Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire vs GeForce GTX 680
Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
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GeForce GTX 680
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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. The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire is positioned at rank #123 in our cost-efficiency ranking, representing a Lower cost-benefit for your build. 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 Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire
Performance Per Dollar
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 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ✅Leading raw performance (+0.5%) | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-0.5%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2011 / Terascale 2 (2009−2015)) | 🛑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 | 📏 Compact / SFF Friendly | Standard Size (256mm) |
💎 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 | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+273.1%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($150) | ✅More affordable ($40) |
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 Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire and GeForce GTX 680
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.
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 Performance
The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire scores 5,637 and the GeForce GTX 680 reaches 5,609 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 0.5% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire is built on Terascale 2 while the GeForce GTX 680 uses Kepler, both on 40 nm vs 28 nm. Shader units: 1,920 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire) vs 1,536 (GeForce GTX 680).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 5,637 | 5,609 |
| Architecture | Terascale 2 | Kepler |
| Process Node | 40 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1920+25% | 1536 |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| Upscaling Tech | FSR 1.0 (Software) | FSR 2.1 (Compatible) |
| Frame Generation | Not Supported | FSR 3 (Compatible) |
| Ray Reconstruction | No | No |
| Low Latency | AMD Anti-Lag | Standard |
Video Memory (VRAM)
Both cards feature 4 GB of GDDR5. Memory bandwidth: 115.2 GB/s x2 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire) vs 192.2 GB/s (GeForce GTX 680) — a 66.8% advantage for the GeForce GTX 680. Bus width: 256-bit x2 vs 256-bit.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 4 GB | 4 GB |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 115.2 GB/s x2 | 192.2 GB/s+67% |
| Bus Width | 256-bit x2 | 256-bit |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 11_0 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire) vs 12 (FL 11_0) (GeForce GTX 680). Maximum simultaneous displays: 0 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 11_0 | 12 (FL 11_0)+9% |
| Max Displays | 0 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: UVD 3 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire) vs NVENC 1st gen (GeForce GTX 680). Decoder: UVD 3 vs PureVideo VP5.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | UVD 3 | NVENC 1st gen |
| Decoder | UVD 3 | PureVideo VP5 |
| Codecs | — | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire draws 50W versus the GeForce GTX 680's 195W — a 118.4% difference. The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire) vs 550W (GeForce GTX 680). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 2x 6-pin. Card length: 1mm vs 256mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots.
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 50W-74% | 195W |
| Recommended PSU | 350W-36% | 550W |
| Power Connector | 1x 6-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 1mm | 256mm |
| Height | — | 111mm |
| Slots | 0-100% | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 98°C |
| Perf/Watt | 112.7+291% | 28.8 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire launched at $150 MSRP and currently averages $150, while the GeForce GTX 680 launched at $499 and now averages $40. The GeForce GTX 680 costs 73.3% less ($110 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 37.6 (Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire) vs 140.2 (GeForce GTX 680) — the GeForce GTX 680 offers 272.9% better value. The GeForce GTX 680 is the newer GPU (2012 vs 2011).
| Feature | Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $150-70% | $499 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $150 | $40-73% |
| Performance per Dollar | 37.6 | 140.2+273% |
| Codename | Blackcomb XT | GK104 |
| Release | January 6 2011 | March 22 2012 |
| Ranking | #537 | #410 |
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The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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