AMD Instinct MI300X vs NVIDIA N1 16SM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains a single benchmark entry for the AMD Instinct MI300X, the Geekbench OpenCL test, where it scores 317,994 points. This result places the MI300X in the 100th percentile among all GPUs in the database, indicating top-tier compute performance. The NVIDIA N1 16SM has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, leaving its average benchmark score at zero and placing it in the 50th percentile. Consequently, there are no direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons available for these two accelerators.

The MI300X's benchmark score can be contextualized against its nearest rivals in the database. The NVIDIA B200 holds an average score of 345,482, which is 8% higher than the MI300X. The NVIDIA H200 NVL scores 334,891, a 5% advantage over the MI300X. Conversely, the MI300X leads the NVIDIA L40S, which scores 295,763, by 7.5%. It also leads the NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation, which scores 287,237, by 10.7%. These figures establish the MI300X as a high-performance compute device, though not the absolute fastest in the database.

For the N1 16SM, the absence of benchmark data means no performance deltas can be calculated against any rival. The database records no wins for either part, as the head-to-head benchmark results array is empty. The analysis must therefore rely on architectural specifications and measured capabilities to differentiate the two devices.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Instinct MI300X and the NVIDIA N1 16SM represent fundamentally different design philosophies within the database. The MI300X uses the Aqua Vanjaram chip based on the CDNA 3.0 architecture, manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process. This is a dedicated accelerator built for the Instinct (MIx) generation, with a massive die size of 1017 mm² and 153,000 million transistors. The transistor density calculates to 150.4 million transistors per square millimeter.

The N1 16SM, in contrast, uses the GB20B chip based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, also manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process. It belongs to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation and functions as an integrated graphics processor, as indicated by its "IGP" slot width. Its die size is 382 mm², significantly smaller than the MI300X. The transistor count and density for the N1 16SM are marked as unknown in the database.

The MI300X is configured with 19,456 shading units, 1,216 texture mapping units, and zero raster operations units. It has no dedicated ray tracing cores and no tensor cores listed. The N1 16SM, by comparison, has 2,048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operations units. It includes 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores, features absent from the MI300X's specification. The MI300X is a compute-focused part with no display outputs, while the N1 16SM includes a single HDMI output.

Clock speeds differ substantially. The MI300X has a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 2100 MHz. The N1 16SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz. While the N1 16SM achieves a higher boost frequency, the MI300X operates at a much higher base clock. Memory configurations are also distinct: the MI300X uses 192 GB of HBM3 with an 8192-bit bus and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth, while the N1 16SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X with a 256-bit bus and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth.

FAQ

Q: Which accelerator has the higher FP32 compute throughput?

A: The AMD Instinct MI300X delivers 81.72 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM provides 9.609 TFLOPS. The MI300X is approximately 8.5 times faster in this metric.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference between the two?

A: The MI300X offers 5.32 TB/s of bandwidth using HBM3 memory across an 8192-bit interface. The N1 16SM provides 273.2 GB/s using LPDDR5X memory across a 256-bit interface. The MI300X's bandwidth is roughly 19.5 times higher.

Q: Do both accelerators support PCIe 5.0?

A: Yes, both the AMD Instinct MI300X and the NVIDIA N1 16SM use a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface, as recorded in the database.

Q: Which device has ray tracing and tensor core capabilities?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM is listed with 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores. The AMD Instinct MI300X has no ray tracing cores or tensor cores recorded in its specification.

Q: What is the production status of each accelerator?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM has a production status of "Active." The AMD Instinct MI300X does not have a production status listed in the database.

Q: How do the texture rates compare?

A: The MI300X achieves a texture rate of 2,553.6 GTexel/s, while the N1 16SM reaches 300.3 GTexel/s. The MI300X is over 8.5 times higher in this metric.

Specification Differences

The database records several specification differences between the AMD Instinct MI300X and the NVIDIA N1 16SM.

