AMD Radeon 680M vs NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti and the AMD Radeon 680M represent two fundamentally different approaches to graphics processing: a discrete, high-power desktop card versus an integrated graphics processor (IGP) designed for mobile efficiency. The data shows a decisive performance gulf between them, but their intended use cases are so distinct that the comparison reveals more about design philosophy than direct competition. In the three available head-to-head benchmarks, the RTX 3060 Ti wins all three, yet the Radeon 680M holds its own in its specific niche as a low-power integrated solution.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 3060 Ti is the clear victor in every compute and rendering scenario measured. Its wins are not marginal; they are overwhelming across all tested workloads. The data shows a 594.7% lead in the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, a 236.3% advantage in Geekbench OpenCL, and a 117.5% lead in Geekbench Vulkan. This makes the RTX 3060 Ti the only choice for high-fidelity gaming, 3D rendering, or any GPU-accelerated task where raw throughput is paramount. Its average benchmark score of 16129 places it in the 59th percentile of all GPUs, with nearest rivals including the AMD Radeon RX 9060 (0.7% ahead) and the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (1.4% behind), showing it sits in a competitive mid-to-high tier of discrete graphics.

The AMD Radeon 680M wins in a category not measured by raw benchmark scores: power efficiency and physical integration. With a 50 W TDP compared to the RTX 3060 Ti's 200 W, the 680M is designed for thin-and-light laptops where a discrete card is impossible. Its IGP form factor means no power connectors and a portable-device-dependent display output. While it loses every benchmark, its 57th percentile ranking (average score 15270) is remarkable for a chip that shares its thermal envelope with a CPU. Its nearest rivals include the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (0.1% behind) and the RTX 3050 OEM (0.5% ahead), suggesting that for an integrated solution, it punches far above its weight class in synthetic tests.

Architecture Differences

The architectural gap between these two is stark. The RTX 3060 Ti uses the GA104 chip on NVIDIA's Ampere architecture, built on Samsung's 8 nm process. It packs 17,400 million transistors into a 392 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 44.4M per mm². The 680M, by contrast, uses the Rembrandt+ chip on AMD's RDNA 2.0 architecture, fabricated by TSMC on a 6 nm node. It contains 13,100 million transistors on a 208 mm² die, achieving a higher density of 63.0M per mm². This density advantage reflects the 680M's more modern process node, even though its absolute transistor count is lower.

The compute resources differ by an order of magnitude. The RTX 3060 Ti has 4864 shading units, 152 TMUs, 80 ROPs, 38 RT cores, and 152 tensor cores. The 680M has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and 12 RT cores, with no tensor cores. This translates to a massive raw throughput difference: the RTX 3060 Ti delivers 16.20 TFLOPS FP32, while the 680M delivers 3.379 TFLOPS FP32. The FP16 figures show a further divergence in philosophy. The RTX 3060 Ti runs FP16 at 16.20 TFLOPS (1:1 ratio), while the 680M runs at 6.758 TFLOPS (2:1 ratio), indicating the AMD part uses a different shader execution strategy for half-precision work.

Memory architecture is another fundamental split. The RTX 3060 Ti has 8 GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, providing 448.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The 680M uses System Shared memory, with its bus width and bandwidth described as "System Dependent." This means the 680M's performance is tied to the laptop's RAM configuration, a major constraint versus the dedicated VRAM of the discrete card. The RTX 3060 Ti also features a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, while the 680M uses x8, further reflecting its integrated design.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test delivers the most lopsided result. The RTX 3060 Ti scores 2626, while the 680M scores 378, a delta of 594.7%. This test stresses modern DirectX 12 rendering features, where the RTX 3060 Ti's 38 RT cores and 152 tensor cores provide a massive advantage. The 680M's 12 RT cores are simply not enough to keep pace in a benchmark designed for discrete-class hardware.

Geekbench OpenCL shows a 236.3% win for the RTX 3060 Ti, with scores of 78927 versus 23468. This test is more compute-oriented, and the difference here highlights the FP32 throughput gap. With 4864 shading units running at a boost of 1665 MHz, the RTX 3060 Ti can process far more parallel workloads per cycle than the 680M's 768 shading units at 2200 MHz boost. The higher clock speed of the 680M (2200 MHz vs 1665 MHz) does not compensate for the six-fold difference in shader count.

The Geekbench Vulkan result is the closest of the three, but still a decisive 117.5% win for the RTX 3060 Ti (47784 vs 21965). Vulkan's lower-level API can sometimes favor more efficient architectures, but here the raw hardware advantage of the discrete card wins out. The 680M's performance is notable for an IGP, but it cannot close the gap in absolute terms. Across all three tests, the RTX 3060 Ti's smallest victory is still more than double the 680M's score.

