
GeForce GTX 680
Popular choices:

Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)
Popular choices:
Performance Spectrum - 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.
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
2012Why buy it
- β Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 11.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
Trade-offs
- βVery weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
- β1200% higher power demand at 195W vs 15W.
Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)
2023Why buy it
- β More future proof: Xe LPG (2023) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
- β Draws 15W instead of 195W, a 180W reduction.
- β More future proof: Xe LPG (2023) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
Trade-offs
- βLower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 11.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
GeForce GTX 680
2012Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)
2023Why buy it
- β Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 11.2 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
Why buy it
- β More future proof: Xe LPG (2023) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
- β Draws 15W instead of 195W, a 180W reduction.
- β More future proof: Xe LPG (2023) on 5nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.
Trade-offs
- βVery weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
- β1200% higher power demand at 195W vs 15W.
Trade-offs
- βLower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 11.2 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
Quick Answers
So, is GeForce GTX 680 better than Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)?
Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?
Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?
When does Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) make more sense than GeForce GTX 680?
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.

Path of Exile 2
| Preset | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 78 FPS | 85 FPS |
| medium | 66 FPS | 74 FPS |
| high | 53 FPS | 54 FPS |
| ultra | 35 FPS | 35 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 68 FPS | 69 FPS |
| medium | 60 FPS | 60 FPS |
| high | 42 FPS | 40 FPS |
| ultra | 27 FPS | 25 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 25 FPS | 26 FPS |
| medium | 23 FPS | 25 FPS |
| high | 15 FPS | 16 FPS |
| ultra | 13 FPS | 14 FPS |

Counter-Strike 2
| Preset | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 116 FPS | 121 FPS |
| medium | 86 FPS | 85 FPS |
| high | 66 FPS | 58 FPS |
| ultra | 43 FPS | 39 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 64 FPS | 80 FPS |
| medium | 44 FPS | 48 FPS |
| high | 32 FPS | 35 FPS |
| ultra | 23 FPS | 26 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 24 FPS | 38 FPS |
| medium | 17 FPS | 25 FPS |
| high | 13 FPS | 20 FPS |
| ultra | 9 FPS | 14 FPS |

League of Legends
| Preset | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| 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 | 78 FPS |
| ultra | 63 FPS | 57 FPS |

Valorant
| Preset | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| 1080p | ||
| low | 126 FPS | 141 FPS |
| medium | 101 FPS | 109 FPS |
| high | 86 FPS | 88 FPS |
| ultra | 73 FPS | 72 FPS |
| 1440p | ||
| low | 97 FPS | 104 FPS |
| medium | 78 FPS | 81 FPS |
| high | 67 FPS | 64 FPS |
| ultra | 52 FPS | 51 FPS |
| 4K | ||
| low | 57 FPS | 63 FPS |
| medium | 44 FPS | 49 FPS |
| high | 35 FPS | 40 FPS |
| ultra | 25 FPS | 30 FPS |
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 680 and Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)

GeForce GTX 680
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.

Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)
Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)
The Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) is manufactured by Intel. It was released in December 14 2023. It features the Xe LPG architecture. The boost clock speed is 1950 MHz. It has 4 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 15W. Manufactured using 5 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,500 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 680 scores 5,609 and the Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) reaches 5,500 in the G3D Mark benchmark β just a 2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 680 is built on Kepler while the Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) uses Xe LPG, both on 28 nm vs 5 nm. Shader units: 1,536 (GeForce GTX 680) vs 4 (Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)). Boost clocks: 1058 MHz vs 1950 MHz.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 5,609+2% | 5,500 |
| Architecture | Kepler | Xe LPG |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 5 nm |
| Shading Units | 1536+38300% | 4 |
| Boost Clock | 1058 MHz | 1950 MHz+84% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
The GeForce GTX 680 gives access to NVIDIA DLSS (Deep Learning Super Sampling), widely regarding as the superior upscaling method for image quality. The Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | Upscaling support | Upscaling support |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | NVIDIA Reflex | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 4 GB of video memory. Bus width: 256-bit vs System.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | Shared |
| Memory Bandwidth | 192.2 GB/s | System |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | System |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (FL 11_0) (GeForce GTX 680) vs 12_2 (Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.3. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (FL 11_0) | 12_2 |
| Vulkan | 1.1 | 1.3+18% |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 1st gen (GeForce GTX 680) vs QuickSync (Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)). Decoder: PureVideo VP5 vs QuickSync. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 680) vs MPEG2,AVC,VP9,HEVC,AV1 (Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 1st gen | QuickSync |
| Decoder | PureVideo VP5 | QuickSync |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | MPEG2,AVC,VP9,HEVC,AV1 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 680 draws 195W versus the Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)'s 15W β a 171.4% difference. The Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 680) vs 350W (Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 256mm vs 0mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 195W | 15W-92% |
| Recommended PSU | 550W | 350W-36% |
| Power Connector | 2x 6-pin | PCIe-powered |
| Length | 256mm | 0mm |
| Height | 111mm | β |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 98Β°C | β |
| Perf/Watt | 28.8 | 366.7+1173% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 680 launched at $499 MSRP, while the Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) launched at $0. The Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) costs 100+% less ($499 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 11.2 (GeForce GTX 680) vs Infinity (Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc)) β the Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) offers Infinity% better value. The Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) is the newer GPU (2023 vs 2012).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Graphics 4-Cores iGPU (Arc) |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $499 | $0-100% |
| Performance per Dollar | 11.2 | Infinity |
| Codename | GK104 | Meteor Lake iGPU |
| Release | March 22 2012 | December 14 2023 |
| Ranking | #410 | #494 |
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