Radeon R9 285 / 380 vs GeForce GTX 680
Radeon R9 285 / 380
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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. 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
Performance Comparison
About G3D Mark🏆 Chipversus Verdict
🚀 Performance Leadership
The GeForce GTX 680 is the superior choice for raw performance. It leads with a 1.1% higher G3D Mark score and 100% more VRAM (4 GB vs 2 GB). This advantage makes it significantly better for higher resolutions (1440p/4K) and graphic-intensive titles compared to the Radeon R9 285 / 380.
| Insight | Radeon R9 285 / 380 | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| Performance | ❌Lower raw frame rates (-1.1%) | ✅Leading raw performance (+1.1%) |
| Longevity | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2014 / GCN 3.0 (2014−2019)) | 🛑Obsolete Architecture (2012 / Kepler (2012−2018)) |
| Ecosystem | Supports FSR Upscaling | Supports FSR Upscaling |
| VRAM | ❌ Less VRAM capacity | ✅ More VRAM (+100%) |
| Efficiency | Normal Efficiency | Normal Efficiency |
| 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 $199), it costs 80% less, resulting in a 402.8% higher cost efficiency score.
| Insight | Radeon R9 285 / 380 | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| Cost Efficiency | ❌Lower cost efficiency | ✅Better overall value (+402.8%) |
| Upfront Cost | ⚠️Higher upfront cost ($199) | ✅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 R9 285 / 380 and GeForce GTX 680
Radeon R9 285 / 380
The Radeon R9 285 / 380 is manufactured by AMD. It was released in September 2 2014. It features the GCN 3.0 architecture. The core clock speed is 918 MHz. It has 1792 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 190W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 5,550 points. Launch price was $249.
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 R9 285 / 380 scores 5,550 and the GeForce GTX 680 reaches 5,609 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 1.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The Radeon R9 285 / 380 is built on GCN 3.0 while the GeForce GTX 680 uses Kepler, both on a 28 nm process. Shader units: 1,792 (Radeon R9 285 / 380) vs 1,536 (GeForce GTX 680). Raw compute: 3.29 TFLOPS (Radeon R9 285 / 380) vs 3.25 TFLOPS (GeForce GTX 680).
| Feature | Radeon R9 285 / 380 | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| G3D Mark Score | 5,550 | 5,609+1% |
| Architecture | GCN 3.0 | Kepler |
| Process Node | 28 nm | 28 nm |
| Shading Units | 1792+17% | 1536 |
| Compute (TFLOPS) | 3.29 TFLOPS+1% | 3.25 TFLOPS |
| ROPs | 32 | 32 |
| TMUs | 112 | 128+14% |
| L1 Cache | 448 KB+250% | 128 KB |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)
| Feature | Radeon R9 285 / 380 | 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)
The Radeon R9 285 / 380 comes with 2 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce GTX 680 has 4 GB. The GeForce GTX 680 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 176 GB/s (Radeon R9 285 / 380) vs 192.2 GB/s (GeForce GTX 680) — a 9.2% advantage for the GeForce GTX 680. Bus width: 256-bit vs 256-bit.
| Feature | Radeon R9 285 / 380 | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| VRAM Capacity | 2 GB | 4 GB+100% |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 | GDDR5 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 176 GB/s | 192.2 GB/s+9% |
| Bus Width | 256-bit | 256-bit |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | 512 KB |
Display & API Support
DirectX support: 12 (Radeon R9 285 / 380) vs 12 (FL 11_0) (GeForce GTX 680). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.1. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.
| Feature | Radeon R9 285 / 380 | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| DirectX | 12 | 12 (FL 11_0) |
| Vulkan | 1.2+9% | 1.1 |
| OpenGL | 4.6 | 4.6 |
| Max Displays | 4 | 4 |
Media & Encoding
Hardware encoder: VCE 3.0 (Radeon R9 285 / 380) vs NVENC 1st gen (GeForce GTX 680). Decoder: UVD 5.0 vs PureVideo VP5. Supported codecs: H.264,HEVC,VP9 (Radeon R9 285 / 380) vs H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 (GeForce GTX 680).
| Feature | Radeon R9 285 / 380 | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| Encoder | VCE 3.0 | NVENC 1st gen |
| Decoder | UVD 5.0 | PureVideo VP5 |
| Codecs | H.264,HEVC,VP9 | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The Radeon R9 285 / 380 draws 190W versus the GeForce GTX 680's 195W — a 2.6% difference. The Radeon R9 285 / 380 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 500W (Radeon R9 285 / 380) vs 550W (GeForce GTX 680). Power connectors: 2x 6-pin vs 2x 6-pin. Card length: 221mm vs 256mm, occupying 2 vs 2 slots.
| Feature | Radeon R9 285 / 380 | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| TDP | 190W-3% | 195W |
| Recommended PSU | 500W-9% | 550W |
| Power Connector | 2x 6-pin | 2x 6-pin |
| Length | 221mm | 256mm |
| Height | 111mm | 111mm |
| Slots | 2 | 2 |
| Temp (Load) | — | 98°C |
| Perf/Watt | 29.2+1% | 28.8 |
Value Analysis
The Radeon R9 285 / 380 launched at $199 MSRP and currently averages $199, while the GeForce GTX 680 launched at $499 and now averages $40. The GeForce GTX 680 costs 79.9% less ($159 savings) at current market prices. Performance per dollar (G3D Mark / price): 27.9 (Radeon R9 285 / 380) vs 140.2 (GeForce GTX 680) — the GeForce GTX 680 offers 402.5% better value. The Radeon R9 285 / 380 is the newer GPU (2014 vs 2012).
| Feature | Radeon R9 285 / 380 | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|---|
| MSRP | $199-60% | $499 |
| Avg Price (30d) | $199 | $40-80% |
| Performance per Dollar | 27.9 | 140.2+403% |
| Codename | Tonga | GK104 |
| Release | September 2 2014 | March 22 2012 |
| Ranking | #365 | #410 |
Top Performing GPUs
The most powerful gpus ranked by G3D Mark benchmark scores.
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