AMD Instinct MI300X vs NVIDIA N1X 40SM Comparison

FAQ

Q: What is the AMD Instinct MI300X's architecture and manufacturing process?

A: The AMD Instinct MI300X uses the CDNA 3.0 architecture on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It is built on the Aqua Vanjaram chip and features 153,000 million transistors on a 1017 mm² die.

Q: What is the NVIDIA N1X 40SM's architecture and manufacturing process?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 40SM uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture on a 5 nm process at TSMC. It is built on the GB20B chip with a 382 mm² die size, though its transistor count is listed as unknown.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have and what type?

A: The AMD Instinct MI300X has 192 GB of HBM3 memory with an 8192-bit bus and 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory with a 256-bit bus and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What benchmark scores are recorded for these GPUs?

A: The AMD Instinct MI300X has a Geekbench OpenCL score of 317,994, placing it in the 100th percentile among all GPUs. The NVIDIA N1X 40SM has no recorded benchmark scores and sits in the 50th percentile.

Q: How does the AMD Instinct MI300X compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The database shows the MI300X trails the NVIDIA B200 by 8% (345,482 vs 317,994) and the NVIDIA H200 NVL by 5% (334,891 vs 317,994). It leads the NVIDIA L40S by 7.5% (295,763) and the NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation by 10.7% (287,237).

Q: What are the power and interface specifications for each GPU?

A: The AMD Instinct MI300X has a TDP of 750 W, uses an OAM Module slot, and requires a suggested PSU of 1150 W. The NVIDIA N1X 40SM has an unknown TDP, uses an IGP slot, and has no suggested PSU listed. Both use PCIe 5.0 x16 interfaces.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Instinct MI300X and NVIDIA N1X 40SM represent fundamentally different design philosophies despite both being fabricated on TSMC's 5 nm process.

The MI300X uses AMD's CDNA 3.0 architecture, which is purpose-built for compute acceleration. This is reflected in its massive 1017 mm² die, housing 153,000 million transistors. The transistor density works out to 150.4 million transistors per square millimeter. This architecture prioritizes raw compute throughput over graphics functionality, as evidenced by having zero ROPs and no rasterization pipeline.

The N1X 40SM uses NVIDIA's Blackwell 2.0 architecture, a newer generation that incorporates a different feature set. Its die is significantly smaller at 382 mm², and while the transistor count is unknown, the architecture clearly targets a different segment. The N1X 40SM includes 40 ray tracing cores and 160 tensor cores, features that are entirely absent from the MI300X's specification sheet.

Clock speeds reveal different operating strategies. The MI300X runs at a 1000 MHz base clock and boosts to 2100 MHz. The N1X 40SM starts lower at 741 MHz base but boosts higher to 2346 MHz. This suggests the MI300X is designed for sustained heavy workloads, while the N1X 40SM can reach higher peak frequencies when conditions allow.

The memory subsystems are dramatically different. The MI300X uses HBM3 with an 8192-bit memory bus, achieving 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The N1X 40SM uses LPDDR5X with a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s. This represents a nearly 20-fold difference in memory bandwidth, which will have profound implications for memory-bound workloads.

Both GPUs report N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan APIs, indicating neither is designed for traditional graphics APIs. The MI300X has no display outputs, while the N1X 40SM includes 1 HDMI output. The MI300X is listed as an OAM Module, whereas the N1X 40SM is classified as an IGP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark results between the AMD Instinct MI300X and NVIDIA N1X 40SM. This absence of comparative data means the analysis must rely on the individual benchmark results recorded for each GPU.

The MI300X has one recorded benchmark: a Geekbench OpenCL score of 317,994. This score places it in the 100th percentile among all GPUs in the database. The N1X 40SM has no recorded benchmark scores, resulting in a 50th percentile ranking and an average benchmark score of zero.

Without head-to-head measurements, the relative performance can be inferred from the MI300X's rival comparisons. The MI300X sits between several NVIDIA data center parts: it is 5% behind the NVIDIA H200 NVL (334,891), 8% behind the NVIDIA B200 (345,482), 7.5% ahead of the NVIDIA L40S (295,763), and 10.7% ahead of the NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation (287,237).

The wins tally for this comparison is zero for both GPUs, reflecting the lack of direct benchmark data. The recorded evidence shows the MI300X delivers substantial compute capability, but the N1X 40SM's performance remains unmeasured in this database.

The MI300X's FP32 compute is listed at 81.72 TFLOPS, with FP16 at the same figure (1:1 ratio). The N1X 40SM delivers 24.02 TFLOPS in both FP32 and FP16. These figures indicate the MI300X provides roughly 3.4 times the raw floating-point throughput, though this comparison comes from specification data rather than benchmark results.

Texture and pixel rates further separate the two. The MI300X achieves 2,553.6 GTexel/s with a pixel rate of 0 MPixel/s, consistent with its compute-only design. The N1X 40SM delivers 750.7 GTexel/s and 93.84 GPixel/s, showing it retains some graphics pipeline capability.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every major specification category.

Process and Die: Both use 5 nm TSMC fabrication. The MI300X has a 1017 mm² die with 153,000 million transistors and a density of 150.4M/mm². The N1X 40SM has a 382 mm² die with an unknown transistor count and density.

