GeForce3 vs GeForce GTX 680
Aggregate performance score
We've compared GeForce GTX 680 and GeForce3, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.
680 outperforms GeForce3 by a whopping 126700% based on our aggregate benchmark results.
Contents
Primary details
GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.
| Place in the ranking | 407 | 1570 |
| Place by popularity | not in top-100 | not in top-100 |
| Cost-effectiveness evaluation | 2.56 | no data |
| Power efficiency | 5.24 | no data |
| Architecture | Kepler (2012−2018) | Kelvin (2001−2003) |
| GPU code name | GK104 | NV20 A5 |
| Market segment | Desktop | Desktop |
| Release date | 22 March 2012 (13 years ago) | 27 February 2001 (24 years ago) |
| Launch price (MSRP) | $499 | $499 |
Cost-effectiveness evaluation
The higher the ratio, the better. We use the manufacturer's recommended prices.
GTX 680 and GeForce3 have a nearly equal value for money.
Performance to price scatter graph
Detailed specifications
General parameters such as number of shaders, GPU core base clock and boost clock speeds, manufacturing process, texturing and calculation speed. Note that power consumption of some graphics cards can well exceed their nominal TDP, especially when overclocked.
| Pipelines / CUDA cores | 1536 | no data |
| Core clock speed | 1006 MHz | 200 MHz |
| Boost clock speed | 1058 MHz | no data |
| Number of transistors | 3,540 million | 57 million |
| Manufacturing process technology | 28 nm | 150 nm |
| Power consumption (TDP) | 195 Watt | no data |
| Texture fill rate | 135.4 | 1.600 |
| Floating-point processing power | 3.25 TFLOPS | no data |
| ROPs | 32 | 4 |
| TMUs | 128 | 8 |
| L1 Cache | 128 KB | no data |
| L2 Cache | 512 KB | no data |
Form factor & compatibility
Information on compatibility with other computer components. Useful when choosing a future computer configuration or upgrading an existing one. For desktop graphics cards it's interface and bus (motherboard compatibility), additional power connectors (power supply compatibility).
| Bus support | PCI Express 3.0 | no data |
| Interface | PCIe 3.0 x16 | AGP 4x |
| Length | 254 mm | 165 mm |
| Height | 4.376" (11.1 cm) | no data |
| Width | 2-slot | 1-slot |
| Supplementary power connectors | 2x 6-pin | None |
| SLI options | + | - |
VRAM capacity and type
Parameters of VRAM installed: its type, size, bus, clock and resulting bandwidth. Integrated GPUs have no dedicated video RAM and use a shared part of system RAM.
| Memory type | GDDR5 | SDR |
| Maximum RAM amount | 2048 MB | 64 MB |
| Memory bus width | 256-bit GDDR5 | 128 Bit |
| Memory clock speed | 1502 MHz | 230 MHz |
| Memory bandwidth | 192.2 GB/s | 3.68 GB/s |
| Shared memory | - | no data |
Connectivity and outputs
This section shows the types and number of video connectors on each GPU. The data applies specifically to desktop reference models (for example, NVIDIA’s Founders Edition). OEM partners often modify both the number and types of ports. On notebook GPUs, video‐output options are determined by the laptop’s design rather than the graphics chip itself.
| Display Connectors | One Dual Link DVI-I, One Dual Link DVI-D, One HDMI, One DisplayPort | 1x VGA, 1x DB13W3 |
| Multi monitor support | 4 displays | no data |
| HDMI | + | - |
| HDCP | + | - |
| Maximum VGA resolution | 2048x1536 | no data |
| Audio input for HDMI | Internal | no data |
API and SDK support
List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.
| DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 8.0 |
| Shader Model | 5.1 | no data |
| OpenGL | 4.2 | 1.3 |
| OpenCL | 1.2 | N/A |
| Vulkan | 1.1.126 | N/A |
| CUDA | + | - |
Synthetic benchmarks
Non-gaming benchmark results comparison. The combined score is measured on a 0-100 point scale.
Combined synthetic benchmark score
This is our combined benchmark score.
Passmark
This is the most ubiquitous GPU benchmark. It gives the graphics card a thorough evaluation under various types of load, providing four separate benchmarks for Direct3D versions 9, 10, 11 and 12 (the last being done in 4K resolution if possible), and few more tests engaging DirectCompute capabilities.
