AMD Radeon 840M vs NVIDIA N1 20SM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database currently holds no direct head-to-head benchmark results for the AMD Radeon 840M versus the NVIDIA N1 20SM. Both entries show zero recorded benchmark scores, zero wins for either side, and no nearest rival data to anchor comparative performance. This absence of empirical measurements means any direct performance comparison must rely entirely on the architectural and specification data recorded for each part.

What the data does show is a massive gap in raw compute resources. The NVIDIA N1 20SM delivers 12.01 TFLOPS of FP32 throughput, which is roughly 8.1 times the 1,484.8 GFLOPS of the AMD Radeon 840M. In pixel throughput, the NVIDIA part records 56.30 GPixel/s against 23.20 GPixel/s for the AMD chip, a 2.4x advantage. Texture rate differences are even starker: 375.4 GTexel/s versus 46.40 GTexel/s, an 8.1x margin that mirrors the FP32 ratio.

The AMD Radeon 840M does hold one notable clock advantage. Its boost clock reaches 2900 MHz, while the NVIDIA N1 20SM boosts to 2346 MHz. That 554 MHz difference in favor of AMD, however, does little to close the gap created by the NVIDIA part's far larger execution resource pool. The NVIDIA N1 20SM packs 2560 shading units against 256 for the AMD chip, a 10x difference. Texture mapping units stand at 160 versus 16, and raster operations units at 24 versus 8.

Architecture Differences

The two integrated graphics processors come from different architectural generations and manufacturing processes. The AMD Radeon 840M uses the RDNA 3.5 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, belonging to the Navi III IGP (Strix Point Mobile) generation. The NVIDIA N1 20SM uses Blackwell 2.0 architecture on a 5 nm TSMC process, belonging to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation.

Both are classified as IGP (integrated graphics processor) parts with no power connectors and portable-device-dependent display outputs, though the NVIDIA part lists a single HDMI output. The AMD chip carries a 15 W TDP, while the NVIDIA part's TDP is recorded as unknown.

Memory configuration differs fundamentally. The AMD Radeon 840M uses system shared memory with a system dependent bus width and bandwidth. The NVIDIA N1 20SM has dedicated LPDDR5X memory totaling 128 GB on a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock is listed at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective transfer rate. This represents a major architectural divergence: one part relies entirely on shared system memory, while the other integrates a substantial dedicated memory pool.

Ray tracing resources also differ. The NVIDIA N1 20SM includes 20 RT cores and 80 tensor cores. The AMD Radeon 840M lists 4 RT cores and no tensor cores. The NVIDIA part's tensor core count indicates dedicated AI acceleration hardware that the AMD part lacks entirely.

The bus interface differs as well. The AMD Radeon 840M connects via PCIe 4.0 x8, while the NVIDIA N1 20SM uses PCIe 5.0 x16. The NVIDIA part also has a recorded die size of 382 mm², while the AMD die size is unknown.

API support shows a critical divergence. The AMD Radeon 840M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA N1 20SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan. This suggests the NVIDIA part may target a different software ecosystem or relies on proprietary APIs, while the AMD part maintains broad compatibility with standard graphics interfaces.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates two fundamentally different products despite both being IGPs. The AMD Radeon 840M presents as a conventional integrated GPU with standard API support, modest compute resources, and system shared memory. Its 2900 MHz boost clock and RDNA 3.5 architecture position it as a mainstream mobile graphics solution within a 15 W power envelope.

The NVIDIA N1 20SM presents as a far more powerful integrated solution with 10x the shading units, 8.1x the FP32 throughput, and a dedicated 128 GB LPDDR5X memory pool. The presence of 80 tensor cores and 20 RT cores indicates a design aimed at AI acceleration and ray tracing workloads. The lack of standard API listings (DirectX, OpenGL, Vulkan all marked N/A) suggests this part may not target conventional PC gaming applications but rather specialized or proprietary compute environments.

From the data alone, the NVIDIA N1 20SM dominates in raw compute metrics across every measured category: shading units, TMUs, ROPs, RT cores, tensor cores, memory capacity, memory bandwidth, pixel rate, texture rate, and FP32 throughput. The AMD Radeon 840M wins only in boost clock speed and process node (4 nm versus 5 nm). The AMD part also holds the advantage in standard API compatibility.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 performance?

