NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M
NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M: Architecture, Performance, and Relevance in 2025
Updated: April 2025
Introduction
The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M is a mobile graphics card released in 2012. Despite its age, it remains of interest to enthusiasts and owners of older gaming laptops. In this article, we will discuss how relevant this model is in 2025, how it handles modern tasks, and who might find it useful.
Architecture and Key Features
Architecture: The GTX 680M is based on the Kepler architecture (GK104 generation). It was one of NVIDIA's first architectures aimed at balancing performance and energy efficiency.
- Process Technology: 28 nm (obsolete by 2025 standards, where 5–7 nm dominate).
- CUDA Cores: 1344.
- Clock Speed: Up to 758 MHz (Boost Clock — 835 MHz).
Unique Features:
The card does not support modern technologies such as RTX (ray tracing), DLSS, or FidelityFX. Instead, it employs Optimus for switching between integrated and discrete graphics, as well as PhysX for accelerating physical calculations in games.
Conclusion: While the Kepler architecture is outdated, the GTX 680M was a flagship in the mobile segment in its time.
Memory: Type, Size, and Impact on Performance
- Memory Type: GDDR5.
- Size: 4 GB.
- Bus Width: 256-bit.
- Bandwidth: 160 GB/s (effective memory frequency — 5 GHz).
Practical Impact:
4 GB of video memory is sufficient for games from 2012–2015 at medium settings (e.g., The Witcher 3 or GTA V), but by 2025, this amount will not meet the minimum requirements of modern AAA titles. The bandwidth of GDDR5 also limits handling high-resolution textures.
Gaming Performance: FPS, Resolutions, and RTX
Testing in 2025:
The GTX 680M is suitable for 1080p/30–60 FPS in older games and indie projects. Examples (Medium settings):
- CS:2 (Counter-Strike 2): ~45–60 FPS (without anti-aliasing).
- Hollow Knight: Silksong: stable 60 FPS.
- Elden Ring: 20–25 FPS (Low, 720p).
Supported Resolutions:
- 1080p: Comfortable only for less demanding games.
- 1440p and 4K: Not recommended — insufficient memory and low computational power.
Ray Tracing: Absent. RTX-compatible games (e.g., Cyberpunk 2077) will not run on the GTX 680M with ray tracing enabled.
Professional Tasks: Video Editing, 3D Modeling, and CUDA
Video Editing:
- In Adobe Premiere Pro, the card can handle rendering FullHD projects thanks to CUDA support, but power is insufficient for 4K or real-time effects.
- Recommendations: Use proxy files and disable GPU acceleration for complex tasks.
3D Modeling:
- In Blender or Maya, the GTX 680M can work on simple scenes, but rendering on CUDA will take 3–5 times longer than on modern cards (e.g., RTX 4060).
Scientific Calculations:
- Support for OpenCL 1.2 and CUDA 3.0 limits compatibility with modern software. The card is unsuitable for machine learning or neural networks.
Power Consumption and Heat Generation
- TDP: 100 W.
- Cooling Recommendations:
- Regular thermal paste replacement (every 1–2 years).
- Use cooling pads for laptops.
- Clean fans from dust.
Heat Generation:
Even in 2025, laptops with the GTX 680M often suffer from overheating (up to 85–90°C under load). Avoid long gaming sessions without additional cooling.
Comparison with Competitors
Analogues from 2012–2013:
- AMD Radeon HD 7970M:
- 3 GB GDDR5, 1280 stream processors.
- Comparable performance, but worse optimization for games.
- NVIDIA GTX 675MX:
- A lower model with 960 CUDA cores. The GTX 680M is 20–25% faster.
In 2025:
The GTX 680M lags behind even budget mobile GPUs like the RTX 2050 or AMD Radeon 660M. For instance, the RTX 2050 offers 3–4 times better performance with a TDP of 45 W.
Practical Tips
1. Power Supply:
Laptops with the GTX 680M require a PSU rated for 150–180 W. Use only original adapters.
2. Compatibility:
- Platforms: Only older laptops with MXM 3.0 interface.
- Drivers: Official support has been discontinued. The last versions are GeForce 473.xx (2023). Errors may occur in Windows 11.
3. Optimization:
- Install Windows 10 for better compatibility.
- In games, reduce the resolution to 900p and disable anti-aliasing.
Pros and Cons
Pros:
- Reliability: Many units are still functional.
- CUDA Support: Useful for basic professional tasks.
- Low price on the secondary market: Ranging from $50 to $100 (for replacements in older laptops).
Cons:
- Outdated architecture.
- No support for modern technologies (DLSS, RTX).
- High power consumption and heat generation.
Final Conclusion: Who Should Consider the GTX 680M?
This graphics card is a choice for:
1. Owners of old laptops wanting to extend their lifespan.
2. Retro gaming enthusiasts seeking to run 2010-era projects on original hardware.
3. Users on a tight budget needing discrete graphics for basic tasks (office, browsing, indie games).
Alternatives in 2025:
If you need modern performance, consider the RTX 4050 Mobile (from $800) or AMD Radeon 7600S (from $700). They offer ray tracing support, DLSS 3, and half the power consumption.
Conclusion:
The GTX 680M is a legend of its time, but in 2025 it should only be considered as a temporary solution or a tool for nostalgic experiments. More up-to-date hardware will be required for modern tasks.