NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M is a high-end DirectX 11.1-compatible graphics card for laptops and was announced during Computex 2012. It was the fastest GPU available for notebooks at the time of announcement and 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).
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. In the GTX 680M, 7 blocks are active leading to the 1344 CUDA cores. 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 is on average above the Radeon HD 7970M, thus making the Nvidia card the fastest mobile graphics card as of summer 2012. The GPU has enough power to run demanding games of 2012 fluently with Full HD resolution and maxed out graphical settings. Only the extremely demanding title The Witcher 2 will not run fluently in ultra settings. Battlefield 3, Skyrim, and Crysis 2, for example, 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 should be similar to the GTX 580M and therefore best suited for large notebooks (17-inches or greater) and desktop replacements.
Manufacturer | NVIDIA |
GeForce GTX 600M Series | |
Codename | N13E-GTX |
Architecture | Kepler |
Pipelines | 1344 - unified |
Core Speed | 720 MHz |
Memory Speed | 3600 MHz |
Memory Bus Width | 256 Bit |
Memory Type | GDDR5 |
Max. Amount of Memory | 4096 MB |
Shared Memory | no |
DirectX | DirectX 11, Shader 5.0 |
Transistor Count | 3540 Million |
technology | 28 nm |
Features | Optimus, SLI, PhysX,
Verde Drivers,
CUDA, 3D Vision, 3DTV
Play |
Notebook Size | large |
Date of Announcement | 04.06.2012 |
Link to Manufacturer Page | http://www.nvidia.com/page/home.html |
Benchmarks
3DMark - Cloud Gate Standard Score 1280x720
min: 15255 avg: 15258.5 median: 15258 (23%) max: 15262 Points
Ibuypower Valkyrie CZ 17 | 3630QM | 8192 MB | 757.7 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 314.22 | 15255 |
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 | 15262 |
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M










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3DMark - Cloud Gate Standard Graphics 1280x720
min: 26851 avg: 27684 median: 27684 (14%) max: 28517 Points
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 | 26851 |
Ibuypower Valkyrie CZ 17 | 3630QM | 8192 MB | 757.7 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 314.22 | 28517 |
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M










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3DMark - Fire Strike Score 1920x1080
min: 3681 avg: 3762.5 median: 3762 (13%) max: 3844 Points
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 | 3681 |
Ibuypower Valkyrie CZ 17 | 3630QM | 8192 MB | 757.7 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 314.22 | 3844 |
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M










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3DMark - Fire Strike Graphics 1920x1080
min: 3952 avg: 4049 median: 4049 (10%) max: 4146 Points
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 | 3952 |
Ibuypower Valkyrie CZ 17 | 3630QM | 8192 MB | 757.7 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 314.22 | 4146 |
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M










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3DMark - Ice Storm Standard Graphics 1280x720

min: 77067 avg: 110472 median: 110472 (15%) max: 143878 Points
Ibuypower Valkyrie CZ 17 | 3630QM | 8192 MB | 757.7 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 314.22 | 77067 |
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 | 143878 |



NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 -2%
















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3DMark 11 - Performance 1280x720

min: 5804 avg: 6158.5 median: 5996 (17%) max: 7218 points
Ibuypower Valkyrie CZ 17 | 3630QM | 8192 MB | 757.7 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 314.22 | 5804 |
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 719 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 310.90 | 5809 |
 | 3720QM | 12288 MB | | 302.71 | 5917 |
Deviltech Devil 6700 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 758 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 302.75 | 6076 |
Schenker XMG P702 PRO | 3720QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5, Optimus ForceWare 302.71 / 302.72 | 6127 |
Maingear Nomad 15 | 3840QM | 16384 MB | 757 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 306.97 | 7218 |
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 -2%












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3DMark 11 - Performance GPU 1280x720

min: 5647 avg: 6073.8 median: 5897 (12%) max: 7214 points
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 719 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 310.90 | 5647 |
 | 3720QM | 12288 MB | | 302.71 | 5762 |
Ibuypower Valkyrie CZ 17 | 3630QM | 8192 MB | 757.7 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 314.22 | 5828 |
Deviltech Devil 6700 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 758 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 302.75 | 5967 |
Schenker XMG P702 PRO | 3720QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5, Optimus ForceWare 302.71 / 302.72 | 6025 |
Maingear Nomad 15 | 3840QM | 16384 MB | 757 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 306.97 | 7214 |
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 0%












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3DMark Vantage
P Result 1280x1024 +3DMark Vantage - P Result 1280x1024

min: 19575 avg: 21163.8 median: 21533 (25%) max: 21952 Points
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 4%






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P GPU no PhysX 1280x1024 +3DMark Vantage - P GPU no PhysX 1280x1024

min: 18266 avg: 20575.1 median: 20891 (23%) max: 21489 Points
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 0%









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3DMark 03 - Standard 1024x768

min: 55426 avg: 68272 median: 71104 (37%) max: 72750 Points
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AMD Radeon HD 6790 -15%

