GeForce RTX 3060 vs GTX 680M

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Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 680M with GeForce RTX 3060, including specs and performance data.

GTX 680M
2012
4 GB GDDR5, 100 Watt
8.41

RTX 3060 outperforms GTX 680M by a whopping 425% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

GPU architecture, market segment, value for money and other general parameters compared.

Place in the ranking50984
Place by popularitynot in top-1005
Cost-effectiveness evaluation3.8469.97
Power efficiency5.8017.94
ArchitectureKepler (2012−2018)Ampere (2020−2024)
GPU code nameGK104GA106
Market segmentLaptopDesktop
Release date4 June 2012 (12 years ago)12 January 2021 (4 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)$310.50 $329

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

The higher the performance-to-price ratio, the better. We use the manufacturer's recommended prices for comparison.

RTX 3060 has 1722% better value for money than GTX 680M.

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 cores13443584
Core clock speed719 MHz1320 MHz
Boost clock speed758 MHz1777 MHz
Number of transistors3,540 million12,000 million
Manufacturing process technology28 nm8 nm
Power consumption (TDP)100 Watt170 Watt
Texture fill rate84.90199.0
Floating-point processing power2.038 TFLOPS12.74 TFLOPS
ROPs3248
TMUs112112
Tensor Coresno data112
Ray Tracing Coresno data28

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).

Laptop sizelargeno data
Bus supportPCI Express 3.0no data
InterfaceMXM-B (3.0)PCIe 4.0 x16
Lengthno data242 mm
Widthno data2-slot
Supplementary power connectorsNone1x 12-pin
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 typeGDDR5GDDR6
Maximum RAM amount4 GB12 GB
Memory bus width256 Bit192 Bit
Memory clock speed1800 MHz1875 MHz
Memory bandwidth115.2 GB/s360.0 GB/s
Shared memory--

Connectivity and outputs

Types and number of video connectors present on the reviewed GPUs. As a rule, data in this section is precise only for desktop reference ones (so-called Founders Edition for NVIDIA chips). OEM manufacturers may change the number and type of output ports, while for notebook cards availability of certain video outputs ports depends on the laptop model rather than on the card itself.

Display ConnectorsNo outputs1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a
HDMI-+

Supported technologies

Supported technological solutions. This information will prove useful if you need some particular technology for your purposes.

Optimus+-

API and SDK compatibility

List of supported 3D and general-purpose computing APIs, including their specific versions.

DirectX12 API12 Ultimate (12_2)
Shader Model5.16.7
OpenGL4.54.6
OpenCL1.13.0
Vulkan1.1.1261.3
CUDA+8.6
DLSS-+

Synthetic benchmark performance

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.

GTX 680M 8.41
RTX 3060 44.19
+425%

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.

GTX 680M 3251
RTX 3060 17085
+426%

3DMark 11 Performance GPU

3DMark 11 is an obsolete DirectX 11 benchmark by Futuremark. It used four tests based on two scenes, one being few submarines exploring the submerged wreck of a sunken ship, the other is an abandoned temple deep in the jungle. All the tests are heavy with volumetric lighting and tessellation, and despite being done in 1280x720 resolution, are relatively taxing. Discontinued in January 2020, 3DMark 11 is now superseded by Time Spy.

GTX 680M 5898
RTX 3060 28375
+381%

3DMark Vantage Performance

3DMark Vantage is an outdated DirectX 10 benchmark using 1280x1024 screen resolution. It taxes the graphics card with two scenes, one depicting a girl escaping some militarized base located within a sea cave, the other displaying a space fleet attack on a defenseless planet. It was discontinued in April 2017, and Time Spy benchmark is now recommended to be used instead.

GTX 680M 21534
RTX 3060 79706
+270%

3DMark Fire Strike Graphics

Fire Strike is a DirectX 11 benchmark for gaming PCs. It features two separate tests displaying a fight between a humanoid and a fiery creature made of lava. Using 1920x1080 resolution, Fire Strike shows off some realistic graphics and is quite taxing on hardware.

GTX 680M 4049
RTX 3060 21379
+428%

3DMark Cloud Gate GPU

Cloud Gate is an outdated DirectX 11 feature level 10 benchmark that was used for home PCs and basic notebooks. It displays a few scenes of some weird space teleportation device launching spaceships into unknown, using fixed resolution of 1280x720. Just like Ice Storm benchmark, it has been discontinued in January 2020 and replaced by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 680M 27684
RTX 3060 120745
+336%

GeekBench 5 OpenCL

Geekbench 5 is a widespread graphics card benchmark combined from 11 different test scenarios. All these scenarios rely on direct usage of GPU's processing power, no 3D rendering is involved. This variation uses OpenCL API by Khronos Group.

