AMD Radeon 680M vs NVIDIA N1X 40SM Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon 680M and NVIDIA N1X 40SM occupy different positions in the benchmark database. The Radeon 680M has recorded benchmark scores across three tests, while the N1X 40SM has no recorded benchmark entries. The data shows the Radeon 680M achieves an average benchmark score of 15,270, placing it at the 57th percentile among all GPUs. The N1X 40SM sits at the 50th percentile with an average score of zero, reflecting the absence of measured results.

For the Radeon 680M, the use-case split emerges from its three benchmark scores. The Geekbench OpenCL test returns 23,468 points, while the Vulkan test returns 21,965 points. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test produces 378 points. These results indicate the 680M performs substantially better in compute-oriented workloads than in gaming-oriented rasterization tests. The OpenCL score exceeds the Vulkan score by 1,503 points, suggesting the architecture handles OpenCL compute tasks with greater efficiency than Vulkan workloads.

The N1X 40SM presents a different profile entirely. With no benchmark scores in the database, its wins cannot be measured directly. The specification data indicates a GPU designed for different priorities: 5,120 shading units, 320 texture mapping units, 40 render output units, and 160 tensor cores. The Radeon 680M counters with 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and 12 ray tracing cores. The N1X 40SM also has dedicated tensor cores, a feature the 680M lacks entirely.

The use-case division becomes clearer through the specification lens. The Radeon 680M integrates into a 50 W TDP package with system-shared memory, making it suitable for portable devices where power and memory flexibility matter. The N1X 40SM pairs with 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth. This memory configuration suggests the N1X 40SM targets workloads requiring large memory pools and high throughput, while the 680M adapts to whatever system memory is available.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from fundamentally different architectural lineages. The AMD Radeon 680M uses the Rembrandt+ chip based on RDNA 2.0 architecture, fabricated on a 6 nm TSMC process. The die measures 208 mm² and contains 13,100 million transistors, yielding a transistor density of 63.0 million per square millimeter. The NVIDIA N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip based on Blackwell 2.0 architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm TSMC process with a larger 382 mm² die size. The transistor count for the N1X 40SM is listed as unknown, so density comparisons cannot be made.

Clock behavior differs significantly. The Radeon 680M runs at a base clock of 2000 MHz and boosts to 2200 MHz. The N1X 40SM starts at a much lower 741 MHz base clock but boosts to 2346 MHz, which is higher than the 680M's boost. The memory clock for the N1X 40SM is 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective transfer rate. The 680M's memory clock is system-dependent since it uses shared system memory.

The memory architecture presents the most substantial divergence. The Radeon 680M has no dedicated video memory; it uses system-shared memory with a system-dependent bus width and bandwidth. The N1X 40SM includes 128 GB of dedicated LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. This dedicated memory arrangement gives the N1X 40SM predictable memory performance, while the 680M's memory performance varies with the host system.

Compute capabilities show stark differences. The N1X 40SM delivers 24.02 TFLOPS of FP32 performance and the same 24.02 TFLOPS for FP16 with a 1:1 ratio. The Radeon 680M produces 3.379 TFLOPS FP32 and 6.758 TFLOPS FP16 with a 2:1 ratio. The N1X 40SM's FP32 output is roughly seven times higher than the 680M's. Pixel and texture rates follow the same pattern: the N1X 40SM achieves 93.84 GPixel/s and 750.7 GTexel/s, while the 680M manages 70.40 GPixel/s and 105.6 GTexel/s.

The N1X 40SM includes 160 tensor cores, a feature absent from the 680M. Both GPUs have ray tracing cores, with the N1X 40SM featuring 40 and the 680M featuring 12. API support also differs: the 680M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1X 40SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries comparing these two GPUs directly. The Radeon 680M has three individual benchmark scores, while the N1X 40SM has none. Without direct comparison results, the analysis relies on the 680M's recorded scores and its nearest rival data.

The Radeon 680M's nearest rivals in the database provide context for its performance level. The NVIDIA GeForce GTX 580 has an average score of 15,283, which is 0.1% ahead of the 680M. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2060 averages 15,290, also 0.1% ahead. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3050 OEM averages 15,199, placing it 0.5% behind the 680M. The AMD Radeon RX 7600 averages 15,171, sitting 0.7% behind. These narrow deltas indicate the 680M performs in a tight cluster around the 15,200 to 15,300 range.

The 680M's individual scores reveal its strengths. The Geekbench OpenCL score of 23,468 stands well above the average, indicating strong compute performance. The Vulkan score of 21,965 also exceeds the average. The 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 378 pulls the average down considerably, showing the 680M's gaming-oriented DX12 performance lags behind its compute capabilities.

For the N1X 40SM, no benchmark data exists to compare directly. Its 50th percentile ranking and zero average score reflect the absence of measurements rather than actual performance. The specification data suggests the N1X 40SM would excel in compute-heavy workloads given its 24.02 TFLOPS FP32 and 750.7 GTexel/s texture rate, but recorded results are unavailable to confirm this.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification field. The Radeon 680M uses a 6 nm process node, while the N1X 40SM uses 5 nm. The die sizes diverge substantially: 208 mm² for the 680M versus 382 mm² for the N1X 40SM. Transistor counts show 13,100 million for the 680M, with the N1X 40SM's count unknown.

