GeForce GTX 680 vs Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
GeForce GTX 680
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Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
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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.
Value Upgrade Path
This is the official ChipVERSUS Value Rating, comparing raw performance (G3D Mark) per dollar. Components placed above yours deliver better value for money.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar
Performance Per Dollar Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.5% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the GeForce GTX 680.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 680 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.5%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / Terascale 2 (2009−2015)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | Standard Size (256mm) | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly |
💎 Value Proposition
The GeForce GTX 680 offers a compelling cost-to-performance ratio. While both GPUs are considered legacy components by modern standards, the GeForce GTX 680 holds the technical lead. Priced at $40 (vs $150), it costs 73% less, resulting in a 273.1% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 680 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+273.1%) | ❌Lower cost efficiency |
| Upfront Cost | ✅More affordable ($40) | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($150) |
Performance Check
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 7800X3D 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.
Technical Specifications
Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 680 and Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
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.
Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire is manufactured by AMD. It was released in January 6 2011. It features the Terascale 2 architecture. The core clock speed is 680 MHz. It has 1920 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 50W. Manufactured using 40 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,637 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 680 scores 5,609 and the Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire reaches 5,637 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 680 is built on Kepler while the Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire uses Terascale 2, both on 28 nm vs 40 nm. Shader units: 1,536 (GeForce GTX 680) vs 1,920 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 5,609 | 5,637 |
| Architecture | Kepler | Terascale 2 |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 40 nm |
| Shading Units | 1536 | 1920+25% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | FSR 1.0 (Software) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | Not Supported |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | AMD Anti-Lag |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 4 GB of GDDR5. Memory bandwidth: 192.2 GB/s (GeForce GTX 680) vs 115.2 GB/s x2 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire) — a 66.8% advantage for the GeForce GTX 680. Bus width: 256-bit vs 256-bit x2.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 192.2 GB/s+67% | 115.2 GB/s x2 |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | 256-bit x2 |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (FL 11_0) (GeForce GTX 680) vs 11_0 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire). Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 0.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (FL 11_0)+9% | 11_0 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 0 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: NVENC 1st gen (GeForce GTX 680) vs UVD 3 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire). Decoder: PureVideo VP5 vs UVD 3.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | NVENC 1st gen | UVD 3 |
| Decoder | PureVideo VP5 | UVD 3 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | — |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 680 draws 195W versus the Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire's 50W — a 118.4% difference. The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 550W (GeForce GTX 680) vs 350W (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 1x 6-pin. Card length: 256mm vs 1mm, occupying 2 vs 0 slots.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 195W | 50W-74% |
| Recommended PSU | 550W | 350W-36% |
| Power Connector | 2x 6-pin | 1x 6-pin |
| Length | 256mm | 1mm |
| Height | 111mm | — |
| Slots | 2 | 0-100% |
| Temp (Load) | 98°C | — |
| Perf/Watt | 28.8 | 112.7+291% |
Value Analysis
The GeForce GTX 680 launched at $499 MSRP and currently averages $40, while the Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire launched at $150 and now averages $150. The GeForce GTX 680 costs 73.3% less ($110 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 140.2 (GeForce GTX 680) vs 37.6 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire) — the GeForce GTX 680 offers 272.9% better value. The GeForce GTX 680 is the newer GPU (2012 vs 2011).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 680 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $499 | $150-70% |
| Avg Price (30d) | $40-73% | $150 |
| Performance per Dollar | 140.2+273% | 37.6 |
| Codename | GK104 | Blackcomb XT |
| Release | March 22 2012 | January 6 2011 |
| Ranking | #410 | #537 |
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