A: The NVIDIA N1 20SM records 12.01 TFLOPS of FP32 throughput, compared to 1,484.8 GFLOPS for the AMD Radeon 840M. This gives the NVIDIA part roughly an 8.1x advantage.

Q: What memory configurations do these GPUs use?

A: The AMD Radeon 840M uses system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth. The NVIDIA N1 20SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Do both GPUs support standard graphics APIs?

A: No. The AMD Radeon 840M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA N1 20SM lists N/A for all three standard APIs.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds?

A: The AMD Radeon 840M boosts to 2900 MHz. The NVIDIA N1 20SM boosts to 2346 MHz.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA N1 20SM has 2560 shading units. The AMD Radeon 840M has 256. The NVIDIA part has exactly 10 times as many.

Q: What process nodes are used?

A: The AMD Radeon 840M uses a 4 nm TSMC process. The NVIDIA N1 20SM uses a 5 nm TSMC process.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Radeon 840M wins in boost clock frequency, reaching 2900 MHz versus 2346 MHz for the NVIDIA part. It also uses a smaller 4 nm process node against the NVIDIA part's 5 nm node. The AMD chip carries full support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it the only one of the two with standard graphics API compatibility. Its 15 W TDP is recorded, whereas the NVIDIA part's power draw is unknown. The AMD part also connects via PCIe 4.0 x8, which may be sufficient for its shared memory architecture.

The NVIDIA N1 20SM wins across nearly every raw performance metric. It delivers 8.1x higher FP32 throughput, 8.1x higher texture rate, 2.4x higher pixel rate, 10x more shading units, 10x more texture mapping units, 3x more ROPs, 5x more RT cores, and 80 tensor cores where the AMD part has none. The NVIDIA part's dedicated 128 GB LPDDR5X memory pool with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth stands in stark contrast to the AMD part's system shared memory. The NVIDIA chip also uses a wider PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface versus PCIe 4.0 x8 on the AMD side.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every recorded specification field.

Architecture: AMD Radeon 840M uses RDNA 3.5; NVIDIA N1 20SM uses Blackwell 2.0.

Process node: AMD uses 4 nm TSMC; NVIDIA uses 5 nm TSMC.

Die size: AMD unknown; NVIDIA 382 mm².

Base clock: AMD 400 MHz; NVIDIA 741 MHz.

Boost clock: AMD 2900 MHz; NVIDIA 2346 MHz.

Memory size: AMD system shared; NVIDIA 128 GB.

Memory type: AMD system shared; NVIDIA LPDDR5X.

Memory bus width: AMD system shared; NVIDIA 256 bit.

Memory bandwidth: AMD system dependent; NVIDIA 273.2 GB/s.

Memory clock: AMD none recorded; NVIDIA 1067 MHz 8.5 Gbps effective.

Shading units: AMD 256; NVIDIA 2560.

Texture mapping units: AMD 16; NVIDIA 160.

Raster operations units: AMD 8; NVIDIA 24.

Ray tracing cores: AMD 4; NVIDIA 20.

Tensor cores: AMD none; NVIDIA 80.

Pixel rate: AMD 23.20 GPixel/s; NVIDIA 56.30 GPixel/s.

Texture rate: AMD 46.40 GTexel/s; NVIDIA 375.4 GTexel/s.

FP32 performance: AMD 1,484.8 GFLOPS; NVIDIA 12.01 TFLOPS.

FP16 performance: Both list 1:1 ratio with FP32, so AMD 1,484.8 GFLOPS and NVIDIA 12.01 TFLOPS.

TDP: AMD 15 W; NVIDIA unknown.

Bus interface: AMD PCIe 4.0 x8; NVIDIA PCIe 5.0 x16.

Display outputs: AMD portable device dependent; NVIDIA 1x HDMI.

API support: AMD DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.4; NVIDIA N/A for all.

Release date: AMD 2025-02-28; NVIDIA 2026-05-31.

Production status: Both active.

Percentile vs all GPUs: Both recorded at 50.