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

✅Draws 122W instead of 220W, a 98W reduction.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,799 vs 22,172).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌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 44.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

GeForce RTX 3070

2020

Why buy it

✅+483.6% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌80.3% higher power demand at 220W vs 122W.

GeForce GTX 680MX

2012

GeForce RTX 3070

2020

Why buy it

✅Draws 122W instead of 220W, a 98W reduction.

Why buy it

✅+483.6% higher PassMark G3D performance.
✅Delivers 100+% more G3D Mark for each dollar spent, at 44.4 vs 0 G3D/$ ($499 MSRP vs Unknown MSRP).
✅Access to DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020).
✅100% more VRAM for high-resolution textures and newer games (8 GB vs 4 GB).
✅More future proof: Ampere (2020−2025) on 8nm with a newer platform for upcoming games.

Trade-offs

❌Lower PassMark G3D performance (3,799 vs 22,172).
❌Less VRAM, with 4 GB vs 8 GB for high-resolution textures and newer games.
❌No DLSS support; it relies on Upscaling support instead.
❌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 44.4 G3D/$ (Unknown MSRP vs $499 MSRP).

Trade-offs

❌80.3% higher power demand at 220W vs 122W.

Quick Answers

So, is GeForce RTX 3070 better than GeForce GTX 680MX?

Yes. GeForce RTX 3070 is clearly the better overall GPU here. You are also looking at 22,172 vs 3,799 in G3D Mark. On top of that, GeForce RTX 3070 is a 2020 card with DLSS Super Resolution, while GeForce GTX 680MX is a 2012 model from an older generation with no meaningful modern upscaling stack. So this is not really a tight same-tier comparison. It is more a modern card against an older, weaker alternative.

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

GeForce RTX 3070 is the more future-proof choice for 2026 and beyond. You are getting a newer 2020 generation instead of 2012, 483.6% more raw performance headroom, more VRAM at 8 GB instead of 4 GB, and better upscaling support with DLSS 2 Super Resolution (2020) instead of no meaningful modern upscaling stack. That leaves it with more room for heavier textures, tougher ray tracing loads, and higher-end 1440p or 4K gaming over the next few years.

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

GeForce RTX 3070 is the smarter buy today, but it is not as lopsided as a simple winner label makes it sound. GeForce RTX 3070 is priced in an unclear MSRP range at $499 MSRP versus an unclear MSRP, and you are getting 483.6% higher G3D Mark. It also leads G3D-per-dollar by 100+%. That is why the better overall card still comes out as the smarter buy today, not just the faster one.

Is GeForce GTX 680MX still worth buying for gaming in 2026?

Yes. GeForce GTX 680MX is still a strong modern gaming GPU: it is still comfortable for 1080p and decent for 1440p, though 4K is more situational. It remains a good buy when you can get it meaningfully cheaper than the alternative around an unclear MSRP, even if GeForce RTX 3070 is still the cleaner recommendation on overall value today.

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 RTX 3070 Benchmark Check

Path of Exile 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	78 FPS	158 FPS
medium	67 FPS	140 FPS
high	53 FPS	123 FPS
ultra	35 FPS	104 FPS
1440p
low	70 FPS	134 FPS
medium	60 FPS	109 FPS
high	43 FPS	96 FPS
ultra	27 FPS	86 FPS
4K
low	25 FPS	80 FPS
medium	24 FPS	67 FPS
high	16 FPS	52 FPS
ultra	14 FPS	45 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680MX Open GeForce RTX 3070

Path of Exile 2

Path of Exile 2

Counter-Strike 2

Preset	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	64 FPS	470 FPS
medium	42 FPS	405 FPS
high	31 FPS	327 FPS
ultra	21 FPS	277 FPS
1440p
low	37 FPS	294 FPS
medium	21 FPS	246 FPS
high	15 FPS	213 FPS
ultra	11 FPS	179 FPS
4K
low	13 FPS	141 FPS
medium	8 FPS	120 FPS
high	6 FPS	105 FPS
ultra	5 FPS	83 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680MX Open GeForce RTX 3070

Counter-Strike 2

Counter-Strike 2

League of Legends

Preset	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	171 FPS	885 FPS
medium	137 FPS	712 FPS
high	114 FPS	619 FPS
ultra	85 FPS	499 FPS
1440p
low	128 FPS	692 FPS
medium	103 FPS	557 FPS
high	85 FPS	473 FPS
ultra	64 FPS	374 FPS
4K
low	85 FPS	479 FPS
medium	68 FPS	388 FPS
high	57 FPS	330 FPS
ultra	43 FPS	249 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680MX Open GeForce RTX 3070

