AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU vs NVIDIA N1 20SM Comparison

The Verdict

The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU and NVIDIA N1 20SM target fundamentally different segments, and the recorded data makes the choice straightforward. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU is a compact, low-power RDNA 3.0 part designed for integrated or small-form-factor systems, with a 30 W TDP, a 4 nm process, and a launch MSRP of 699 USD. The NVIDIA N1 20SM is a Blackwell 2.0 IGP with a far larger memory footprint and higher raw throughput. For users prioritizing raw shading power, texture throughput, and memory capacity, the NVIDIA N1 20SM is the clear pick, as it delivers 12.01 TFLOPS FP32 versus 8.294 TFLOPS for the AMD, and 375.4 GTexel/s versus 129.6 GTexel/s. For users needing a self-contained, low-power solution with modern API support (DirectX 12 Ultimate, Vulkan 1.4) and a smaller physical footprint, the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU holds the advantage, as it is the only one of the two with a defined power envelope and consumer graphics API compatibility. The data shows no benchmark scores for either part, so the verdict rests on the specification differences and architectural traits recorded in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU uses the Phoenix chip built on TSMC's 4 nm process, with a die size of 178 mm² and a transistor count of 25,390 million, resulting in a transistor density of 142.6M per mm². The architecture is RDNA 3.0, part of the Console GPU (AMD) generation. The NVIDIA N1 20SM uses the GB20B chip on a 5 nm process, also from TSMC, with a die size of 382 mm², but its transistor count is recorded as unknown. The NVIDIA part belongs to the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. The process node difference (4 nm versus 5 nm) gives the AMD part a manufacturing advantage in density, though the NVIDIA chip's die is over twice as large. The AMD GPU has 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, along with 12 ray tracing cores. The NVIDIA N1 20SM has 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs, with 20 ray tracing cores and 80 tensor cores. The AMD part has no tensor cores recorded, while the NVIDIA part's tensor core count is a notable architectural addition. The AMD GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the NVIDIA N1 20SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, indicating it is not positioned as a consumer graphics API part. The AMD's memory is 16 GB of LPDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, while the NVIDIA uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus. The NVIDIA's memory clock is 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective, and the AMD's memory clock is 800 MHz with 6.4 Gbps effective.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

No head-to-head benchmark entries exist in the database for these two GPUs, and neither part has recorded benchmark scores or average benchmark scores. The wins count is 0 for both the AMD and NVIDIA parts. Consequently, the comparison relies entirely on the recorded specification data. The largest quantitative differences are in shading units, texture rate, memory bandwidth, and FP32 throughput. The NVIDIA N1 20SM has 2560 shading units, which is 3.33 times the AMD's 768. Its texture rate of 375.4 GTexel/s is 2.90 times the AMD's 129.6 GTexel/s. The NVIDIA's FP32 of 12.01 TFLOPS is 1.45 times the AMD's 8.294 TFLOPS. The memory bandwidth of 273.2 GB/s on the NVIDIA is 5.34 times the AMD's 51.20 GB/s. The NVIDIA's 128 GB memory capacity is 8 times the AMD's 16 GB. However, the AMD part has a higher pixel rate: 86.40 GPixel/s versus the NVIDIA's 56.30 GPixel/s, a 1.53 times advantage. The AMD also has a higher boost clock at 2700 MHz versus 2346 MHz, and a higher base clock at 800 MHz versus 741 MHz. The AMD's FP16 throughput of 16.59 TFLOPS (2:1) exceeds the NVIDIA's 12.01 TFLOPS (1:1), indicating the AMD can process half-precision data at a higher rate, though the NVIDIA maintains the same rate for FP16 as FP32.

