NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI is a high-end DirectX 11-compatible graphics card for laptops, consisting of two GeForce GTX 680M. Each card has a 28nm GK104 core based on the Kepler architecture. Compared to the desktop GeForce GTX 670, the GTX 680M also features 1344 CUDA cores, but the mobile counterpart operates at reduced core and memory clock speeds (720/1800MHz vs 915-980/3004MHz). The clocks for the SLI-setup are identical. With SLI, each card usually renders a single frame (AFR mode). Therefore, it may suffer from micro stuttering in low fps ranges of 30fps. This happens because of different timespans between two frames (e.g., irregular delays between sequential frames).

Architecture

The Kepler architecture is the successor to the Fermi architecture that first appeared in laptops with the GeForce 400M series. The GK104 Kepler core offers eight shader blocks, called SMX, that are clocked at the same speed as the central core. Although more shader cores are available in the Kepler architecture as compared to the Fermi design, the Kepler shaders are still expected to be up to twice as power efficient. However, due to the missing hot clock of the shader domain, two shaders of a Kepler chip are of similar speed to one shader of a Fermi chip (as the latter is clocked twice as fast). PCIe 3.0 is now supported by the mobile Kepler series and an optional Turbo mode can automatically overclock the Nvidia card by a theoretical 15 percent if the laptop cooling system allows it. The implementation of this boost mode is done in the BIOS, but it is ultimately dependent upon the manufacturer of the laptop.

Performance

The graphics performance of the GeForce GTX 680M SLI is on the same level as the Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire, thus making both the fastest mobile solution as of summer 2012. In our Benchmarks, the 680M SLI is just marginal in front. The GPUs have enough power to run games of 2012 fluently with Full HD resolution, maxed out graphical settings and antialiasing. Even extremely demanding titles like Metro 2033, Alan Wake or Risen 2 are playable at the highest detail settings.

Features

The improved feature set now includes support for up to 4 active displays. Furthermore, high resolution monitors of up to 3840x2160 pixels can now be connected using DisplayPort 1.2 or HDMI 1.4a if available. HD-Audio codecs, such as Dolby TrueHD and DTS-HD, can be transmitted via bitstream mode through the HDMI port. However, as most laptops will feature Optimus, the integrated GPU will likely have direct control over the display ports and may limit the feature set available by the Nvidia Kepler cards.

The 5th generation PureVideo HD video processor (VP5) is also integrated in the GK104 core and offers hardware decoding of HD videos. Common codecs such as MPEG-1/2, MPEG-4 ASP, H.264 and VC1/WMV9 are fully supported up to 4K resolutions while VC1 and MPEG-4 are supported up to 1080p. Two streams can be decoded in parallel for features such as Picture-in-Picture. Another novelty is the inclusion of a dedicated video encoding engine similar to Intel QuickSync that can be accessed by the NVENC API.

The power consumption of the GeForce GTX 680M SLI should double compared to a single GTX 680M. Therefore, only large desktop replacements can handle the heat.

Manufacturer

NVIDIA

GeForce GTX 600M Series

GeForce GTX 680M SLI	2688 @ 0.72 GHz	2x 256 Bit @ 3600 MHz
GeForce GTX 680MX	1536 @ 0.72 GHz	256 Bit @ 5000 MHz
GeForce GTX 675M SLI	768 @ 0.62 GHz	256 Bit @ 3000 MHz
GeForce GTX 680M	1344 @ 0.72 GHz	256 Bit @ 3600 MHz
GeForce GTX 670MX SLI	1920 @ 0.6 GHz	2x 192 Bit @ 2800 MHz
GeForce GTX 675MX	960 @ 0.6 GHz	256 Bit @ 3600 MHz
GeForce GTX 675M	384 @ 0.62 GHz	256 Bit @ 3000 MHz
GeForce GTX 670MX	960 @ 0.6 GHz	192 Bit @ 2800 MHz
GeForce GTX 670M	336 @ 0.6 GHz	192 Bit @ 3000 MHz
GeForce GTX 660M	384 @ 0.84 GHz	128 Bit @ 4000 MHz

Codename

N13E-GTX

Architecture

Kepler

Pipelines

2688 - unified

Core Speed

720 MHz

Memory Speed

3600 MHz

Memory Bus Width

2x 256 Bit

Memory Type

GDDR5

Max. Amount of Memory

2x 4096 MB

Shared Memory

DirectX

DirectX 11, Shader 5.0

technology

28 nm

Features

Optimus, SLI, PhysX, Verde Drivers, CUDA, 3D Vision, 3DTV Play

Notebook Size

large

Date of Announcement

04.06.2012

Benchmarks

3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance Score

min: 9922 avg: 10053 median: 9946 (23%) max: 10292 Points

+ 3 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
EUROCOM Scorpius	3920XM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 2 GB	8 GB	9922
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	9946
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	10292

3DMark 11 - 3DM11 Performance GPU

min: 10921 avg: 10952 median: 10952 (18%) max: 10983 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications - Hide comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	10921
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	10983

AMD Radeon HD 6250 -98%

...

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M SLI -10%

AMD Radeon RX Vega M GL / 870 -10%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 970M -9%

AMD Radeon Pro WX Vega M GL -9%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 -7%

NVIDIA Quadro M4000M -6%

AMD Radeon Pro Vega 16 -3%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 960 -2%

AMD Radeon R9 280X -1%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI

AMD Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire 2%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q 2%

NVIDIA Quadro T1000 (Laptop) 3%

NVIDIA Quadro T2000 Max-Q 5%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q 8%

NVIDIA Quadro M5000M 9%

AMD Radeon R9 380 11%

AMD Radeon Pro Vega 20 12%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M 14%

...

