GeForce GTX 680 vs GRID M60-8A

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

✅Costs $2,001 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $2,500 MSRP).
✅Delivers 408.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 11.2 vs 2.2 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $2,500 MSRP).
✅Draws 195W instead of 225W, a 30W reduction.

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.
❌25500% longer card at 256mm vs 1mm.

GRID M60-8A

2015

Why buy it

✅Measures 1mm instead of 256mm, a 255mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.
✅More future proof: Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) on 28nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌
401% HIGHER MSRP
$2,500 MSRPvs$499 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.2 vs 11.2 G3D/$ ($2,500 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌15.4% higher power demand at 225W vs 195W.

GeForce GTX 680

2012

GRID M60-8A

2015

Why buy it

✅Costs $2,001 less on MSRP ($499 MSRP vs $2,500 MSRP).
✅Delivers 408.8% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 11.2 vs 2.2 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs $2,500 MSRP).
✅Draws 195W instead of 225W, a 30W reduction.

Why buy it

✅Measures 1mm instead of 256mm, a 255mm shorter card that is more SFF-friendly.
✅More future proof: Maxwell 2.0 (2014−2019) 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.
❌25500% longer card at 256mm vs 1mm.

Trade-offs

❌Very weak future-proofing: 2015-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌
401% HIGHER MSRP
$2,500 MSRPvs$499 MSRP
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 2.2 vs 11.2 G3D/$ ($2,500 MSRP vs $499 MSRP).
❌15.4% higher power demand at 225W vs 195W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 680 better than GRID M60-8A?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 5,609 vs 5,523 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer GeForce GTX 680 is the overall package: you are getting no meaningful modern upscaling stack.

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 can still make sense if you find it at the right price, especially around $499 MSRP. GeForce GTX 680 is still the smarter buy for most people, though, because the raw performance is close while the overall package is cleaner. GeForce GTX 680 is about $2,001 cheaper on MSRP at $499 MSRP versus $2,500 MSRP, and you are getting 1.6% higher G3D Mark. GRID M60-8A is the newer 2015 card, so it still has a real case if you care more about newer architecture than about squeezing out the strongest gaming value today.

When does GRID M60-8A make more sense than GeForce GTX 680?

Yes. GRID M60-8A 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 and staying closer to $2,500 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 680. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 680 currently gives you 1.6% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 408.8%.

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

GRID M60-8A Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 680	GRID M60-8A
1080p
low	78 FPS	104 FPS
medium	66 FPS	90 FPS
high	53 FPS	73 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	44 FPS
1440p
low	68 FPS	91 FPS
medium	60 FPS	80 FPS
high	42 FPS	58 FPS
ultra	27 FPS	33 FPS
4K
low	25 FPS	29 FPS
medium	23 FPS	27 FPS
high	15 FPS	18 FPS
ultra	13 FPS	16 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680 Open GRID M60-8A

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 680	GRID M60-8A
1080p
low	116 FPS	162 FPS
medium	86 FPS	128 FPS
high	66 FPS	94 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	75 FPS
1440p
low	64 FPS	119 FPS
medium	44 FPS	92 FPS
high	32 FPS	74 FPS
ultra	23 FPS	57 FPS
4K
low	24 FPS	68 FPS
medium	17 FPS	52 FPS
high	13 FPS	43 FPS
ultra	9 FPS	32 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680 Open GRID M60-8A

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 680	GRID M60-8A
1080p
low	252 FPS	249 FPS
medium	202 FPS	199 FPS
high	168 FPS	166 FPS
ultra	126 FPS	124 FPS
1440p
low	189 FPS	186 FPS
medium	151 FPS	149 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	83 FPS
ultra	63 FPS	62 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680 Open GRID M60-8A

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 680	GRID M60-8A
1080p
low	126 FPS	182 FPS
medium	101 FPS	148 FPS
high	86 FPS	133 FPS
ultra	73 FPS	103 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	132 FPS
medium	78 FPS	110 FPS
high	67 FPS	99 FPS
ultra	52 FPS	77 FPS
4K
low	57 FPS	77 FPS
medium	44 FPS	60 FPS
high	35 FPS	49 FPS
ultra	25 FPS	36 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680 Open GRID M60-8A

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 680 and GRID M60-8A

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.

GRID M60-8A

The GRID M60-8A is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 30 2015. It features the Maxwell 2.0 architecture. The core clock ranges from 557 MHz to 1178 MHz. It has 2048 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 225W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,523 points.

⚡

Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 680 scores 5,609 and the GRID M60-8A reaches 5,523 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.6% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 680 is built on Kepler while the GRID M60-8A uses Maxwell 2.0, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,536 (GeForce GTX 680) vs 2,048 (GRID M60-8A). Raw compute: 3.25 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 680) vs 4.825 TFLOPS (GRID M60-8A). Boost clocks: 1058 MHz vs 1178 MHz.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GRID M60-8A
G3D Mark Score	5,609+2%	5,523
Architecture	Kepler	Maxwell 2.0
Process Node	28 nm	28 nm
Shading Units	1536	2048+33%
Compute (TFLOPS)	3.25 TFLOPS	4.825 TFLOPS+48%
Boost Clock	1058 MHz	1178 MHz+11%
ROPs	32	64+100%
TMUs	128	128
L1 Cache	128 KB	768 KB+500%
L2 Cache	0.5 MB	2 MB+300%

✨

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 GRID M60-8A relies on FSR (FidelityFX Super Resolution), which is capable but generally slightly noisier than DLSS in motion.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GRID M60-8A
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 128-bit. L2 Cache: 0.5 MB (GeForce GTX 680) vs 2 MB (GRID M60-8A) — the GRID M60-8A has significantly larger on-die cache to reduce VRAM reliance.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GRID M60-8A
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	4 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Bus Width	256-bit+100%	128-bit
L2 Cache	0.5 MB	2 MB+300%

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (FL 11_0) (GeForce GTX 680) vs 12_1 (GRID M60-8A). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 0.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GRID M60-8A
DirectX	12 (FL 11_0)	12_1
Max Displays	4	0

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 680 draws 195W versus the GRID M60-8A's 225W — a 14.3% difference. The GeForce GTX 680 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 680) vs 350W (GRID M60-8A). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs PCIe-powered. Card length: 256mm vs 1mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680	GRID M60-8A
TDP	195W-13%	225W
Recommended PSU	550W	350W-36%
Power Connector	2x 6-pin	PCIe-powered
Length	256mm	1mm
Height	111mm	—
Slots	2	0-100%
Temp (Load)	98°C	—
Perf/Watt	28.8+18%	24.5

💰

Value Analysis

The GeForce GTX 680 launched at $499 MSRP, while the GRID M60-8A launched at $2500. The GeForce GTX 680 costs 80% less ($2001 savings) on MSRP. Performance per dollar on MSRP (G3D Mark / MSRP): 11.2 (GeForce GTX 680) vs 2.2 (GRID M60-8A) — the GeForce GTX 680 offers 409.1% better value. The GRID M60-8A is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2012).