Base clocks differ by more than 1.2 GHz. The 680M starts at 2000 MHz, while the N1X 40SM starts at 741 MHz. Boost clocks are closer: 2200 MHz for the 680M versus 2346 MHz for the N1X 40SM. The N1X 40SM has a dedicated memory clock of 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective, while the 680M's memory clock is system-dependent.

Memory configurations are fundamentally different. The 680M uses system-shared memory with system-dependent size, type, bus width, and bandwidth. The N1X 40SM includes 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Shading units, texture mapping units, and render output units all favor the N1X 40SM. The 680M has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, and 32 ROPs. The N1X 40SM has 5,120 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 40 ROPs. Ray tracing cores number 12 for the 680M and 40 for the N1X 40SM. The N1X 40SM has 160 tensor cores; the 680M has none.

Pixel and texture rates favor the N1X 40SM: 93.84 GPixel/s versus 70.40 GPixel/s, and 750.7 GTexel/s versus 105.6 GTexel/s. FP32 performance is 24.02 TFLOPS for the N1X 40SM versus 3.379 TFLOPS for the 680M. FP16 performance is 24.02 TFLOPS for the N1X 40SM versus 6.758 TFLOPS for the 680M.

The 680M has a 50 W TDP, while the N1X 40SM's TDP is unknown. Both use IGP slot widths with no power connectors. The bus interface differs: PCIe 4.0 x8 for the 680M versus PCIe 5.0 x16 for the N1X 40SM. Display outputs are portable-device-dependent for the 680M, while the N1X 40SM lists 1x HDMI. API support exists for the 680M but is listed as N/A for the N1X 40SM.

Release dates differ by over three years. The 680M was released on January 2, 2023, while the N1X 40SM has a release date of May 31, 2026. The 680M has a predecessor (Vega II IGP) and successor (Navi III IGP), while the N1X 40SM lists neither.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 40SM delivers 24.02 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is approximately seven times higher than the AMD Radeon 680M's 3.379 TFLOPS.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The N1X 40SM includes 128 GB of dedicated LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Radeon 680M uses system-shared memory, so its memory size and bandwidth depend on the host system.

Q: What are the benchmark scores for the Radeon 680M?

A: The 680M scores 378 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, 23,468 in Geekbench OpenCL, and 21,965 in Geekbench Vulkan, producing an average benchmark score of 15,270.

Q: Does the N1X 40SM have any recorded benchmark scores?

A: No, the database lists no benchmark entries for the N1X 40SM. Its average benchmark score is zero, and it has no nearest rivals recorded.

Q: Which GPU has ray tracing and tensor core support?

A: Both GPUs have ray tracing cores: 12 for the Radeon 680M and 40 for the N1X 40SM. Only the N1X 40SM has tensor cores, with 160 available.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in the database's percentile rankings?

A: The Radeon 680M ranks at the 57th percentile among all GPUs, while the N1X 40SM ranks at the 50th percentile. The 680M's nearest rivals include the GeForce GTX 580 (0.1% ahead), RTX 2060 (0.1% ahead), RTX 3050 OEM (0.5% behind), and RX 7600 (0.7% behind).

The Verdict

The data presents two very different products. The AMD Radeon 680M has measurable performance: an average benchmark score of 15,270, a 57th percentile ranking, and scores in OpenCL, Vulkan, and DX12 tests. Its nearest rivals cluster within 0.7 percentage points, indicating a performance level competitive with those discrete GPUs. The 680M's strength lies in compute tasks, as shown by the substantial gap between its OpenCL score of 23,468 and its DX12 score of 378.

The NVIDIA N1X 40SM has no benchmark results to establish measured performance. Its 50th percentile ranking comes from a zero average score, which reflects the absence of data rather than actual capability. The specification sheet shows a GPU with massive compute resources: 5,120 shading units, 24.02 TFLOPS FP32, 160 tensor cores, and dedicated 128 GB memory. These specifications suggest the N1X 40SM would outperform the 680M in raw compute throughput, but the database contains no verification.

The choice between these two GPUs depends on the available data and the specific workload. For measured performance in existing benchmarks, the Radeon 680M has confirmed scores and a clear competitive position relative to its nearest rivals. Its 50 W TDP and system-shared memory make it suitable for portable devices where power and memory flexibility are priorities.

For the N1X 40SM, the specification data indicates a different purpose. The dedicated 128 GB memory pool and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth point toward workloads requiring large data sets, while the tensor cores suggest AI and machine learning applications. The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides high-bandwidth connectivity to the host system. The absence of API support listings for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan raises questions about its compatibility with standard graphics APIs.

The recorded data supports the Radeon 680M for users seeking a GPU with verified performance in compute and graphics benchmarks. The N1X 40SM appeals to those who value its specification sheet: larger memory, more shading units, higher compute throughput, and tensor core support. Without benchmark results for the N1X 40SM, its actual performance remains unmeasured, and the 680M stands as the only one of the two with confirmed scores in the database.