AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile vs NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M and AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile represent two distinct approaches to mobile graphics, separated by nearly seven years of technological evolution. The GTX 680M is a high-end discrete solution from 2012, while the Vega 10 Mobile is a 2019 integrated graphics processor. The benchmark data shows a clear performance hierarchy, but the underlying architectural philosophies reveal why each part exists. The GTX 680M commands a 42.5% lead in the only shared benchmark, yet the Vega 10 Mobile achieves this with a fraction of the power envelope, suggesting that efficiency and integration were the primary design goals for AMD’s part.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU is faster in the shared benchmark?

A: The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M wins the only head-to-head benchmark (geekbench_opencl) with a score of 9230, which is 42.5% higher than the AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile’s score of 6476.

Q: How does each GPU rank against all other GPUs?

A: The GTX 680M sits at the 39th percentile of all GPUs, while the Vega 10 Mobile sits at the 37th percentile. Their average benchmark scores are 7023 and 6476, respectively, placing them in a similar overall tier despite the large delta in the direct comparison.

Q: What are the closest rivals for each GPU?

A: The GTX 680M’s nearest rival is the NVIDIA T600, with an average score of 7035, just 0.2% higher. The Vega 10 Mobile’s nearest rival is the NVIDIA Quadro M5000M, with an average score of 6481, only 0.1% higher.

Q: What is the difference in power consumption?

A: The GTX 680M has a TDP of 100 W, while the Vega 10 Mobile has a TDP of 10 W. This means the AMD part uses 90% less power according to the specifications.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same API levels?

A: No. The GTX 680M supports DirectX 12 (11_0) and Vulkan 1.2.175, while the Vega 10 Mobile supports DirectX 12 (12_1) and Vulkan 1.3. Both support OpenGL 4.6.

Q: What is the memory configuration for each?

A: The GTX 680M has 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory on a 256-bit bus with 115.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Vega 10 Mobile uses System Shared memory, with its bandwidth being System Dependent.

Architecture Differences

The fundamental architectural divide is between a discrete GPU and an integrated one. The GTX 680M is based on the GK104 chip using NVIDIA’s Kepler architecture, built on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It packs 3,540 million transistors onto a 294 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 12.0M per mm². In contrast, the Vega 10 Mobile uses the Raven-M chip with AMD’s GCN 5.0 architecture, manufactured by GlobalFoundries on a 14 nm process. It contains 4,940 million transistors on a smaller 210 mm² die, achieving a much higher transistor density of 23.5M per mm².

The compute resources differ dramatically. The GTX 680M features 1344 shading units, 112 texture mapping units (TMUs), and 32 raster operations pipelines (ROPs). The Vega 10 Mobile is far more modest, with only 640 shading units, 40 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. This 2:1 or greater ratio in core counts directly explains the performance gap. However, the Vega 10 Mobile compensates with a much higher boost clock of 1301 MHz compared to the GTX 680M’s 758 MHz boost, although the GTX 680M has a higher base clock of 719 MHz versus 300 MHz.

Memory architecture is another key separator. The GTX 680M uses a dedicated 256-bit GDDR5 interface, while the Vega 10 Mobile relies on system shared memory, making its performance dependent on the host system’s RAM. The GTX 680M’s memory clock is 900 MHz or 3.6 Gbps effective, providing fixed bandwidth, whereas the Vega 10 Mobile’s bandwidth is listed as System Dependent. The Vega 10 Mobile does offer a feature the GTX 680M lacks: FP16 support at 3.331 TFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio, while its FP32 is 1.665 TFLOPS. The GTX 680M’s FP32 is higher at 2.038 TFLOPS.

Where Each One Wins

The GTX 680M wins decisively in raw compute performance. Its 2.038 TFLOPS FP32 throughput and dedicated memory bandwidth of 115.2 GB/s make it suited for tasks that demand sustained, high-resolution rendering, such as gaming at higher settings or GPU-accelerated content creation. The benchmark results confirm this, with the GTX 680M achieving a 42.5% higher score in Geekbench OpenCL. Its pixel rate of 21.22 GPixel/s and texture rate of 84.90 GTexel/s are more than double the Vega 10 Mobile’s respective rates of 10.41 GPixel/s and 52.04 GTexel/s, indicating a clear advantage in fill-rate-bound workloads.

