GeForce GTX 690 vs GTX 1070 Max-Q

Place in the ranking	302	365
Place by popularity	not in top-100	not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluation	no data	1.45
Power efficiency	10.92	3.32
Architecture	Pascal (2016−2021)	Kepler (2012−2018)
GPU code name	GP104	GK104
Market segment	Laptop	Desktop
Release date	27 June 2017 (7 years ago)	3 May 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)	no data	$999

Cost-effectiveness evaluation

Performance to price ratio. The higher, the better.

no data

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	2048	3072
Core clock speed	1215 MHz	915 MHz
Boost clock speed	1379 MHz	1019 MHz
Number of transistors	7,200 million	3,540 million
Manufacturing process technology	16 nm	28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	115 Watt	300 Watt
Texture fill rate	176.5	130.4
Floating-point processing power	5.648 TFLOPS	3.13 TFLOPS
ROPs	64	32
TMUs	128	128

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 size	large	no data
Bus support	no data	PCI Express 3.0
Interface	PCIe 3.0 x16	PCIe 3.0 x16
Length	no data	279 mm
Height	no data	4.376" (11.1 cm)
Width	no data	2-slot
Supplementary power connectors	None	2x 8-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 type	GDDR5	GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	4 GB (4 GB per GPU) GDDR5
Memory bus width	256 Bit	512-bit (256-bit per GPU)
Memory clock speed	2002 MHz	1502 MHz
Memory bandwidth	256.3 GB/s	384 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 Connectors	No outputs	Two Dual Link DVI-I. One Dual link DVI-D. One Mini-Displayport 1.2
Multi monitor support	no data	4 displays
HDMI	-	Yes (via dongle)
HDCP	-	+
Maximum VGA resolution	no data	2048x1536
G-SYNC support	+	-
Audio input for HDMI	no data	Internal

Supported technologies

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

3D Blu-Ray	-	+
3D Gaming	-	+
3D Vision Live	-	+
VR Ready	+	no data

API compatibility

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

DirectX	12 (12_1)	12 (11_0)
Shader Model	6.4	5.1
OpenGL	4.6	4.2
OpenCL	1.2	1.2
Vulkan	1.2.131	1.1.126
CUDA	6.1	+

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. We are regularly improving our combining algorithms, but if you find some perceived inconsistencies, feel free to speak up in comments section, we usually fix problems quickly.

GTX 1070 Max-Q 18.02
+26%

GTX 690 14.30

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 1070 Max-Q 6950
+26%

GTX 690 5517

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 1070 Max-Q 14679
+11.5%

GTX 690 13160

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:

Full HD	94 +34.3%	70−75 −34.3%
4K	43 +43.3%	30−35 −43.3%

Cost per frame, $

1080p	no data	14.27
4K	no data	33.30

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077

27−30
+33.3%

21−24

−33.3%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	62 +37.8%	45−50 −37.8%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	30−33 +42.9%	21−24 −42.9%
Battlefield 5	105 +31.3%	80−85 −31.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	35−40 +33.3%	27−30 −33.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	27−30 +33.3%	21−24 −33.3%
Far Cry 5	40−45 +40%	30−33 −40%
Far Cry New Dawn	86 +32.3%	65−70 −32.3%
Forza Horizon 4	110−120 +26.7%	90−95 −26.7%
Hitman 3	35−40 +29.6%	27−30 −29.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn	85−90 +35.4%	65−70 −35.4%
Metro Exodus	60−65 +37.8%	45−50 −37.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2	45−50 +40%	35−40 −40%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	130 +30%	100−105 −30%
Watch Dogs: Legion	85−90 +32.3%	65−70 −32.3%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	97 +29.3%	75−80 −29.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	30−33 +42.9%	21−24 −42.9%
Battlefield 5	92 +31.4%	70−75 −31.4%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	35−40 +33.3%	27−30 −33.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	27−30 +33.3%	21−24 −33.3%
Far Cry 5	70 +27.3%	55−60 −27.3%
Far Cry New Dawn	77 +28.3%	60−65 −28.3%
Forza Horizon 4	199 +32.7%	150−160 −32.7%
Hitman 3	35−40 +29.6%	27−30 −29.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn	85−90 +35.4%	65−70 −35.4%
Metro Exodus	60−65 +37.8%	45−50 −37.8%
Red Dead Redemption 2	45−50 +40%	35−40 −40%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	55−60 +31.1%	45−50 −31.1%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	40−45 +36.7%	30−33 −36.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion	85−90 +32.3%	65−70 −32.3%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	42 +40%	30−33 −40%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	30−33 +42.9%	21−24 −42.9%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	35−40 +33.3%	27−30 −33.3%
Cyberpunk 2077	27−30 +33.3%	21−24 −33.3%
Far Cry 5	53 +32.5%	40−45 −32.5%
Forza Horizon 4	79 +31.7%	60−65 −31.7%
Hitman 3	35−40 +29.6%	27−30 −29.6%
Horizon Zero Dawn	85−90 +35.4%	65−70 −35.4%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	55−60 +31.1%	45−50 −31.1%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	51 +27.5%	40−45 −27.5%
Watch Dogs: Legion	85−90 +32.3%	65−70 −32.3%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

45−50
+40%

35−40

−40%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5	35−40 +29.6%	27−30 −29.6%
Far Cry New Dawn	27−30 +28.6%	21−24 −28.6%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	18−20 +28.6%	14−16 −28.6%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	16−18 +33.3%	12−14 −33.3%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	20−22 +42.9%	14−16 −42.9%
Cyberpunk 2077	10−11 +42.9%	7−8 −42.9%
Far Cry 5	21−24 +31.3%	16−18 −31.3%
Forza Horizon 4	95−100 +30.7%	75−80 −30.7%
Hitman 3	21−24 +31.3%	16−18 −31.3%
Horizon Zero Dawn	35−40 +37%	27−30 −37%
Metro Exodus	30−35 +37.5%	24−27 −37.5%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	35−40 +29.6%	27−30 −29.6%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	20−22 +42.9%	14−16 −42.9%
Watch Dogs: Legion	100−110 +27.1%	85−90 −27.1%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

30−33
+42.9%

21−24

−42.9%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5	18−20 +28.6%	14−16 −28.6%
Far Cry New Dawn	14−16 +40%	10−11 −40%
Hitman 3	12−14 +30%	10−11 −30%
Horizon Zero Dawn	90−95 +31.4%	70−75 −31.4%
Metro Exodus	18−20 +35.7%	14−16 −35.7%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt	32 +33.3%	24−27 −33.3%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey	21 +31.3%	16−18 −31.3%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla	9−10 +28.6%	7−8 −28.6%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare	9−10 +28.6%	7−8 −28.6%
Cyberpunk 2077	3−4 +50%	2−3 −50%
Far Cry 5	10−11 +42.9%	7−8 −42.9%
Forza Horizon 4	43 +43.3%	30−33 −43.3%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider	18−20 +35.7%	14−16 −35.7%
Watch Dogs: Legion	7−8 +40%	5−6 −40%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2

16−18
+33.3%

12−14

−33.3%

This is how GTX 1070 Max-Q and GTX 690 compete in popular games:

GTX 1070 Max-Q is 34% faster in 1080p
GTX 1070 Max-Q is 43% faster in 4K

Pros & cons summary

Performance score	18.02	14.30
Recency	27 June 2017	3 May 2012
Maximum RAM amount	8 GB	4 GB (4 GB per GPU) GDDR5
Chip lithography	16 nm	28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)	115 Watt	300 Watt

GTX 1070 Max-Q has a 26% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 5 years, a 100% higher maximum VRAM amount, a 75% more advanced lithography process, and 160.9% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 690 in performance tests.

Be aware that GeForce GTX 1070 Max-Q is a notebook card while GeForce GTX 690 is a desktop one.

Should you still have questions concerning choice between the reviewed GPUs, ask them in Comments section, and we shall answer.