GeForce GTX 680 vs GTX 1070 SLI

#ad 
Buy on Amazon
VS

Aggregate performance score

We've compared GeForce GTX 1070 SLI and GeForce GTX 680, covering specs and all relevant benchmarks.

GTX 1070 SLI
2016
2x 8 GB GDDR5, 300 Watt
38.02
+163%

GTX 1070 SLI outperforms GTX 680 by a whopping 163% based on our aggregate benchmark results.

Primary details

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

Place in the ranking122361
Place by popularitynot in top-100not in top-100
Cost-effectiveness evaluationno data3.03
Power efficiency8.695.08
ArchitecturePascal (2016−2021)Kepler (2012−2018)
GPU code namePascal GP104 SLIGK104
Market segmentDesktopDesktop
Release date16 August 2016 (8 years ago)22 March 2012 (12 years ago)
Launch price (MSRP)no data$499

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 cores38401536
Core clock speed1506 MHz1006 MHz
Boost clock speed1683 MHz1058 MHz
Number of transistors14400 Million3,540 million
Manufacturing process technology16 nm28 nm
Power consumption (TDP)300 Watt195 Watt
Texture fill rateno data135.4
Floating-point processing powerno data3.25 TFLOPS
ROPsno data32
TMUsno data128

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 supportno dataPCI Express 3.0
Interfaceno dataPCIe 3.0 x16
Lengthno data254 mm
Heightno data4.376" (11.1 cm)
Widthno data2-slot
Supplementary power connectorsno data2x 6-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 typeGDDR5GDDR5
Maximum RAM amount2x 8 GB2048 MB
Memory bus width256 Bit256-bit GDDR5
Memory clock speed8000 MHz1502 MHz
Memory bandwidthno data192.2 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 dataOne Dual Link DVI-I, One Dual Link DVI-D, One HDMI, One DisplayPort
Multi monitor supportno data4 displays
HDMI-+
HDCP-+
Maximum VGA resolutionno data2048x1536
G-SYNC support+-
Audio input for HDMIno dataInternal

Supported technologies

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

VR Ready+no data

API compatibility

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

DirectX12_112 (11_0)
Shader Modelno data5.1
OpenGLno data4.2
OpenCLno data1.2
Vulkan+1.1.126
CUDA++

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 SLI 38.02
+163%
GTX 680 14.45

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 1070 SLI 42691
+318%
GTX 680 10217

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 SLI 34226
+351%
GTX 680 7587

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 1070 SLI 140180
+197%
GTX 680 47130

3DMark Ice Storm GPU

Ice Storm Graphics is an obsolete benchmark, part of 3DMark suite. Ice Storm was used to measure entry level laptops and Windows-based tablets performance. It utilizes DirectX 11 feature level 9 to display a battle between two space fleets near a frozen planet in 1280x720 resolution. Discontinued in January 2020, it is now superseded by 3DMark Night Raid.

GTX 1070 SLI 373694
+51.1%
GTX 680 247306

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:

900p110−120
+144%
45
−144%
Full HD119
+60.8%
74
−60.8%
4K59
+157%
23
−157%

Cost per frame, $

1080pno data6.74
4Kno data21.70

FPS performance in popular games

Full HD
Low Preset

Cyberpunk 2077 65−70
+205%
21−24
−205%

Full HD
Medium Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 80−85
+145%
30−35
−145%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 65−70
+187%
21−24
−187%
Battlefield 5 120−130
+162%
45−50
−162%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 75−80
+169%
27−30
−169%
Cyberpunk 2077 65−70
+205%
21−24
−205%
Far Cry 5 90
+165%
30−35
−165%
Far Cry New Dawn 95−100
+144%
35−40
−144%
Forza Horizon 4 180−190
+101%
90−95
−101%
Hitman 3 80−85
+204%
27−30
−204%
Horizon Zero Dawn 160−170
+118%
70−75
−118%
Metro Exodus 120−130
+153%
45−50
−153%
Red Dead Redemption 2 90−95
+125%
40−45
−125%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 130−140
+196%
45−50
−196%
Watch Dogs: Legion 120−130
+67.1%
75−80
−67.1%

Full HD
High Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 80−85
+145%
30−35
−145%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 65−70
+187%
21−24
−187%
Battlefield 5 120−130
+162%
45−50
−162%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 75−80
+169%
27−30
−169%
Cyberpunk 2077 65−70
+205%
21−24
−205%
Far Cry 5 64
+88.2%
30−35
−88.2%
Far Cry New Dawn 95−100
+144%
35−40
−144%
Forza Horizon 4 180−190
+101%
90−95
−101%
Hitman 3 80−85
+204%
27−30
−204%
Horizon Zero Dawn 160−170
+118%
70−75
−118%
Metro Exodus 120−130
+153%
45−50
−153%
Red Dead Redemption 2 90−95
+125%
40−45
−125%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 130−140
+196%
45−50
−196%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 75−80
−19%
94
+19%
Watch Dogs: Legion 120−130
+67.1%
75−80
−67.1%