The Vega 10 Mobile wins on integration and efficiency. With a TDP of just 10 W compared to the GTX 680M’s 100 W, the AMD part is designed for ultra-thin laptops where power draw and heat dissipation are critical. Its IGP form factor means it is soldered to the processor, requiring no separate memory or power connectors. The Vega 10 Mobile also supports a newer DirectX feature level (12_1 vs 11_0) and Vulkan 1.3, which can enable more modern rendering techniques despite the lower raw throughput. For light workloads like video playback, office productivity, or casual esports titles, the Vega 10 Mobile provides a baseline of performance without the need for a bulky discrete GPU.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M | AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Kepler | GCN 5.0 |

| Process Node | 28 nm | 14 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | GlobalFoundries |

| Transistors | 3,540 million | 4,940 million |

| Die Size | 294 mm² | 210 mm² |

| Transistor Density | 12.0M / mm² | 23.5M / mm² |

| Base Clock | 719 MHz | 300 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 758 MHz | 1301 MHz |

| Memory Size | 4 GB | System Shared |

| Memory Type | GDDR5 | System Shared |

| Memory Bus Width | 256 bit | System Shared |

| Memory Bandwidth | 115.2 GB/s | System Dependent |

| Shading Units | 1344 | 640 |

| TMUs | 112 | 40 |

| ROPs | 32 | 8 |

| Pixel Rate | 21.22 GPixel/s | 10.41 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 84.90 GTexel/s | 52.04 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 2.038 TFLOPS | 1.665 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | N/A | 3.331 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | 100 W | 10 W |

| Slot Width | MXM Module | IGP |

| Bus Interface | MXM-B (3.0) | IGP |

| DirectX | 12 (11_0) | 12 (12_1) |

| Vulkan | 1.2.175 | 1.3 |

| Release Date | 2012-06-03 | 2019-01-07 |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only direct benchmark comparison available is Geekbench OpenCL, and it is a decisive victory for the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M. The GTX 680M scores 9230, while the AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile scores 6476. This represents a delta of 42.5% in favor of the NVIDIA part. This is a substantial margin, indicating that the GTX 680M delivers roughly 42% more compute throughput in this OpenCL workload. The result is consistent with the specification sheet, where the GTX 680M has more than double the shading units (1344 vs 640) and significantly higher fill rates.

The average benchmark scores tell a slightly different story. The GTX 680M’s average benchmark score is 7023, and the Vega 10 Mobile’s is 6476, a difference of about 8.4%. This narrower gap reflects the GTX 680M’s inclusion of a second benchmark (geekbench_metal score of 4815) which drags its average down. In contrast, the Vega 10 Mobile’s average is based solely on its OpenCL score. The percentile ranking confirms they are close in overall standing, with the GTX 680M at the 39th percentile and the Vega 10 Mobile at the 37th. The GTX 680M’s nearest rival, the NVIDIA T600, scores 7035, which is only 0.2% higher, while the Vega 10 Mobile’s nearest rival, the NVIDIA Quadro M5000M, scores 6481, just 0.1% higher.

The Verdict

The data clearly shows that the NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680M is the superior performer. It wins the only head-to-head benchmark with a 42.5% margin, has a higher average benchmark score (7023 vs 6476), and a higher percentile ranking (39th vs 37th). For anyone seeking maximum frame rates in demanding applications, the GTX 680M is the unequivocal choice based on the specifications and benchmark results. Its 4 GB of dedicated GDDR5 memory and 115.2 GB/s bandwidth provide a level of memory performance that the Vega 10 Mobile’s system-shared configuration cannot match.

However, the AMD Radeon Vega 10 Mobile is not without its merits. Its 10 W TDP is a fraction of the GTX 680M’s 100 W, making it the only viable option for fanless or ultraportable designs where power efficiency is paramount. It also supports a more modern DirectX feature level (12_1) and a newer Vulkan version (1.3), which could be relevant for future software compatibility. The choice comes down to the use case: the GTX 680M for a dedicated gaming laptop with a discrete GPU, and the Vega 10 Mobile for an integrated, power-sipping solution in a thin and light machine.