Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) vs GeForce GTX 680M SLI
Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
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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 Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is positioned at rank 222 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 Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
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 2% higher G3D Mark score. This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5).
| Insight | Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-2%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+2%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2015 / Maxwell (2014−2017)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+0%) |
| Efficiency | 💡 Excellent Perf/Watt | ⚡ Higher Power Consumption |
| 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 Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) and GeForce GTX 680M SLI
Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)
The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is manufactured by an unknown manufacturer. It was released in October 1 2015. It features the Maxwell architecture. The core clock ranges from 954 MHz to 993 MHz. It has 384 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 30W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,500 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 Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) scores 3,500 and the GeForce GTX 680M SLI reaches 3,569 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is built on Maxwell while the GeForce GTX 680M SLI uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 384 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)) vs 2,688 (GeForce GTX 680M SLI).
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 3,500 | 3,569+2% |
| Architecture | Maxwell | Kepler |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 384 | 2688+600% |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | Standard | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 2 GB of GDDR5. Bus width: 128-bit vs 256-bit.
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 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) (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)) vs 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 680M SLI). Vulkan: 1.1 vs 1.2. OpenGL: 4.5 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 2 vs 4.
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 12 (11_0) |
| Vulkan | 1.1 | 1.2+9% |
| OpenGL | 4.5 | 4.6+2% |
| Max Displays | 2 | 4+100% |
Media & Encoding
Decoder: NVDEC 1st Gen vs VP5. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 (GeForce GTX 680M SLI).
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | — | NVENC (1st Gen) |
| Decoder | NVDEC 1st Gen | VP5 |
| Codecs | H.264,MPEG-2,VC-1 | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2,MPEG-4 |
Power & Dimensions
The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) draws 30W versus the GeForce GTX 680M SLI's 75W — a 85.7% difference. The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5)) vs 350W (GeForce GTX 680M SLI). Power connectors: PCIe-powered vs 1x 6-pin. Typical load temperature: 75 vs 80°C.
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 30W-60% | 75W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W | 350W |
| Power Connector | PCIe-powered | 1x 6-pin |
| Slots | 0 | — |
| Temp (Load) | 75-6% | 80°C |
| Perf/Watt | 116.7+145% | 47.6 |
Value Analysis
The Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) is the newer GPU (2015 vs 2012).
| Feature | Maxwell GPU Surface Book (940M, GDDR5) | GeForce GTX 680M SLI |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150 | — |
| Avg Price (30d) | $75 | — |
| Codename | Surface Book | N13E-GTX |
| Release | October 1 2015 | June 4 2012 |
| Ranking | #782 | #385 |
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