NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 Mac Edition

The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 680 Mac Edition is a Kepler-architecture GPU built on the GK104 chip, fabricated on a 28 nm process at TSMC. It carries 3,540 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 12.0M / mm². Released on 2013-04-02, it belongs to the GeForce 600 generation, with a launch MSRP of 599 USD. The card is now end-of-life, but its specification sheet remains instructive for legacy systems, particularly those in Mac Pro chassis.

Who Should Consider It

The GTX 680 Mac Edition targets users who need a dual-slot card with a 256-bit memory interface and 2 GB of GDDR5. Its 192.3 GB/s bandwidth and 3.250 TFLOPS of FP32 compute make it suitable for mainstream resolutions. The 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs indicates a mid-pack performer, meaning half of all GPUs in the database outperform it and half underperform it. The card's 1536 shading units and 128 TMUs handle texture-heavy workloads, while 32 ROPs deliver a pixel rate of 33.86 GPixel/s. For users running applications that fit within the 2 GB frame buffer, this card offers balanced performance. However, at higher resolutions where memory capacity becomes a constraint, the 2 GB limit will be a bottleneck. The 135.4 GTexel/s texture rate suggests solid fill-rate performance for its era. The card is best suited for workloads that do not exceed the VRAM capacity, such as standard desktop resolutions and moderate graphical settings. Users with older Mac Pro systems who need a Kepler-based GPU with DisplayPort 1.2 and HDMI 1.4a outputs will find this card relevant. The absence of dedicated RT cores and tensor cores means it is not aimed at ray tracing or AI workloads. The 195 W TDP requires a 450 W PSU, which is common in desktop systems. The card's PCIe 2.0 x16 interface is backward compatible with most motherboards. The 256 mm length and 111 mm height fit standard dual-slot chassis. The 38 mm width indicates a standard dual-slot cooler. The 6 Gbps effective memory clock, paired with the 256-bit bus, yields the 192.3 GB/s bandwidth, which is adequate for texture-heavy scenes at moderate resolutions. For users considering a legacy build, the card's DirectX 12 (11_0) support allows modern API features, though at a feature level of 11_0. The OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.175 support ensure compatibility with current graphics drivers. Overall, this card is for users with modest performance needs who value compatibility and a specific feature set, not for those seeking top-tier performance or cutting-edge features.

Ray Tracing and Feature Set

The GTX 680 Mac Edition does not include dedicated ray tracing cores or tensor cores, as indicated by the null values in the FACT PACK. This means the card relies entirely on traditional rasterization. Its API support includes DirectX 12 (11_0), which provides access to DirectX 12 features but at the 11_0 feature level, limiting some advanced effects. OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.2.175 are supported, allowing the card to run modern OpenGL and Vulkan applications. The Kepler architecture, introduced in this generation, does not have hardware-accelerated ray tracing. Consequently, any ray tracing workloads would have to be software-based, which is not practical given the 3.250 TFLOPS FP32 throughput. The card's feature set is focused on conventional rendering. The display outputs include 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2, which support common monitors. The HDMI 1.4a and DisplayPort 1.2 outputs provide standard connectivity options. The lack of tensor cores means no AI-based upscaling or deep learning features. The card's 50th percentile ranking suggests it is not a high-end part, and its feature set aligns with that positioning. The DirectX 12 (11_0) support is a notable inclusion for a 2013 card, as it allows compatibility with newer games that require DirectX 12, albeit with reduced feature sets. The Vulkan 1.2.175 version is relatively recent, indicating driver support for modern Vulkan titles. The OpenGL 4.6 support is also current. For users who prioritize ray tracing or AI features, this card is not appropriate. However, for traditional rasterization, the feature set is adequate. The absence of RT cores and tensor cores is a clear delineation from newer architectures. The card's process node of 28 nm and transistor density of 12.0M / mm² are typical for its era. The 3,540 million transistor count is substantial, but without dedicated acceleration hardware, the card cannot perform ray tracing efficiently.

Power and Cooling

The GTX 680 Mac Edition has a TDP of 195 W. This power draw requires a suggested PSU of 450 W. The card uses two 6-pin power connectors for power delivery. The dual-slot width indicates a substantial cooler, likely with a large heatsink and fan. The card's dimensions are 256 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 38 mm in width, which translate to 10.1 inches, 4.4 inches, and 1.5 inches respectively. These dimensions fit most mid-tower cases. The 195 W TDP is moderate for a GPU of this era, and the 450 W PSU recommendation provides a reasonable margin. The 2x 6-pin connectors are standard for cards in this power class. The card's power delivery is straightforward, with no additional high-power connectors. The 28 nm process node helps keep power consumption in check, but the 3,540 million transistors still require substantial power. The 195 W TDP means the card generates a significant amount of heat, necessitating the dual-slot cooler. The card's cooling solution must dissipate this heat effectively. The 38 mm width is typical for a dual-slot card, allowing for a thick heatsink. The 256 mm length is compatible with most ATX cases. The 111 mm height is standard for a PCIe card. The suggested PSU of 450 W is a common specification for mid-range systems. Users with a 450 W PSU can run this card, but should ensure their PSU has the required 6-pin connectors. The card's power draw is not extreme, but it is not low-power either. The TDP of 195 W is a key specification for system integrators. The card's end-of-life status means replacement parts may be harder to find. The dual-slot design is necessary to cool the GK104 chip. The 2x 6-pin connectors are the only power inputs, so users must verify their PSU has two 6-pin cables. The 450 W PSU recommendation is based on the card's TDP plus system overhead. The card's power consumption is consistent with its performance class, as indicated by the 50th percentile ranking.