FAQ

Q: Is the AMD Radeon 680M a viable option for gaming?

A: The data shows it performs at the 57th percentile of all GPUs, with an average score of 15270, putting it near the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 (0.1% behind) and RTX 3050 OEM (0.5% ahead). For an integrated processor, this is competitive with older discrete cards, but its 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 378 is far below what modern titles would require for high settings.

Q: How much faster is the RTX 3060 Ti in real-world terms?

A: Benchmark results indicate a 594.7% lead in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, a 236.3% lead in Geekbench OpenCL, and a 117.5% lead in Geekbench Vulkan. The smallest gap is still more than double the 680M's score.

Q: Does the 680M's higher clock speed help it compete?

A: The 680M boosts to 2200 MHz versus the RTX 3060 Ti's 1665 MHz, but this does not compensate for the hardware difference. The RTX 3060 Ti has 4864 shading units versus 768, and delivers 16.20 TFLOPS FP32 versus 3.379 TFLOPS.

Q: Why does the 680M have a higher transistor density?

A: The 680M uses a 6 nm TSMC process, versus 8 nm Samsung for the RTX 3060 Ti. This yields 63.0M transistors per mm² versus 44.4M per mm², even though the RTX 3060 Ti has more total transistors (17,400 million vs 13,100 million).

Q: Can the 680M's System Shared memory be upgraded?

A: Its memory configuration is "System Dependent," meaning bandwidth and capacity depend entirely on the host laptop's RAM. The RTX 3060 Ti has fixed 8 GB GDDR6 with 448.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which card has better API support?

A: Both support DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The RTX 3060 Ti additionally has 152 tensor cores, which the 680M lacks, though no benchmark in the data set specifically tests tensor performance.

Specification Differences

• Process Node: RTX 3060 Ti is 8 nm (Samsung); 680M is 6 nm (TSMC)
• Die Size: 392 mm² vs 208 mm²
• Transistor Density: 44.4M / mm² vs 63.0M / mm²
• Shading Units: 4864 vs 768
• TMUs: 152 vs 48
• ROPs: 80 vs 32
• RT Cores: 38 vs 12
• Tensor Cores: 152 vs none
• Base Clock: 1410 MHz vs 2000 MHz
• Boost Clock: 1665 MHz vs 2200 MHz
• Memory: 8 GB GDDR6 vs System Shared
• Memory Bus: 256 bit vs System Shared
• Bandwidth: 448.0 GB/s vs System Dependent
• FP32: 16.20 TFLOPS vs 3.379 TFLOPS
• FP16: 16.20 TFLOPS (1:1) vs 6.758 TFLOPS (2:1)
• Pixel Rate: 133.2 GPixel/s vs 70.40 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 253.1 GTexel/s vs 105.6 GTexel/s
• TDP: 200 W vs 50 W
• Slot Width: Dual-slot vs IGP
• Power Connectors: 1x 12-pin vs None
• Bus Interface: PCIe 4.0 x16 vs PCIe 4.0 x8
• Display Outputs: 1x HDMI 2.1, 3x DisplayPort 1.4a vs Portable Device Dependent
• Production Status: End-of-life vs Active
• Release Date: 2020-11-30 vs 2023-01-02
• Launch MSRP: 399 USD vs not available

The Verdict

The data supports a clear, if predictable, conclusion. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3060 Ti is the superior performer in every benchmark measured, with wins ranging from 117.5% to 594.7%. Its 16.20 TFLOPS FP32 throughput, 8 GB of dedicated GDDR6 memory, and 448.0 GB/s bandwidth make it a capable discrete solution for demanding workloads. Its 59th percentile ranking and competition with cards like the AMD Radeon RX 9060 and RX 5700 XT place it firmly in the mid-range discrete tier. Anyone needing maximum frame rates or compute performance should choose this card, provided they can accommodate its 200 W TDP and dual-slot footprint.

The AMD Radeon 680M is not a competitor in raw performance, but the data reveals a different kind of achievement. At 50 W, with no power connectors and an IGP form factor, it delivers 57th-percentile performance. Its average score of 15270 is within 0.1% of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 and 0.5% of the RTX 3050 OEM, both discrete cards. This makes the 680M an exceptional choice for ultra-portable laptops where power draw and physical space are the primary constraints. Its higher boost clock (2200 MHz) and denser 6 nm process show AMD extracting maximum efficiency from a limited transistor budget. For users who need integrated graphics that can handle light gaming or accelerated productivity without a discrete card, the 680M is the clear pick. The RTX 3060 Ti wins on performance; the 680M wins on integration. Choose based on whether your priority is raw power or portability.