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 Ti 459%

100%

3DMark Vantage
3DM Vant. Perf. total +

3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. total

min: 32063 avg: 33812 median: 32635 (32%) max: 36739 Points

+ 3 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	32063
EUROCOM Scorpius	3920XM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 2 GB	8 GB	32635
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	36739

3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX +

3DMark Vantage - 3DM Vant. Perf. GPU no PhysX

min: 35538 avg: 36214 median: 36213.5 (33%) max: 36889 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications - Hide comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	35538
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	36889

ATI Radeon HD 3200 -100%

...

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1050 (Desktop) -10%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 -9%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Ti Max-Q -8%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Max-Q -8%

NVIDIA Quadro T1000 (Laptop) -7%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile -7%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti Max-Q -3%

AMD Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire -3%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 980M -1%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI

AMD Radeon R9 280X 0%

AMD Radeon RX 5300M 0%

NVIDIA Quadro P3000 1%

NVIDIA Quadro T2000 Max-Q 2%

AMD Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire 4%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1060 Mobile 7%

AMD Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire 8%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile 11%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (Desktop) 12%

...

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 186%

100%

3DMark 03 - 3DMark 03 - Standard

min: 108274 avg: 108565 median: 108565 (57%) max: 108856 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	108274
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	108856

3DMark 05 - 3DMark 05 - Standard

min: 32059 avg: 32434 median: 32434 (47%) max: 32809 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications - Hide comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	32059
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	32809

Intel Graphics Media Accelerator (GMA) 500 -100%

...

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 485M SLI -8%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 670MX SLI -8%

AMD Radeon HD 6870 -7%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 470 -6%

AMD Radeon HD 6970M Crossfire -5%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580M SLI -4%

AMD Radeon HD 6970 -3%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 480 -1%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 -1%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 Mobile 3%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2070 (Desktop) 5%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Ti (Desktop) 6%

AMD Radeon RX 570 (Desktop) 6%

AMD Radeon VII 6%

NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (Desktop) 7%

AMD Radeon RX Vega 56 7%

AMD Radeon RX Vega 64 9%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 (Desktop) 10%

...

AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT 70%

100%

3DMark 06 3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024 +

3DMark 06

min: 26530 avg: 26984 median: 26983.5 (50%) max: 27437 Points

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
3DMark 06 - Standard 1280x1024
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	26530
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	27437

Unigine Heaven 3.0 - Unigine Heaven 3.0 DX 11

108 fps (36%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	107.5

Unigine Heaven 2.1 - Heaven 2.1 high

min: 131.8 avg: 135 median: 135.1 (25%) max: 138.3 fps

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications - Hide comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	131.8
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	138.3

AMD Radeon HD 7310 -100%

...

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 660 Ti -24%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 760 -24%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M -23%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 860M SLI -21%

AMD FirePro W7170M -16%

NVIDIA Quadro M3000M -16%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1650 Mobile -11%

AMD Radeon R9 M295X -7%

AMD Radeon R9 280X -7%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M SLI

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 590 1%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 3%

NVIDIA Quadro T1000 (Laptop) 11%

AMD Radeon R9 M290X Crossfire 11%

AMD Radeon HD 7970M Crossfire 12%

AMD Radeon HD 8970M Crossfire 14%

NVIDIA Quadro M5000M 15%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 780M SLI 21%

NVIDIA GeForce GTX 880M SLI 21%

...

NVIDIA Quadro RTX 5000 (Laptop) 294%

100%

SPECviewperf 11
specvp11 snx-01 +

SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 snx-01

2.1 fps (2%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	2.11

specvp11 tcvis-02 +

SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 tcvis-02

0.8 fps (1%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	0.83

specvp11 sw-02 +

SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 sw-02

9.5 fps (11%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	9.49

specvp11 proe-05 +

SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 proe-05

1.1 fps (5%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	1.14

specvp11 maya-03 +

SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 maya-03

10.7 fps (8%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	10.68

specvp11 lightwave-01 +

SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 lightwave-01

14 fps (15%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	14.01

specvp11 ensight-04 +

SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 ensight-04

19.9 fps (10%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	19.9

specvp11 catia-03 +

SPECviewperf 11 - specvp11 catia-03

9.7 fps (12%)

+ 1 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	9.73

Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Gaming graphics

7.9 Points (100%)

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	7.9
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	7.9

Windows 7 Experience Index - Win7 Graphics

7.9 Points (100%)

+ 2 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	7.9
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	7.9

Cinebench R11.5 Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit +

Cinebench R11.5 - Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64 Bit

min: 48.98 avg: 51.4 median: 52.5 (22%) max: 52.59 fps

+ 3 benchmarks and specifications + Show comparison chart

Model	CPU	GPU	RAM	Value
Schenker XMG U702	3960X	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 0 GB	32 GB	48.98
EUROCOM Scorpius	3920XM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 2 GB	8 GB	52.54
Schenker XMG P722 Pro	3820QM	GeForce GTX 680M SLI 720 / 1800 MHz 4 GB	8 GB	52.59

- Range of benchmark values for this graphics card

- Average benchmark values for this graphics card
* Smaller numbers mean a higher performance

Game Benchmarks

The following benchmarks stem from our benchmarks of review laptops. The performance depends on the used graphics memory, clock rate, processor, system settings, drivers, and operating systems. So the results don't have to be representative for all laptops with this GPU. For detailed information on the benchmark results, click on the fps number.