compute (TFLOPS)	3.25 TFLOPS+4%	3.13 TFLOPS ×2
Boost Clock	1058 MHz+4%	1019 MHz
ROPs	32	32 ×2
TMUs	128	128 ×2
L1 Cache	128 KB	128 KB
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 690
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 680 has 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 690 carries 2 GB. GeForce GTX 680 gives you 100% more memory capacity, which matters more once you move into heavier textures, mods, or higher resolutions. Memory bandwidth: 192.2 GB/s (GeForce GTX 680) vs 192.2 GB/s x2 (GeForce GTX 690) — a 0% advantage for the GeForce GTX 690. Memory bus width is 256-bit on the GeForce GTX 680 and 256-bit x2 on the GeForce GTX 690.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 690
VRAM Capacity	4 GB+100%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	192.2 GB/s	192.2 GB/s x2
Bus Width	256-bit	256-bit x2
L2 Cache	512 KB	512 KB

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (FL 11_0) (GeForce GTX 680) vs 12_0 (GeForce GTX 690). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 690
DirectX	12 (FL 11_0)	12_0
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 1st gen (GeForce GTX 680) vs NVENC 1st Gen (GeForce GTX 690). Decoder: PureVideo VP5 vs VP5.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 690
Encoder	NVENC 1st gen	NVENC 1st Gen
Decoder	PureVideo VP5	VP5
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2	—

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 680 draws 195W versus the GeForce GTX 690's 300W — a 42.4% difference. The GeForce GTX 680 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 680) vs 650W (GeForce GTX 690). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 2x 8-pin. Card length: 256mm vs 279mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 690
TDP	195W-35%	300W
Recommended PSU	550W-15%	650W
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	2x 8-pin
Length	256mm	279mm
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	2
Temp (Load)	98°C	—
Perf/Watt	28.8+56%	18.5

💰

Value Analysis

At launch, the GeForce GTX 680 came in at $499, while the GeForce GTX 690 launched at $999. On MSRP, GeForce GTX 680 was 50.1% cheaper ($500 less). Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 11.2 (GeForce GTX 680) vs 5.5 (GeForce GTX 690) — the GeForce GTX 680 offers 103.6% better value.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 690
MSRP	$499-50%	$999
Performance per Dollar	11.2+104%	5.5
Codename	GK104	GK104
Release	March 22 2012	May 3 2012
Ranking	#410	#414

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