GeForce GTX 680 vs GeForce GTX 970M SLI

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.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 680

2012

Why buy it

✅25.5% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 11.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌Very weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌20.4% higher power demand at 195W vs 162W.

GeForce GTX 970M SLI

2014

Why buy it

✅Draws 162W instead of 195W, a 33W reduction.
✅More future proof: Maxwell (2014−2017) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 680 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 11.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

GeForce GTX 680

2012

GeForce GTX 970M SLI

2014

Why buy it

✅25.5% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 11.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).

Why buy it

✅Draws 162W instead of 195W, a 33W reduction.
✅More future proof: Maxwell (2014−2017) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Very weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌20.4% higher power demand at 195W vs 162W.

Trade-offs

❌Lower average FPS than GeForce GTX 680 across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data.
❌Very weak future-proofing: 2014-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 11.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 680 better than GeForce GTX 970M SLI?

Yes. GeForce GTX 680 is the better GPU overall here. You are getting 25.5% more average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 2% higher PassMark G3D performance. It also comes from 2012 instead of 2014, which helps its case as the more complete modern gaming card.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce GTX 680 is the safer long-term GPU choice because it gives you the stronger overall hardware and feature outlook for modern games.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce GTX 680 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce GTX 680 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $499 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 25.5% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data and 2.0% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. GeForce GTX 970M SLI is the newer 2014 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture and lower power draw (162W vs 195W) than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GeForce GTX 970M SLI make more sense than GeForce GTX 680?

Yes. GeForce GTX 970M SLI is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (162W vs 195W), and staying closer to an unclear MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 680. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 680 currently gives you 2.0% higher G3D Mark and 25.5% more estimated average FPS across 49 tracked games in our benchmark data. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 680 Benchmark Check

GeForce GTX 970M SLI Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 970M SLI
1080p
low	78 FPS	38 FPS
medium	66 FPS	32 FPS
high	53 FPS	22 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	14 FPS
1440p
low	68 FPS	31 FPS
medium	60 FPS	24 FPS
high	42 FPS	15 FPS
ultra	27 FPS	9 FPS
4K
low	25 FPS	11 FPS
medium	23 FPS	9 FPS
high	15 FPS	6 FPS
ultra	13 FPS	5 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680 Open GeForce GTX 970M SLI

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 970M SLI
1080p
low	116 FPS	86 FPS
medium	86 FPS	59 FPS
high	66 FPS	42 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	28 FPS
1440p
low	64 FPS	48 FPS
medium	44 FPS	28 FPS
high	32 FPS	20 FPS
ultra	23 FPS	14 FPS
4K
low	24 FPS	16 FPS
medium	17 FPS	10 FPS
high	13 FPS	8 FPS
ultra	9 FPS	6 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680 Open GeForce GTX 970M SLI

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 970M SLI
1080p
low	252 FPS	248 FPS
medium	202 FPS	198 FPS
high	168 FPS	165 FPS
ultra	126 FPS	124 FPS
1440p
low	189 FPS	186 FPS
medium	151 FPS	148 FPS
high	126 FPS	124 FPS
ultra	95 FPS	93 FPS
4K
low	126 FPS	124 FPS
medium	101 FPS	99 FPS
high	84 FPS	82 FPS
ultra	63 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680 Open GeForce GTX 970M SLI

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 970M SLI
1080p
low	126 FPS	110 FPS
medium	101 FPS	86 FPS
high	86 FPS	60 FPS
ultra	73 FPS	40 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	68 FPS
medium	78 FPS	49 FPS
high	67 FPS	37 FPS
ultra	52 FPS	26 FPS
4K
low	57 FPS	36 FPS
medium	44 FPS	25 FPS
high	35 FPS	19 FPS
ultra	25 FPS	13 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680 Open GeForce GTX 970M SLI

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 680 and GeForce GTX 970M SLI

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 970M SLI

The GeForce GTX 970M SLI is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 7 2014. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 924 MHz to 1038 MHz. It has 2560 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 162W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,500 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 680 scores 5,609 and the GeForce GTX 970M SLI reaches 5,500 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 680 is built on Kepler while the GeForce GTX 970M SLI uses Maxwell, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,536 (GeForce GTX 680) vs 2,560 (GeForce GTX 970M SLI). Boost clocks: 1058 MHz vs 1038 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 970M SLI
G3D Mark Score	5,609+2%	5,500
Architecture	Kepler	Maxwell
Process Node	28 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	1536	2560+67%
Boost Clock	1058 MHz+2%	1038 MHz

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 970M SLI
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)

Both cards feature 4 GB of GDDR5. Memory bandwidth: 192.2 GB/s (GeForce GTX 680) vs 120 GB/s x2 (GeForce GTX 970M SLI) — a 525.4% advantage for the GeForce GTX 970M SLI. Bus width: 256-bit vs 192-bit x2.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 970M SLI
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Memory Bandwidth	192.2 GB/s+60%	120 GB/s x2
Bus Width	256-bit+33%	192-bit x2

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (FL 11_0) (GeForce GTX 680) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce GTX 970M SLI). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.4. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 970M SLI
DirectX	12 (FL 11_0)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.1	1.2+9%
OpenGL	4.6+5%	4.4
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC 1st gen (GeForce GTX 680) vs NVENC (GeForce GTX 970M SLI). Decoder: PureVideo VP5 vs PureVideo HD (VP6). Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 680) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC (GeForce GTX 970M SLI).

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 970M SLI
Encoder	NVENC 1st gen	NVENC
Decoder	PureVideo VP5	PureVideo HD (VP6)
Codecs	H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2	H.264,H.265/HEVC

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 680 draws 195W versus the GeForce GTX 970M SLI's 162W — a 18.5% difference. The GeForce GTX 970M SLI is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 680) vs 350W (GeForce GTX 970M SLI). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin. Card length: 256mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots. Typical load temperature: 98°C vs 80°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GeForce GTX 970M SLI
TDP	195W	162W-17%
Recommended PSU	550W	350W-36%
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	1x 6-pin
Length	256mm	0mm
Height	111mm	0mm
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	98°C	80°C-18%
Perf/Watt	28.8	34.0+18%