Full HD
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 80−85
+145%
30−35
−145%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 65−70
+187%
21−24
−187%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 75−80
+169%
27−30
−169%
Cyberpunk 2077 65−70
+205%
21−24
−205%
Far Cry 5 48
+41.2%
30−35
−41.2%
Forza Horizon 4 180−190
+101%
90−95
−101%
Hitman 3 80−85
+204%
27−30
−204%
Horizon Zero Dawn 160−170
+118%
70−75
−118%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 130−140
+196%
45−50
−196%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 73
+232%
22
−232%
Watch Dogs: Legion 120−130
+67.1%
75−80
−67.1%

Full HD
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 90−95
+125%
40−45
−125%

1440p
High Preset

Battlefield 5 70−75
+164%
27−30
−164%
Far Cry New Dawn 55−60
+168%
21−24
−168%

1440p
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 40−45
+193%
14−16
−193%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 40−45
+282%
10−12
−282%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 45−50
+200%
14−16
−200%
Cyberpunk 2077 30−33
+329%
7−8
−329%
Far Cry 5 40−45
+159%
16−18
−159%
Forza Horizon 4 210−220
+192%
70−75
−192%
Hitman 3 45−50
+188%
16−18
−188%
Horizon Zero Dawn 80−85
+186%
27−30
−186%
Metro Exodus 70−75
+188%
24−27
−188%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 90−95
+268%
24−27
−268%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 55−60
+267%
14−16
−267%
Watch Dogs: Legion 180−190
+112%
85−90
−112%

1440p
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 65−70
+175%
24−27
−175%

4K
High Preset

Battlefield 5 35−40
+171%
14−16
−171%
Far Cry New Dawn 30−35
+191%
10−12
−191%
Hitman 3 30−35
+210%
10−11
−210%
Horizon Zero Dawn 170−180
+152%
70−75
−152%
Metro Exodus 45−50
+250%
14−16
−250%
The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt 54
+238%
16
−238%

4K
Ultra Preset

Assassin's Creed Odyssey 24−27
+225%
8−9
−225%
Assassin's Creed Valhalla 24−27
+243%
7−8
−243%
Call of Duty: Modern Warfare 24−27
+243%
7−8
−243%
Cyberpunk 2077 12−14
+550%
2−3
−550%
Far Cry 5 20
+150%
8−9
−150%
Forza Horizon 4 50−55
+179%
18−20
−179%
Shadow of the Tomb Raider 50−55
+271%
14−16
−271%
Watch Dogs: Legion 18−20
+217%
6−7
−217%

4K
Epic Preset

Red Dead Redemption 2 30−35
+162%
12−14
−162%

This is how GTX 1070 SLI and GTX 680 compete in popular games:

  • GTX 1070 SLI is 144% faster in 900p
  • GTX 1070 SLI is 61% faster in 1080p
  • GTX 1070 SLI is 157% faster in 4K

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

  • in Cyberpunk 2077, with 4K resolution and the Ultra Preset, the GTX 1070 SLI is 550% faster.
  • in The Witcher 3: Wild Hunt, with 1080p resolution and the High Preset, the GTX 680 is 19% faster.

All in all, in popular games:

  • GTX 1070 SLI is ahead in 71 test (99%)
  • GTX 680 is ahead in 1 test (1%)

Pros & cons summary


Performance score 38.02 14.45
Recency 16 August 2016 22 March 2012
Chip lithography 16 nm 28 nm
Power consumption (TDP) 300 Watt 195 Watt

GTX 1070 SLI has a 163.1% higher aggregate performance score, an age advantage of 4 years, and a 75% more advanced lithography process.

GTX 680, on the other hand, has 53.8% lower power consumption.

The GeForce GTX 1070 SLI is our recommended choice as it beats the GeForce GTX 680 in performance tests.


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

Vote for your favorite

Do you think we are right or mistaken in our choice? Vote by clicking "Like" button near your favorite graphics card.


NVIDIA GeForce GTX 1070 SLI
GeForce GTX 1070 SLI
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680
GeForce GTX 680

Comparisons with similar GPUs

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

Community ratings

Here you can see the user ratings of the compared graphics cards, as well as rate them yourself.


4.1 209 votes

Rate GeForce GTX 1070 SLI on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5
3.8 583 votes

Rate GeForce GTX 680 on a scale of 1 to 5:

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • 4
  • 5

Questions & comments

Here you can ask a question about this comparison, agree or disagree with our judgements, or report an error or mismatch.