GeForce GTX 680MX vs GeForce MX450

G3D Mark is a standard benchmark that measures graphics performance in real-world gaming scenarios. It simplifies comparing cards from different brands, where higher scores directly correlate with better fps and smoother gaming experiences.

Head-to-Head Verdict, Benchmarks, Value & Long-Term Outlook

This comparison brings together gaming FPS, raw graphics performance, VRAM, feature set, power efficiency, pricing context, and long-term value so you can see which GPU actually makes more sense.

GeForce GTX 680MX

2012

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 2 GB).

Trade-offs

❌Very weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 14.9 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
❌388% higher power demand at 122W vs 25W.

GeForce MX450

2020

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 14.9 vs 0 G3D/$ ($250 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 680MX: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 680MX is already obsolete for modern gaming.
✅Draws 25W instead of 122W, a 97W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 2 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.

GeForce GTX 680MX

2012

GeForce MX450

2020

Why buy it

✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (4 GB vs 2 GB).

Why buy it

✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 14.9 vs 0 G3D/$ ($250 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Less risky long-term buy than GeForce GTX 680MX: it remains the more sensible modern option while GeForce GTX 680MX is already obsolete for modern gaming.
✅Draws 25W instead of 122W, a 97W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Very weak future-proofing: 2012-era hardware with 4 GB of VRAM is already obsolete for modern gaming and is hard to recommend today.
❌Lower G3D Mark per dollar, at 0 vs 14.9 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $250 MSRP).
❌388% higher power demand at 122W vs 25W.

Trade-offs

❌Less VRAM, with 2 GB vs 4 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌Limited future-proofing: older hardware, 2 GB of VRAM, and weaker feature support mean it will age faster in upcoming AAA games.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce GTX 680MX better than GeForce MX450?

Yes, but this is not really about a huge raw performance gap. The broader synthetic picture is also very close at 3,799 vs 3,720 in G3D Mark. The bigger reason to prefer GeForce GTX 680MX is the overall package: you are getting no meaningful modern upscaling stack.

Which one is more future-proof for 2026 and beyond?

GeForce MX450 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2020 generation instead of 2012 and a 12nm process instead of 28nm. That makes it the safer long-run choice for modern games.

Which one is the smarter buy today, not just the cheaper card?

GeForce GTX 680MX is the smarter buy by a wide margin. GeForce GTX 680MX is priced in an unclear MSRP range at an unclear MSRP versus $250 MSRP, and you are getting 2.1% higher G3D Mark. GeForce MX450 really only makes sense now as a very cheap stopgap or a used-market placeholder.

When does GeForce MX450 make more sense than GeForce GTX 680MX?

Yes. GeForce MX450 is still an excellent gaming GPU in 2026: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It makes more sense if your priority is newer architecture, lower power draw (25W vs 122W), future-proofing, and staying closer to $250 MSRP more than squeezing out the extra headroom of GeForce GTX 680MX. The trade-off is that GeForce GTX 680MX currently gives you 2.1% higher G3D Mark. GeForce MX450 still holds the G3D-per-dollar lead, so the performance win comes with a real value premium.

Games Benchmarks

Real-world benchmarks and performance projections based on comprehensive hardware analysis and comparative metrics. Values represent expected performance on High/Ultra settings at 1080p, 1440p, and 4K. Modeled using a Ryzen 7 9800X3D reference profile to minimize specific CPU bottlenecks.

Note: Performance behavior can vary per game. Specific architectures may perform better or worse depending on game engine optimizations and API implementation.

GeForce GTX 680MX Benchmark Check

GeForce MX450 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce MX450
1080p
low	78 FPS	90 FPS
medium	67 FPS	80 FPS
high	53 FPS	63 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	53 FPS
1440p
low	70 FPS	80 FPS
medium	60 FPS	68 FPS
high	43 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	27 FPS	44 FPS
4K
low	25 FPS	39 FPS
medium	24 FPS	37 FPS
high	16 FPS	25 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	22 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680MX Open GeForce MX450

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce MX450
1080p
low	64 FPS	125 FPS
medium	42 FPS	92 FPS
high	31 FPS	65 FPS
ultra	21 FPS	42 FPS
1440p
low	37 FPS	82 FPS
medium	21 FPS	56 FPS
high	15 FPS	41 FPS
ultra	11 FPS	29 FPS
4K
low	13 FPS	36 FPS
medium	8 FPS	27 FPS
high	6 FPS	21 FPS
ultra	5 FPS	15 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680MX Open GeForce MX450

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce MX450
1080p
low	171 FPS	167 FPS
medium	137 FPS	134 FPS
high	114 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	84 FPS
1440p
low	128 FPS	126 FPS
medium	103 FPS	100 FPS
high	85 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	64 FPS	63 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	84 FPS
medium	68 FPS	67 FPS
high	57 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	42 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680MX Open GeForce MX450

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce MX450
1080p
low	128 FPS	167 FPS
medium	103 FPS	134 FPS
high	88 FPS	112 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	84 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	126 FPS
medium	80 FPS	100 FPS
high	69 FPS	84 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	63 FPS
4K
low	57 FPS	84 FPS
medium	44 FPS	67 FPS
high	35 FPS	56 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	42 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680MX Open GeForce MX450

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 680MX and GeForce MX450

GeForce GTX 680MX

The GeForce GTX 680MX is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in October 23 2012. It features the Kepler architecture. The core clock speed is 720 MHz. It has 1536 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 122W. Manufactured using 28 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,799 points.

GeForce MX450

The GeForce MX450 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in August 1 2020. It features the Turing architecture. The core clock ranges from 1395 MHz to 1575 MHz. It has 896 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 25W. Manufactured using 12 nm process technology. G3D Mark benchmark score: 3,720 points.

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Graphics Performance

The GeForce GTX 680MX scores 3,799 and the GeForce MX450 reaches 3,720 in the G3D Mark benchmark — just a 2.1% difference, making them near-identical in rasterization performance. The GeForce GTX 680MX is built on Kepler while the GeForce MX450 uses Turing, both on 28 nm vs 12 nm. Shader units: 1,536 (GeForce GTX 680MX) vs 896 (GeForce MX450).

Feature	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce MX450
G3D Mark Score	3,799+2%	3,720
Architecture	Kepler	Turing
Process Node	28 nm	12 nm
Shading Units	1536+71%	896

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Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

Feature	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce MX450
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	Upscaling support
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

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Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 680MX comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce MX450 has 2 GB. The GeForce GTX 680MX offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 160 GB/s (GeForce GTX 680MX) vs 80 GB/s (GeForce MX450) — a 100% advantage for the GeForce GTX 680MX. Bus width: 256-bit vs 64-bit.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce MX450
VRAM Capacity	4 GB+100%	2 GB
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	160 GB/s+100%	80 GB/s
Bus Width	256-bit+300%	64-bit

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Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 680MX draws 122W versus the GeForce MX450's 25W — a 132% difference. The GeForce MX450 is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 680MX) vs 350W (GeForce MX450). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs Mobile.