Gaming performance
Let's see how good the compared graphics cards are for gaming. Particular gaming benchmark results are measured in FPS.
Average FPS across all PC games
Here are the average frames per second in a large set of popular games across different resolutions:
| 900p | 45 | -0−1 |
| Full HD | 75 | -0−1 |
| 4K | 25 | -0−1 |
Cost per frame, $
| 1080p | 6.65 | no data |
| 4K | 19.96 | no data |
FPS performance in popular games
Full HD
Low
| Counter-Strike 2 | 75−80 | 0−1 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 27−30 | 0−1 |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 24−27 | 0−1 |
Full HD
Medium
| Battlefield 5 | 55−60 | 0−1 |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 75−80 | 0−1 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 27−30 | 0−1 |
| Far Cry 5 | 45−50 | 0−1 |
| Fortnite | 75−80 | 0−1 |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 55−60 | 0−1 |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 40−45 | 0−1 |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 24−27 | 0−1 |
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 50−55 | 0−1 |
| Valorant | 110−120 | 0−1 |
Full HD
High
| Battlefield 5 | 55−60 | 0−1 |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 75−80 | 0−1 |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 224 | 0−1 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 27−30 | 0−1 |
| Dota 2 | 85−90 | 0−1 |
| Far Cry 5 | 45−50 | 0−1 |
| Fortnite | 75−80 | 0−1 |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 55−60 | 0−1 |
| Forza Horizon 5 | 40−45 | 0−1 |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 56 | 0−1 |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 24−27 | 0−1 |
| Metro Exodus | 27−30 | 0−1 |
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 50−55 | 0−1 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 42 | 0−1 |
| Valorant | 110−120 | 0−1 |
Full HD
Ultra
| Battlefield 5 | 55−60 | 0−1 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 27−30 | 0−1 |
| Dota 2 | 85−90 | 0−1 |
| Far Cry 5 | 45−50 | 0−1 |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 55−60 | 0−1 |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 24−27 | 0−1 |
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 50−55 | 0−1 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 22 | 0−1 |
| Valorant | 110−120 | 0−1 |
Full HD
Epic
| Fortnite | 75−80 | 0−1 |
1440p
High
| Counter-Strike 2 | 27−30 | 0−1 |
| Counter-Strike: Global Offensive | 100−110 | 0−1 |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 21−24 | 0−1 |
| Metro Exodus | 16−18 | 0−1 |
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 120−130 | 0−1 |
| Valorant | 140−150 | 0−1 |
1440p
Ultra
| Battlefield 5 | 35−40 | 0−1 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 12−14 | 0−1 |
| Far Cry 5 | 30−33 | 0−1 |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 30−35 | 0−1 |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 14−16 | 0−1 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 20−22 | 0−1 |
1440p
Epic
| Fortnite | 30−33 | 0−1 |
4K
High
| Counter-Strike 2 | 10−11 | 0−1 |
| Grand Theft Auto V | 21 | 0−1 |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 8−9 | 0−1 |
| Metro Exodus | 10−11 | 0−1 |
| The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt | 16 | 0−1 |
| Valorant | 70−75 | 0−1 |
4K
Ultra
| Battlefield 5 | 18−20 | 0−1 |
| Counter-Strike 2 | 10−11 | 0−1 |
| Cyberpunk 2077 | 5−6 | 0−1 |
| Dota 2 | 45−50 | 0−1 |
| Far Cry 5 | 14−16 | 0−1 |
| Forza Horizon 4 | 21−24 | 0−1 |
| Hogwarts Legacy | 8−9 | 0−1 |
| PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS | 12−14 | 0−1 |
4K
Epic
| Fortnite | 12−14 | 0−1 |
Pros & cons summary
| Performance score | 12.68 | 0.01 |
| Recency | 22 March 2012 | 27 February 2001 |
| Maximum RAM amount | 2048 MB | 64 MB |
| Chip lithography | 28 nm | 150 nm |
GTX 680 has a 126700% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 11 years, a 3100% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 435.7% more advanced lithography process.
The GeForce GTX 680 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce3 in performance tests.
Other comparisons
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