AMD Radeon HD 7770 -13%

AMD Radeon HD 7770 -13%




ATI Radeon HD 5850 -5%










NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 29%

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3DMark 05 - Standard 1024x768

min: 26556 avg: 29052 median: 28444 (54%) max: 32763 Points
Deviltech Devil 6700 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 758 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 302.75 | 26556 |
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 719 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 310.90 | 27395 |
Schenker XMG P702 PRO | 3720QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5, Optimus ForceWare 302.71 / 302.72 | 29494 |
Maingear Nomad 15 | 3840QM | 16384 MB | 757 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 306.97 | 32763 |
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AMD Radeon HD 6790 -5%


NVIDIA GeForce GTS 450 -4%








NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 2%






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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1660 Super (Desktop) 83%
3DMark 06 Standard 1280x1024 +3DMark 06

min: 18529 avg: 22478.5 median: 22760 (46%) max: 25378 Points
Standard 1280x1024 |
Ibuypower Valkyrie CZ 17 | 3630QM | 8192 MB | 757.7 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 314.22 | 18529 |
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 719 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 310.90 | 21897 |
Deviltech Devil 6700 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 758 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 302.75 | 22069 |
Schenker XMG P702 PRO | 3720QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5, Optimus ForceWare 302.71 / 302.72 | 23451 |
 | 3720QM | 12288 MB | | 302.71 | 23547 |
Maingear Nomad 15 | 3840QM | 16384 MB | 757 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 306.97 | 25378 |
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 1%







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Unigine Heaven 3.0 - DX 11, Normal Tessellation, High Shaders 1920x1080

57.7 fps (21%)
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 | 57.6 |
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 719 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 310.90 | 57.7 |
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Unigine Heaven 2.1 - high, Tesselation (normal), DirectX11 1280x1024

min: 71 avg: 73.9 median: 73 (31%) max: 77 fps
Deviltech Devil 6700 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 758 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 302.75 | 71.6 |
Maingear Nomad 15 | 3840QM | 16384 MB | 757 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 306.97 | 72 |
Schenker XMG P702 PRO | 3720QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5, Optimus ForceWare 302.71 / 302.72 | 74.2 |
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 719 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 310.90 | 77.6 |
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 570 10%




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SPECviewperf 11
Siemens NX 1920x1080 +SPECviewperf 11 - Siemens NX 1920x1080
2.1 fps (2%)
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M










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Tcvis 1920x1080 +SPECviewperf 11 - Tcvis 1920x1080
0.9 fps (2%)
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M










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SolidWorks 1920x1080 +SPECviewperf 11 - SolidWorks 1920x1080

10.9 fps (13%)

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Pro/ENGINEER 1920x1080 +SPECviewperf 11 - Pro/ENGINEER 1920x1080

1.4 fps (6%)
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ATI Radeon HD 5850 3%





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Maya 1920x1080 +SPECviewperf 11 - Maya 1920x1080

13.5 fps (10%)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 -89%

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ATI Radeon HD 5770 -4%















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Lightwave 1920x1080 +SPECviewperf 11 - Lightwave 1920x1080
17.4 fps (19%)

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M






ATI Radeon HD 5850 5%




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Ensight 1920x1080 +SPECviewperf 11 - Ensight 1920x1080

22.7 fps (11%)
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 -96%
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Catia 1920x1080 +SPECviewperf 11 - Catia 1920x1080

6.8 fps (8%)



















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Windows 7 Experience Index - Gaming graphics

min: 6 avg: 7.2 median: 7 (100%) max: 7 points
Deviltech Devil 6700 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 758 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 302.75 | 6.9 |
Maingear Nomad 15 | 3840QM | 16384 MB | 757 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 306.97 | 7 |
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 719 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 310.90 | 7.7 |

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Windows 7 Experience Index - Graphics

min: 6 avg: 7.2 median: 7 (100%) max: 7 points
Deviltech Devil 6700 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 758 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 302.75 | 6.9 |
Maingear Nomad 15 | 3840QM | 16384 MB | 757 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB 306.97 | 7 |
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 719 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 ForceWare 310.90 | 7.7 |

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Cinebench R10 Shading 32Bit +Cinebench R10 - Shading 32Bit

min: 6669 avg: 8520 median: 8846 (44%) max: 10045 Points
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Cinebench R11.5 OpenGL 64Bit +Cinebench R11.5 - OpenGL 64Bit

min: 40 avg: 45.2 median: 44 (26%) max: 50 Points



















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LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - Room GPUs-only
327 Samples/s (6%)
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 | 327 |
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M










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LuxMark v2.0 64Bit - Sala GPUs-only
614 Samples/s (6%)
Schenker XMG P502 | 3610QM | 8192 MB | 720 / 1800 MHz | 4096MB GDDR5 | 614 |
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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M










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- 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.









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» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings ultra.



















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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M










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» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
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» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings high.
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» With all tested laptops playable in detail settings med..



















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