Clock Speeds: The MI300X runs at 1000 MHz base and 2100 MHz boost. The N1X 40SM runs at 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost. Memory clocks are 1300 MHz (5.2 Gbps effective) for the MI300X and 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective) for the N1X 40SM.

Memory: The MI300X has 192 GB of HBM3 on an 8192-bit bus with 5.32 TB/s bandwidth. The N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Compute Units: The MI300X has 19,456 shading units, 1,216 TMUs, and 0 ROPs. The N1X 40SM has 5,120 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 40 ROPs. The N1X 40SM additionally has 40 RT cores and 160 tensor cores, while the MI300X lists neither.

Performance Rates: The MI300X delivers 81.72 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16, with a texture rate of 2,553.6 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 0 MPixel/s. The N1X 40SM delivers 24.02 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16, with a texture rate of 750.7 GTexel/s and pixel rate of 93.84 GPixel/s.

Power and Form Factor: The MI300X has a 750 W TDP, uses an OAM Module slot, has no power connectors, and requires a 1150 W suggested PSU. The N1X 40SM has an unknown TDP, uses an IGP slot, has no power connectors, and no suggested PSU.

Outputs and Interface: The MI300X has no display outputs and a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface. The N1X 40SM has 1 HDMI output and the same PCIe 5.0 x16 interface.

Release and Status: The MI300X was released on December 5, 2023, and has no production status listed. The N1X 40SM has a release date of May 31, 2026, and is listed as Active.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Instinct MI300X wins in scenarios demanding maximum compute throughput and memory capacity. Its 192 GB of HBM3 memory with 5.32 TB/s bandwidth provides enormous headroom for large-scale data processing. The 81.72 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 2,553.6 GTexel/s texture rate indicate the MI300X is designed for sustained, heavy computational workloads. The 100th percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database confirms its position at the top of the performance hierarchy.

The MI300X's advantage extends to memory-bound applications where its 8192-bit bus offers an order of magnitude more bandwidth than the N1X 40SM's 256-bit LPDDR5X configuration. The 750 W TDP and 1150 W suggested PSU indicate the MI300X is built for dedicated compute nodes where power delivery is not a constraint. Its OAM Module form factor suits dense accelerator deployments.

The NVIDIA N1X 40SM wins in scenarios requiring integrated graphics capability and lower resource overhead. Its 40 ROPs and 93.84 GPixel/s pixel rate, combined with 40 ray tracing cores and 160 tensor cores, provide features the MI300X completely lacks. The single HDMI output makes it capable of display connectivity, which the MI300X cannot offer. The 128 GB LPDDR5X memory, while far slower, may be sufficient for workloads that do not demand extreme bandwidth.

The N1X 40SM's smaller 382 mm² die and IGP form factor suggest lower manufacturing complexity and physical footprint. Its higher boost clock of 2346 MHz versus 2100 MHz indicates potential for burst performance in lightly threaded scenarios. The 50th percentile ranking places it at the median of the database, meaning it sits among typical GPUs rather than at the extremes.

The MI300X has recorded benchmark evidence of its capability, while the N1X 40SM has none. This data gap means the N1X 40SM's real-world performance cannot be verified from current measurements. The MI300X's rival comparisons show it competing closely with NVIDIA's most powerful data center accelerators, trailing the B200 by 8% and the H200 NVL by 5% while leading the L40S by 7.5% and RTX 6000 Ada by 10.7%.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows the AMD Instinct MI300X as a top-tier compute accelerator with a verified benchmark score of 317,994 in Geekbench OpenCL, placing it in the 100th percentile of all GPUs. Its specifications support this position: 192 GB of HBM3, 5.32 TB/s memory bandwidth, 81.72 TFLOPS FP32 compute, and 153,000 million transistors on a 5 nm process.

The NVIDIA N1X 40SM presents a different profile entirely. With no recorded benchmarks and a 50th percentile ranking, its performance remains unquantified in this database. Its specifications describe a more modest device: 128 GB of LPDDR5X, 273.2 GB/s bandwidth, 24.02 TFLOPS FP32, and 5,120 shading units. The N1X 40SM does include ray tracing cores and tensor cores, features absent from the MI300X.

For compute-intensive applications where floating-point throughput and memory bandwidth are paramount, the MI300X is the clear choice based on the evidence. Its benchmark score and specification advantages are substantial. The 5.32 TB/s memory bandwidth versus 273.2 GB/s represents a difference that will dominate any memory-bound workload.

For applications requiring graphics output, ray tracing, or tensor operations, the N1X 40SM holds the advantage by inclusion. It is the only one of the two with display outputs, ROPs, RT cores, and a pixel rate above zero. Its IGP form factor and lower die size suggest it occupies a different market position than the MI300X's OAM Module design.

The MI300X's rival comparisons place it within a competitive range of NVIDIA's B200 and H200 NVL, while clearly outperforming the L40S and RTX 6000 Ada Generation. This positions the MI300X among the fastest accelerators in the database. The N1X 40SM's lack of benchmark data means no such positioning is possible for it.

The verdict from the data is straightforward: the MI300X delivers verified top-tier compute performance and massive memory resources, while the N1X 40SM offers a feature set oriented toward integration and graphics capability with unverified performance. Buyers seeking maximum compute throughput should select the MI300X. Buyers needing graphics output or ray tracing functionality should select the N1X 40SM. Those requiring tensor operations will find them only on the N1X 40SM.