AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU vs NVIDIA H20 Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core architectural differences between the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU and the NVIDIA H20?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU uses the RDNA 3.0 architecture on TSMC's 4 nm process, while the NVIDIA H20 uses the Hopper architecture on a 5 nm process. The Ryzen Z1 GPU is built on the Phoenix chip with 25,390 million transistors on a 178 mm² die, while the H20 uses the GH100 chip with 80,000 million transistors on an 814 mm² die.

Q: How do the memory subsystems compare between these two GPUs?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU has 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory on a 64-bit bus, delivering 51.20 GB/s of bandwidth. The NVIDIA H20 has 96 GB of HBM3 memory on a 6144-bit bus, delivering 4.03 TB/s of bandwidth. The H20's memory bandwidth is roughly 79 times higher.

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute throughput?

A: The NVIDIA H20 delivers 39.54 TFLOPS of FP32 compute and 79.07 TFLOPS of FP16 (2:1), compared to the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU's 2.560 TFLOPS FP32 and 5.120 TFLOPS FP16 (2:1). The H20 is approximately 15.4 times faster in FP32 and 15.4 times faster in FP16.

Q: What are the power requirements for each GPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU has a TDP of 30 W and requires no power connectors, while the NVIDIA H20 has a TDP of 500 W and comes as an SXM Module with a suggested PSU of 900 W.

Q: What API support does each GPU offer?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA H20 has no DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan support listed, indicating it is not designed for graphics API workloads in the traditional sense.

Q: When were these GPUs released and what are their production statuses?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU was released on September 17, 2023, and the NVIDIA H20 was released on January 31, 2024. Both are currently listed as Active in production status. The Ryzen Z1 GPU has a launch MSRP of 599 USD; the H20 has no listed launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU and the NVIDIA H20 represent two fundamentally different design philosophies. The Ryzen Z1 GPU is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture, using the Phoenix chip manufactured on TSMC's 4 nm process. It integrates 25,390 million transistors into a 178 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 142.6M per mm². The H20, by contrast, uses the Hopper architecture with the GH100 chip on TSMC's 5 nm process. It packs 80,000 million transistors onto an 814 mm² die, with a lower transistor density of 98.3M per mm². The H20's larger die and higher transistor count reflect its server-oriented design, while the Ryzen Z1 GPU's smaller, denser die suits a low-power console-class part.

The compute pipelines diverge sharply. The Ryzen Z1 GPU has 256 shading units, 16 texture mapping units, 8 ROPs, and 4 ray tracing cores. The H20 has 9,984 shading units, 312 TMUs, 24 ROPs, and 312 tensor cores. The H20 does not list dedicated ray tracing cores, while the Ryzen Z1 GPU includes them. This difference indicates the H20 is optimized for tensor-heavy server workloads, whereas the Ryzen Z1 GPU carries graphics-oriented features like ray tracing.

Clock behavior also differs. The Ryzen Z1 GPU runs at a 1500 MHz base clock and 2500 MHz boost clock. The H20 runs at a higher 1830 MHz base clock but a lower 1980 MHz boost clock. The Ryzen Z1 GPU's memory clock is listed as 800 MHz with 6.4 Gbps effective, while the H20's memory runs at 1313 MHz with 5.3 Gbps effective. These figures reflect the different memory types: LPDDR5 for the Ryzen Z1 GPU versus HBM3 for the H20.

The physical and power profiles are equally distinct. The Ryzen Z1 GPU is a 30 W part with no power connectors and a 280 mm length, 111 mm height, and 21 mm width. The H20 is a 500 W SXM Module with a suggested PSU of 900 W and no listed dimensions. The Ryzen Z1 GPU has a 64-bit memory bus, while the H20 uses a 6144-bit bus. Both GPUs have no display outputs, confirming neither is intended for direct display connection.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows two GPUs with no shared use case. The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU is a low-power, graphics-capable part with a 30 W TDP, DirectX 12 Ultimate support, and ray tracing cores. The NVIDIA H20 is a high-power server accelerator with massive memory capacity, tensor cores, and no graphics API support. The Ryzen Z1 GPU is the choice for workloads that require conventional graphics APIs, low power draw, and a compact physical footprint. The H20 is the choice for memory-intensive server compute tasks that leverage its 96 GB HBM3 pool and 312 tensor cores. Neither GPU can substitute for the other. The Ryzen Z1 GPU's 2.560 TFLOPS FP32 and 5.120 TFLOPS FP16 are orders of magnitude below the H20's 39.54 TFLOPS FP32 and 79.07 TFLOPS FP16. Conversely, the H20's lack of DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support disqualifies it from any traditional graphics workload that the Ryzen Z1 GPU handles natively.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every measurable specification. The process node differs: 4 nm for the Ryzen Z1 GPU versus 5 nm for the H20. Transistor count differs at 25,390 million versus 80,000 million. Die size differs at 178 mm² versus 814 mm². Transistor density differs at 142.6M per mm² versus 98.3M per mm². Base clocks differ at 1500 MHz versus 1830 MHz, and boost clocks at 2500 MHz versus 1980 MHz. Memory clocks differ at 800 MHz (6.4 Gbps effective) versus 1313 MHz (5.3 Gbps effective).