• Chip: The MI300X uses the Aqua Vanjaram chip. The N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip.
• Architecture: The MI300X is based on CDNA 3.0. The N1 16SM is based on Blackwell 2.0.
• Generation: The MI300X belongs to the Instinct (MIx) generation. The N1 16SM belongs to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation.
• Transistors: The MI300X has 153,000 million transistors. The N1 16SM's transistor count is unknown.
• Die Size: The MI300X has a die size of 1017 mm². The N1 16SM has a die size of 382 mm².
• Transistor Density: The MI300X has a density of 150.4M / mm². The N1 16SM's density is not listed.
• Base Clock: The MI300X has a base clock of 1000 MHz. The N1 16SM has a base clock of 741 MHz.
• Boost Clock: The MI300X has a boost clock of 2100 MHz. The N1 16SM has a boost clock of 2346 MHz.
• Memory Clock: The MI300X has a memory clock of 1300 MHz (5.2 Gbps effective). The N1 16SM has a memory clock of 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective).
• Memory Size: The MI300X has 192 GB of memory. The N1 16SM has 128 GB.
• Memory Type: The MI300X uses HBM3. The N1 16SM uses LPDDR5X.
• Memory Bus Width: The MI300X has an 8192-bit bus. The N1 16SM has a 256-bit bus.
• Memory Bandwidth: The MI300X has 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The N1 16SM has 273.2 GB/s.
• Shading Units: The MI300X has 19,456. The N1 16SM has 2,048.
• TMUs: The MI300X has 1,216. The N1 16SM has 128.
• ROPs: The MI300X has 0. The N1 16SM has 24.
• RT Cores: The MI300X has none listed. The N1 16SM has 16.
• Tensor Cores: The MI300X has none listed. The N1 16SM has 64.
• Pixel Rate: The MI300X is 0 MPixel/s. The N1 16SM is 56.30 GPixel/s.
• Texture Rate: The MI300X is 2,553.6 GTexel/s. The N1 16SM is 300.3 GTexel/s.
• FP32: The MI300X is 81.72 TFLOPS. The N1 16SM is 9.609 TFLOPS.
• FP16: The MI300X is 81.72 TFLOPS (1:1). The N1 16SM is 9.609 TFLOPS (1:1).
• TDP: The MI300X is 750 W. The N1 16SM's TDP is unknown.
• Slot Width: The MI300X is an OAM Module. The N1 16SM is an IGP.
• Suggested PSU: The MI300X recommends 1150 W. The N1 16SM has no suggested PSU listed.
• Display Outputs: The MI300X has no outputs. The N1 16SM has 1x HDMI.
• Release Date: The MI300X was released on 2023-12-05. The N1 16SM was released on 2026-05-31.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Instinct MI300X wins decisively in compute throughput and memory capabilities. Its FP32 performance of 81.72 TFLOPS dwarfs the N1 16SM's 9.609 TFLOPS. The MI300X also offers significantly more memory, 192 GB versus 128 GB, with a much wider bus and higher bandwidth. The texture rate of 2,553.6 GTexel/s on the MI300X is far above the 300.3 GTexel/s of the N1 16SM. The MI300X holds a benchmark score of 317,994 in Geekbench OpenCL, placing it in the 100th percentile, and its nearest rivals all fall within a range of 8% below to 10.7% above its score. This makes it the clear choice for compute-heavy workloads such as large-scale data processing and high-performance computing tasks.

The NVIDIA N1 16SM wins in areas related to graphics output and specialized processing features. It includes 24 ROPs and a pixel rate of 56.30 GPixel/s, while the MI300X has zero ROPs and a pixel rate of 0 MPixel/s. The N1 16SM also features 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores, which the MI300X lacks. The N1 16SM provides a single HDMI display output, whereas the MI300X has no display outputs at all. The N1 16SM also has a higher boost clock of 2346 MHz compared to the MI300X's 2100 MHz. For tasks involving ray tracing, tensor operations, or direct display output, the N1 16SM is the only option between the two.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split between these two accelerators. The AMD Instinct MI300X is a dedicated compute accelerator with massive memory capacity and bandwidth. It delivers 81.72 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and 5.32 TB/s of memory bandwidth, with a benchmark score of 317,994 that places it in the 100th percentile. Its architecture, CDNA 3.0, is optimized for raw compute throughput rather than graphics rendering.

The NVIDIA N1 16SM is an integrated graphics processor with a different focus. It offers lower compute throughput at 9.609 TFLOPS but includes graphics-specific features such as ROPs, ray tracing cores, tensor cores, and a display output. Its smaller die size of 382 mm² and lower memory bandwidth of 273.2 GB/s reflect its integrated nature.

Users requiring maximum compute performance for data center or scientific workloads should select the MI300X based on its superior FP32, FP16, memory bandwidth, and benchmark percentile. Users needing graphics output, ray tracing, or tensor core acceleration in an integrated form factor should choose the N1 16SM. The two devices serve distinct purposes, and the recorded specifications align with those intended use cases.