GeForce GTX 870M vs GeForce GTX 680M SLI
GeForce GTX 870M
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GeForce GTX 680M SLI
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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. The GeForce GTX 870M is positioned at rank 143 and the GeForce GTX 680M SLI is on rank 141, so the GeForce GTX 680M SLI offers better cost-efficiency for playing games.
Avg price is the current average price collected from markets across the web.
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 870M
Performance Per Dollar GeForce GTX 680M SLI
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GTX 680M SLI is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 0.9% higher G3D Mark score. However, the GeForce GTX 870M offers more VRAM, which may be beneficial for texture-heavy scenarios at higher resolutions.
| Insight | GeForce GTX 870M | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.9%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.9%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / Kepler (2012−2018)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ✅ More VRAM (+200%) | ❌ Less VRAM capacity |
| Efficiency | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt |
| Case Fit | — | — |
💎 Value Proposition
While current pricing data is unavailable, the GeForce GTX 680M SLI remains the clear technical winner. Check real-time availability to determine if the performance gap justifies the market price.
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 870M and GeForce GTX 680M SLI
GeForce GTX 870M
The GeForce GTX 870M is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in March 12 2014. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock ranges from 941 MHz to 967 MHz. It has 1344 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 100W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,536 points.
GeForce GTX 680M SLI
The GeForce GTX 680M SLI is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in June 4 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 720 MHz. It has 2688 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 75W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,569 points.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 870M scores 3,536 and the GeForce GTX 680M SLI reaches 3,569 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.9% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 870M is built on Kepler while the GeForce GTX 680M SLI uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,344 (GeForce GTX 870M) vs 2,688 (GeForce GTX 680M SLI).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 870M | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,536 | 3,569 |
| Architecture | Kepler | Kepler |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1344 | 2688+100% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | GeForce GTX 870M | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) |
| Frame Generation | FSR 3 (Compatible) | FSR 3 (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 870M comes with 6 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 680M SLI has 2 GB. The GeForce GTX 870M offers 200% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Bus width: 128-bit vs 256-bit.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 870M | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 6 GB+200% | 2 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | Unknown | Unknown |
| Bus Width | 128-bit | 256-bit+100% |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 870M) vs 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 680M SLI). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 870M | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 12 (11_0) |
| Vulkan | 1.2 | 1.2 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: 1st Gen NVENC (Kepler) (GeForce GTX 870M) vs NVENC (1st Gen) (GeForce GTX 680M SLI). Decoder: PureVideo HD VP5 vs VP5. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 870M) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 (GeForce GTX 680M SLI).
| Feature | GeForce GTX 870M | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | 1st Gen NVENC (Kepler) | NVENC (1st Gen) |
| Decoder | PureVideo HD VP5 | VP5 |
| Codecs | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 870M draws 100W versus the GeForce GTX 680M SLI's 75W — a 28.6% difference. The GeForce GTX 680M SLI is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 870M) vs 350W (GeForce GTX 680M SLI). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 1x 6-pin. Typical load temperature: 85°C vs 80°C.
| Feature | GeForce GTX 870M | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 100W | 75W-25% |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 1x 6-pin |
| Slots | 0 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 85°C | 80°C-6% |
| Perf/Watt | 35.4 | 47.6+34% |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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