GTX 680M 9400
RTX 3060 88251
+839%

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:

900p67
−422%
350−400
+422%
Full HD64
−84.4%
118
+84.4%
1440p12−14
−467%
68
+467%
4K8−9
−488%
47
+488%

Cost per frame, $

1080p4.85
−74%
2.79
+74%
1440p25.88
−435%
4.84
+435%
4K38.81
−454%
7.00
+454%
  • RTX 3060 has 74% lower cost per frame in 1080p
  • RTX 3060 has 435% lower cost per frame in 1440p
  • RTX 3060 has 454% lower cost per frame in 4K

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Atomic Heart 18−20
−558%
120−130
+558%
Counter-Strike 2 14−16
−540%
95−100
+540%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−394%
79
+394%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Atomic Heart 18−20
−558%
120−130
+558%
Battlefield 5 35−40
−291%
130−140
+291%
Counter-Strike 2 14−16
−547%
97
+547%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−388%
78
+388%
Far Cry 5 24−27
−462%
146
+462%
Fortnite 45−50
−267%
170−180
+267%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
−351%
150−160
+351%
Forza Horizon 5 20−22
−520%
124
+520%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 27−30
−468%
150−160
+468%
Valorant 80−85
−190%
230−240
+190%

Full HD
High Preset

Atomic Heart 18−20
−558%
120−130
+558%
Battlefield 5 35−40
−291%
130−140
+291%
Counter-Strike 2 14−16
−453%
83
+453%
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 128
−117%
270−280
+117%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−369%
75
+369%
Dota 2 60−65
−160%
156
+160%
Far Cry 5 24−27
−419%
135
+419%
Fortnite 45−50
−267%
170−180
+267%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
−351%
150−160
+351%
Forza Horizon 5 20−22
−380%
96
+380%
Grand Theft Auto V 30−33
−370%
141
+370%
Metro Exodus 16−18
−406%
81
+406%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 27−30
−468%
150−160
+468%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
−748%
178
+748%
Valorant 80−85
−190%
230−240
+190%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 35−40
−291%
130−140
+291%
Counter-Strike 2 14−16
−380%
72
+380%
Cyberpunk 2077 16−18
−300%
64
+300%
Dota 2 60−65
−145%
147
+145%
Far Cry 5 24−27
−388%
127
+388%
Forza Horizon 4 35−40
−351%
150−160
+351%
Forza Horizon 5 20−22
−295%
79
+295%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 27−30
−468%
150−160
+468%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 21−24
−290%
82
+290%
Valorant 80−85
−190%
230−240
+190%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Fortnite 45−50
−267%
170−180
+267%

1440p
High Preset

Counter-Strike 2 10−11
−220%
30−35
+220%
Counter-Strike: Global Offensive 60−65
−362%
280−290
+362%
Grand Theft Auto V 10−12
−636%
81
+636%
Metro Exodus 8−9
−525%
50
+525%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 40−45
−327%
170−180
+327%
Valorant 90−95
−194%
260−270
+194%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 16−18
−512%
100−110
+512%
Cyberpunk 2077 6−7
−550%
39
+550%
Far Cry 5 16−18
−488%
94
+488%
Forza Horizon 4 18−20
−526%
110−120
+526%
Forza Horizon 5 14−16
−343%
62
+343%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 12−14
−500%
72
+500%

1440p
Epic Preset

Fortnite 16−18
−588%
110−120
+588%

4K
High Preset

Atomic Heart 7−8
−386%
30−35
+386%
Counter-Strike 2 2−3
−900%
20−22
+900%
Grand Theft Auto V 18−20
−332%
82
+332%
Metro Exodus 3−4
−967%
32
+967%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 7−8
−814%
64
+814%
Valorant 40−45
−507%
240−250
+507%

4K
Ultra Preset

Battlefield 5 8−9
−725%
65−70
+725%
Counter-Strike 2 2−3
−350%
9
+350%
Cyberpunk 2077 3−4
−500%
18
+500%
Dota 2 27−30
−297%
115
+297%
Far Cry 5 8−9
−500%
48
+500%
Forza Horizon 4 12−14
−515%
80−85
+515%
Forza Horizon 5 5−6
−620%
36
+620%
PLAYERUNKNOWN'S BATTLEGROUNDS 8−9
−625%
55−60
+625%

4K
Epic Preset

Fortnite 8−9
−588%
55−60
+588%

This is how GTX 680M and RTX 3060 compete in popular games:

  • RTX 3060 is 422% faster in 900p
  • RTX 3060 is 84% faster in 1080p
  • RTX 3060 is 467% faster in 1440p
  • RTX 3060 is 488% faster in 4K

Here's the range of performance differences observed across popular games:

  • in Metro Exodus, with 4K resolution and the High Preset, the RTX 3060 is 967% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • Without exception, RTX 3060 surpassed GTX 680M in all 67 of our tests.

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 8.41 44.19
Recency 4 June 2012 12 January 2021
Maximum RAM amount 4 GB 12 GB
Chip lithography 28 nm 8 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 100 Watt 170 Watt

GTX 680M has 70% lower power consumption.

RTX 3060, on the other hand, has a 425.4% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 8 years, a 200% higher maximum VRAM amount, and a 250% more advanced lithography process.

The GeForce RTX 3060 is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 680M in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 680M is a notebook card while GeForce RTX 3060 is a desktop one.

Vote for your favorite

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NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M
GeForce GTX 680M
NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060
GeForce RTX 3060

Other comparisons

We selected several comparisons of graphics cards with performance close to those reviewed, providing you with more options to consider.

Community ratings

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