How It Compares

The FACT PACK provides no nearestRivals data for this card, so a direct comparison to specific rival GPUs is not possible from the given information. However, the card's position can be inferred from its percentile and generation. The card holds a 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs, placing it exactly in the middle of the performance distribution. This suggests it is neither a high-end nor a low-end part. Within the GeForce 600 generation, the GTX 680 Mac Edition is a high-end model, as it uses the GK104 chip. Its predecessor is the GeForce 500 series, and its successor is the GeForce 700 series. The card's architecture, Kepler, was a major step from the previous Fermi architecture. The 28 nm process node allowed for a higher transistor density (12.0M / mm²) compared to older nodes. The card's 3,540 million transistors and 294 mm² die size are indicative of a mid-to-high-end chip. Without rival data, we can only state that the card sits at the 50th percentile. The average benchmark score is 0, which indicates that no benchmark results are recorded in the database. This lack of data further limits comparative analysis. The card's specifications, such as 1536 shading units and 192.3 GB/s bandwidth, are typical for its class. The 3.250 TFLOPS FP32 performance is a measure of its compute capability. The pixel rate of 33.86 GPixel/s and texture rate of 135.4 GTexel/s are also relevant. The card's 2 GB VRAM and 256-bit bus are standard for its time. In the absence of rival data, the percentile is the only comparative metric available. The 50th percentile means that half of all GPUs in the database perform better, and half perform worse. This is a balanced position. The card's end-of-life status means it is no longer produced, but it still holds a place in the performance hierarchy. The card's release in 2013 places it in a specific era of GPU development. The DirectX 12 (11_0) support is a forward-looking feature for its time. The card's feature set and performance are consistent with its mid-pack ranking.

Memory Subsystem

The GTX 680 Mac Edition is equipped with 2 GB of GDDR5 memory. The memory bus is 256 bits wide, and the memory clock runs at 1502 MHz, which translates to 6 Gbps effective. This configuration yields a memory bandwidth of 192.3 GB/s. This bandwidth is sufficient for the card's compute and rendering capabilities. The 2 GB capacity is a limiting factor at high resolutions, as modern workloads often require more VRAM. The 256-bit bus provides a good balance between bandwidth and cost. The 192.3 GB/s bandwidth allows the card to handle texture-heavy scenes without significant bottlenecks. However, at resolutions where the frame buffer exceeds 2 GB, the card will struggle. The memory type GDDR5 is standard for this era. The 6 Gbps effective clock is moderate. The 1502 MHz memory clock is the base frequency. The 256-bit bus width is a common configuration for mid-range and high-end cards of that time. The 192.3 GB/s bandwidth is a key specification for comparing memory performance. For users running at standard resolutions, 2 GB is often sufficient, but for higher resolutions, it is insufficient. The card's memory subsystem is not its strongest feature, but it is adequate for its intended use. The 2 GB capacity is a hard limit. The bandwidth of 192.3 GB/s is comparable to other cards in its class. The memory subsystem works in conjunction with the 1536 shading units and 128 TMUs to deliver the card's overall performance. The pixel rate of 33.86 GPixel/s is also dependent on memory bandwidth. The 32 ROPs are the final stage of the rendering pipeline. The memory subsystem's 256-bit bus allows for efficient data transfer. The 6 Gbps effective speed is a standard figure. The 1502 MHz clock is the base. The 192.3 GB/s bandwidth is a calculated value from the bus width and clock. The card's memory subsystem is balanced for its 50th percentile performance. The 2 GB VRAM is the primary constraint for future-proofing. The GDDR5 type is reliable and widely supported. The 256-bit bus is a good compromise between bandwidth and board complexity. The 192.3 GB/s bandwidth is sufficient for standard resolutions. At higher resolutions, the bandwidth may also become a bottleneck, but the capacity is the more pressing issue.

FAQ

Q: What is the launch MSRP of the GTX 680 Mac Edition?

A: The launch MSRP is 599 USD.

Q: Does the GTX 680 Mac Edition have dedicated ray tracing cores?

A: No, the FACT PACK lists RT cores as null, indicating the card does not have dedicated ray tracing hardware. Tensor cores are also null.

Q: What is the TDP of this card?

A: The TDP is 195 W, and the suggested PSU is 450 W.

Q: What power connectors does the card require?

A: The card requires two 6-pin power connectors.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth and configuration?

A: The memory bandwidth is 192.3 GB/s, with a 256-bit bus and 2 GB of GDDR5 memory running at 1502 MHz (6 Gbps effective).

Q: What is the card's percentile ranking among all GPUs?

A: The card holds a 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs, placing it exactly in the middle of the performance distribution.

Q: What display outputs are available?

A: The card has 2x DVI, 1x HDMI 1.4a, and 1x DisplayPort 1.2.