GeForce GTX 680
NVIDIA
G3D Mark
5,609
MSRP
$499
AVG Price
$40
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.
Overview
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.
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 GeForce GTX 680
FPS Benchmarks
Predicted performance for GeForce GTX 680 across popular games. Tested paired with Ryzen 7 7800X3D to isolate GPU performance.
Counter-Strike 2
Dead by Daylight
Genshin Impact
Honkai: Star Rail
League of Legends
Monster Hunter Wilds
Naraka: Bladepoint
Path of Exile 2
Phasmophobia
Project Zomboid
Technical Analysis
Detailed breakdown of GeForce GTX 680 specifications and capabilities.
Graphics Performance
The GeForce GTX 680 scores 5,609 in the G3D Mark benchmark (the standard measure of rasterization GPU performance), placing it in the Budget tier as a Legacy generation graphics card. It is built on the Kepler (2012−2018) architecture (codename: GK104), manufactured on a 28 nm process— smaller process nodes improve power efficiency and transistor density. It packs 1536 shader units (the primary compute units for rendering pixels), 128 TMUs (texture mapping units), and 32 ROPs (render output units that handle final pixel output). Raw FP32 compute power: 3.25 TFLOPS — this measures the theoretical peak floating-point performance. Boost clock reaches 1058 MHz from a base of 1006 MHz.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|
| G3D MarkPassMark 3D graphics benchmark score | 5,609 |
| ArchitectureGPU microarchitecture generation | Kepler (2012−2018) |
| CodenameInternal GPU die codename | GK104 |
| Manufacturing ProcessFabrication node — smaller = more efficient | 28 nm |
| Shader UnitsCore compute units for rendering/compute | 1536 |
| TMUsTexture Mapping Units — handle texture sampling | 128 |
| ROPsRender Output Units — final pixel/color blending | 32 |
| Boost ClockMaximum GPU frequency under load | 1058 MHz |
| Base ClockGuaranteed minimum GPU frequency | 1006 MHz |
| Compute (FP32)Peak single-precision floating-point performance | 3.25 TFLOPS |
| Texture Fill RateTextures processed per second | 135.4 GTexel/s |
| PCIe InterfaceCPU↔GPU data link generation | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Transistor Count | 3,540 million |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #410 |
Video Memory (VRAM)
The GeForce GTX 680 is equipped with 4 GB of GDDR5 video memory connected via a 256-bit memory bus, delivering 192.2 GB/s of bandwidth. Memory operates at 8 Gbps effective speed.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|
| VRAM SizeVideo memory capacity — more = better for high-res textures | 4 GB |
| VRAM TypeMemory technology generation | GDDR5 |
| Memory BusWidth of data path — wider = more bandwidth | 256-bit |
| Memory SpeedEffective memory data rate | 8 Gbps |
| BandwidthMaximum data throughput between GPU and VRAM | 192.2 GB/s |
| L1 Cache | 128 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB |
Advanced Features & APIs
Graphics API support: DirectX 12 (FL 11_0), Vulkan 1.1, OpenGL 4.6— latest API versions enable the most advanced rendering features like ray tracing and mesh shaders.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|
| NVIDIA Reflex | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Frame Generation | ❌ Not Supported |
| DLSS Super Resolution | ❌ Not Supported |
| DirectXMicrosoft graphics API version | 12 (FL 11_0) |
| VulkanCross-platform graphics API | 1.1 |
| OpenGLLegacy graphics API | 4.6 |
| Compute APIGPGPU framework (CUDA/ROCm/OpenCL) | CUDA |
Display & Media
Display outputs: 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, 1x DisplayPort 1.2 — supports up to 4 simultaneous displays. Hardware encoder: NVENC 1st gen, decoder: PureVideo VP5— dedicated hardware for video encoding/decoding accelerates streaming, recording, and video playback. Supported codecs: H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|
| DVI PortsNumber of DVI display connectors | 2x |
| HDMI 1.4a PortsNumber of HDMI 1.4a display connectors | 1x |
| DisplayPort 1.2 PortsNumber of DisplayPort 1.2 display connectors | 1x |
| Max DisplaysMaximum simultaneously connected monitors | 4 |
| Hardware EncoderVideo encoding engine version | NVENC 1st gen |
| Hardware DecoderVideo decoding engine version | PureVideo VP5 |
| CodecsSupported video compression formats | H.264,VC-1,MPEG-2 |
Power & Dimensions
The GeForce GTX 680 draws 195 Watt under load (TDP) — a 550W PSU minimum is recommended. Power connector: 2x 6-pin. Physical size: 256mm long, 111mm tall, occupying 2 expansion slots, weighing 1130g— verify your case has clearance before purchasing. Typical temperatures: 98°C under load.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|
| TDPPower consumption under load | 195 Watt |
| Recommended PSUMinimum power supply wattage | 550W |
| Power ConnectorRequired PCIe power cable type | 2x 6-pin |
| Card LengthGPU card length — check case clearance | 256mm |
| Card Height | 111mm |
| Slot WidthExpansion slots occupied | 2-slot |
| Weight | 1130g |
| Load TemperatureTypical temperature under gaming load | 98°C |
Value Analysis
At an average price of $40 (MSRP: $499), the GeForce GTX 680 delivers 140 G3D Mark points per dollar. Overall performance ranking position: #410 among all indexed GPUs.
| Specification | GeForce GTX 680 |
|---|---|
| MSRPManufacturer's Suggested Retail Price | $499 |
| Avg Price (30d)Average market price over the last 30 days | $40 |
| Performance RankPosition in global GPU performance ranking | #410 |
| Release Date | March 22 2012 |
| Release Year | 2012 |
Specifications Reference
Raw spec sheet for quick lookup. The analysis cards above explain what these fields mean in practice.
2 categories
Technical Specifications
19 specs
Technical Specifications
19 specs
| ROPs | 32 |
| TMUs | 128 |
| Vram | 4 GB |
| L1 Cache | 128 kB |
| L2 Cache | 512 kB |
| Core Clock | 1006 MHz |
| Boost Clock | 1058 MHz |
| Memory Type | GDDR5 |
| Memory Speed | 8 Gbps |
| Shading Units | 1536 |
| PCIe Generation | PCIe 3.0 x16 |
| Memory Bandwidth | 192.2 GB/s |
| Memory Bus Width | 256-bit |
| Transistor Count | 3,540 million |
| Frame Generation | NVIDIA Reflex: No | DLSS Frame Generation: No | DLSS Super Resolution: No |
| Texture Fill Rate | 135.4 |
| Manufacturing Process | 28 nm |
| Power Consumption (TDP) | 195 Watt |
| Floating Point Performance | 3.25 TFLOPS |
General Information
5 specs
General Information
5 specs
| Codename | GK104 |
| Architecture | Kepler (2012−2018) |
| Launch Price | $499 |
| Release Date | March 22 2012 |
| Performance Ranking Position | 410 |
Similar Performance
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Our Recommendation for GeForce GTX 680
Suggested pairings based on performance balance
Minimum (Avoid Bottleneck) (12)
Recommended (Balanced) (12)
High-End (Max Performance) (12)
Popular Comparisons
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