Specification Differences

The two parts differ across nearly every recorded specification field. The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU has a process node of 4 nm, while the NVIDIA N1 20SM uses 5 nm. The AMD's die size is 178 mm², and the NVIDIA's is 382 mm². The AMD's transistor count is 25,390 million, the NVIDIA's is unknown. The AMD's transistor density is 142.6M per mm², the NVIDIA's is null. The AMD's base clock is 800 MHz, the NVIDIA's is 741 MHz. The AMD's boost clock is 2700 MHz, the NVIDIA's is 2346 MHz. The AMD's memory clock is 800 MHz with 6.4 Gbps effective, the NVIDIA's is 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective. The AMD has 16 GB of LPDDR5 on a 64-bit bus, the NVIDIA has 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus. The AMD's bandwidth is 51.20 GB/s, the NVIDIA's is 273.2 GB/s. The AMD has 768 shading units, the NVIDIA has 2560. The AMD has 48 TMUs, the NVIDIA has 160. The AMD has 32 ROPs, the NVIDIA has 24. The AMD has 12 RT cores, the NVIDIA has 20. The AMD has no tensor cores, the NVIDIA has 80. The AMD's pixel rate is 86.40 GPixel/s, the NVIDIA's is 56.30 GPixel/s. The AMD's texture rate is 129.6 GTexel/s, the NVIDIA's is 375.4 GTexel/s. The AMD's FP32 is 8.294 TFLOPS, the NVIDIA's is 12.01 TFLOPS. The AMD's FP16 is 16.59 TFLOPS (2:1), the NVIDIA's is 12.01 TFLOPS (1:1). The AMD's TDP is 30 W, the NVIDIA's TDP is unknown. The AMD has no slot width recorded, the NVIDIA is an IGP. The AMD's bus interface is null, the NVIDIA's is PCIe 5.0 x16. The AMD's display output is 1x USB Type-C, the NVIDIA's is 1x HDMI. The AMD supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4; the NVIDIA lists N/A for all three. The AMD has dimensions of 280 mm length, 111 mm height, 21 mm width; the NVIDIA has no dimensions recorded. The AMD's release date is 2023-06-12, the NVIDIA's is 2026-05-31, a difference of roughly three years. The AMD has a launch MSRP of 699 USD, the NVIDIA has none.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA N1 20SM has 2560 shading units, compared to 768 for the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference?

A: The NVIDIA N1 20SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, while the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU has 16 GB of LPDDR5, an 8-fold difference in capacity.

Q: Which part has a higher FP32 throughput?

A: The NVIDIA N1 20SM delivers 12.01 TFLOPS FP32, which is 1.45 times the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU's 8.294 TFLOPS.

Q: Does the AMD part support modern graphics APIs?

A: Yes, the AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA N1 20SM lists N/A for all three APIs.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel rate?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU has a pixel rate of 86.40 GPixel/s, exceeding the NVIDIA N1 20SM's 56.30 GPixel/s.

Q: What is the thermal design power difference?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU has a TDP of 30 W, while the NVIDIA N1 20SM's TDP is recorded as unknown.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Z1 Extreme GPU wins in scenarios requiring low power consumption, as its TDP is 30 W versus the NVIDIA's unknown figure. It also wins in pixel fill rate, delivering 86.40 GPixel/s against the NVIDIA's 56.30 GPixel/s, which favors applications that rely on fill-rate-bound operations. The AMD's FP16 throughput of 16.59 TFLOPS exceeds the NVIDIA's 12.01 TFLOPS, giving it an edge in half-precision compute workloads where the 2:1 ratio is usable. The AMD's higher boost clock of 2700 MHz and base clock of 800 MHz indicate a faster clocking part, and its support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 makes it the only one of the two with consumer graphics API compatibility. The AMD's smaller die (178 mm² versus 382 mm²) and 4 nm process also point to a more compact, integrated design.

The NVIDIA N1 20SM wins in raw compute throughput, with 12.01 TFLOPS FP32 versus 8.294 TFLOPS, and its texture rate of 375.4 GTexel/s is nearly triple the AMD's 129.6 GTexel/s. Its memory subsystem is vastly superior, offering 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth, compared to the AMD's 16 GB on a 64-bit bus at 51.20 GB/s. The NVIDIA's 2560 shading units and 160 TMUs dwarf the AMD's 768 and 48, respectively. The NVIDIA also has 80 tensor cores, which the AMD lacks entirely, and its 20 RT cores outnumber the AMD's 12. The NVIDIA's PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface is a clear advantage for system integration, and its 382 mm² die suggests a more complex, higher-capability processor. For workloads dominated by memory capacity, bandwidth, texture processing, or tensor operations, the NVIDIA N1 20SM is the superior choice based on the recorded data.