Memory capacity differs at 16 GB versus 96 GB. Memory type differs: LPDDR5 versus HBM3. Bus width differs at 64 bit versus 6144 bit. Bandwidth differs at 51.20 GB/s versus 4.03 TB/s. Shading units differ at 256 versus 9,984. TMUs differ at 16 versus 312. ROPs differ at 8 versus 24. The Ryzen Z1 GPU has 4 ray tracing cores; the H20 lists none. The H20 has 312 tensor cores; the Ryzen Z1 GPU lists none.

Pixel rate differs at 20.00 GPixel/s versus 47.52 GPixel/s. Texture rate differs at 40.00 GTexel/s versus 617.8 GTexel/s. FP32 compute differs at 2.560 TFLOPS versus 39.54 TFLOPS. FP16 compute differs at 5.120 TFLOPS versus 79.07 TFLOPS. TDP differs at 30 W versus 500 W. The Ryzen Z1 GPU has no power connectors; the H20 is an SXM Module with a 900 W suggested PSU. The H20 uses PCIe 5.0 x16; the Ryzen Z1 GPU has no listed bus interface. The Ryzen Z1 GPU has dimensions of 280 mm by 111 mm by 21 mm; the H20 has no listed dimensions. API support differs: the Ryzen Z1 GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the H20 lists N/A for all three. Release dates differ: September 17, 2023 versus January 31, 2024. The Ryzen Z1 GPU has a launch MSRP of 599 USD; the H20 has no launch MSRP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The benchmark database contains no recorded head-to-head benchmark scores for these two GPUs. Both items also have no individual benchmark entries and an identical percentile rank of 50 against all GPUs. The average benchmark score for both is zero. With no direct measurements available, the comparison must rely entirely on the specification data in the database.

The largest single specification gap is memory bandwidth. The H20's 4.03 TB/s dwarfs the Ryzen Z1 GPU's 51.20 GB/s, a difference of roughly 79 times. This gap is the direct result of the H20's 6144-bit bus and HBM3 memory class, versus the Ryzen Z1 GPU's 64-bit LPDDR5 interface. For any workload that scales with memory bandwidth, the H20 holds an overwhelming advantage.

Compute throughput shows a similar pattern. The H20 delivers 39.54 TFLOPS FP32, which is roughly 15.4 times the Ryzen Z1 GPU's 2.560 TFLOPS. In FP16, the H20 delivers 79.07 TFLOPS versus 5.120 TFLOPS, also roughly 15.4 times higher. Texture rate follows: 617.8 GTexel/s for the H20 versus 40.00 GTexel/s for the Ryzen Z1 GPU, a 15.4 times gap. Pixel rate differs less dramatically: 47.52 GPixel/s versus 20.00 GPixel/s, a 2.4 times advantage for the H20.

The Ryzen Z1 GPU claims advantages in specific areas. Its boost clock of 2500 MHz exceeds the H20's 1980 MHz boost by 520 MHz. Its transistor density of 142.6M per mm² is higher than the H20's 98.3M per mm². Its TDP of 30 W is drastically lower than the H20's 500 W, making it suitable for environments where power delivery and cooling are constrained. It also supports modern graphics APIs while the H20 supports none.

Where Each One Wins

The Ryzen Z1 GPU wins in scenarios defined by low power, compact size, and graphics API compatibility. Its 30 W TDP and lack of power connectors make it deployable in systems where the H20's 500 W requirement and SXM Module form factor would be impossible. Its 280 mm by 111 mm by 21 mm dimensions give it a physical footprint that the H20, with no listed dimensions, cannot match in a small-form-factor context. Its support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 means it can execute conventional graphics workloads; the H20 lists N/A for all of these APIs, so it has no path into those workloads. The Ryzen Z1 GPU's 4 ray tracing cores provide hardware acceleration for ray-traced effects, a feature the H20 does not list.

The NVIDIA H20 wins in scenarios defined by raw compute, memory capacity, and memory bandwidth. Its 96 GB HBM3 pool is six times larger than the Ryzen Z1 GPU's 16 GB LPDDR5. Its 4.03 TB/s bandwidth enables data movement at a scale the Ryzen Z1 GPU cannot approach. Its 312 tensor cores position it for matrix-heavy server workloads, while the Ryzen Z1 GPU has no tensor cores at all. Its 39.54 TFLOPS FP32 and 79.07 TFLOPS FP16 provide roughly 15.4 times the compute throughput in both precision classes. Its 617.8 GTexel/s texture rate and 47.52 GPixel/s pixel rate exceed the Ryzen Z1 GPU's corresponding figures by 15.4 times and 2.4 times respectively. The H20's 500 W TDP and 900 W suggested PSU indicate it is designed for data center power infrastructure, not constrained environments. Its PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides a high-bandwidth host connection; the Ryzen Z1 GPU lists no bus interface. The H20's predecessor is listed as Server Ada and its successor as Server Blackwell, confirming its placement in a server product line, while the Ryzen Z1 GPU belongs to the Console GPU generation.