League of Legends

League of Legends

Valorant

Preset	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce RTX 3070
1080p
low	128 FPS	600 FPS
medium	103 FPS	527 FPS
high	88 FPS	433 FPS
ultra	72 FPS	385 FPS
1440p
low	97 FPS	489 FPS
medium	80 FPS	433 FPS
high	69 FPS	339 FPS
ultra	55 FPS	297 FPS
4K
low	57 FPS	292 FPS
medium	44 FPS	270 FPS
high	35 FPS	238 FPS
ultra	26 FPS	200 FPS

Open GeForce GTX 680MX Open GeForce RTX 3070

Valorant

Valorant

Check FPS for your specific build

Technical Specifications

Side-by-side comparison of GeForce GTX 680MX and GeForce RTX 3070

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 RTX 3070

The GeForce RTX 3070 is manufactured by NVIDIA. It was released in September 1 2020. It features the Ampere architecture. The core clock ranges from 1500 MHz to 1725 MHz. It has 5888 shading units. The thermal design power (TDP) is 220W. Manufactured using 8 nm process technology. It features 46 dedicated ray tracing cores for enhanced lighting effects. G3D Mark benchmark score: 22,172 points. Launch price was $499.

⚡

Graphics Performance

In G3D Mark, the GeForce GTX 680MX scores 3,799 versus the GeForce RTX 3070's 22,172 — the GeForce RTX 3070 leads by 483.6%. The GeForce GTX 680MX is built on Kepler while the GeForce RTX 3070 uses Ampere, both on 28 nm vs 8 nm. Shader units: 1,536 (GeForce GTX 680MX) vs 5,888 (GeForce RTX 3070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce RTX 3070
G3D Mark Score	3,799	22,172+484%
Architecture	Kepler	Ampere
Process Node	28 nm	8 nm
Shading Units	1536	5888+283%

✨

Advanced Features (DLSS/FSR)

The GeForce RTX 3070 supports the newer DLSS 2 Super Resolution, whereas the GeForce GTX 680MX is capped at Upscaling support.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce RTX 3070
Upscaling Tech	Upscaling support	DLSS 2 Super Resolution
Frame Generation	Not Supported	Not Supported
Ray Reconstruction	No	No
Low Latency	NVIDIA Reflex	NVIDIA Reflex

💾

Video Memory (VRAM)

The GeForce GTX 680MX comes with 4 GB of VRAM, while the GeForce RTX 3070 has 8 GB. The GeForce RTX 3070 offers 100% more capacity, crucial for higher resolutions and texture-heavy games. Memory bandwidth: 160 GB/s (GeForce GTX 680MX) vs 448 GB/s (GeForce RTX 3070) — a 180% advantage for the GeForce RTX 3070. Bus width: 256-bit vs 256-bit.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce RTX 3070
VRAM Capacity	4 GB	8 GB+100%
Memory Type	GDDR5	GDDR6
Memory Bandwidth	160 GB/s	448 GB/s+180%
Bus Width	256-bit	256-bit

🖥️

Display & API Support

DirectX support: 12 (11_0) (GeForce GTX 680MX) vs 12 Ultimate (GeForce RTX 3070). Vulkan: 1.2 vs 1.4. OpenGL: 4.6 vs 4.6. Maximum simultaneous displays: 4 vs 4.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce RTX 3070
DirectX	12 (11_0)	12 Ultimate
Vulkan	1.2	1.4+17%
OpenGL	4.6	4.6
Max Displays	4	4

🎬

Media & Encoding

Hardware encoder: NVENC (Kepler) (GeForce GTX 680MX) vs NVENC 7th gen (GeForce RTX 3070). Decoder: NVDEC (Kepler) vs NVDEC 5th gen. Supported codecs: H.264,MPEG-1,MPEG-2,VC-1 (GeForce GTX 680MX) vs H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9 (GeForce RTX 3070).

Feature	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce RTX 3070
Encoder	NVENC (Kepler)	NVENC 7th gen
Decoder	NVDEC (Kepler)	NVDEC 5th gen
Codecs	H.264,MPEG-1,MPEG-2,VC-1	H.264,H.265/HEVC,AV1,VP9

🔌

Power & Dimensions

The GeForce GTX 680MX draws 122W versus the GeForce RTX 3070's 220W — a 57.3% difference. The GeForce GTX 680MX is more power-efficient. Recommended PSU: 350W (GeForce GTX 680MX) vs 650W (GeForce RTX 3070). Power connectors: 1x 6-pin vs 8-pin. Card length: 0mm vs 242mm, occupying 0 vs 2 slots. Typical load temperature: 80 vs 75°C.

Feature	GeForce GTX 680MX	GeForce RTX 3070
TDP	122W-45%	220W
Recommended PSU	350W-46%	650W
Power Connector	1x 6-pin	8-pin
Length	0mm	242mm
Height	0mm	112mm
Slots	0-100%	2
Temp (Load)	80	75°C-6%
Perf/Watt	31.1	100.8+224%