AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU vs NVIDIA N1X 48SM Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core architecture differences between the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU and the NVIDIA N1X 48SM?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU uses the RDNA 3.0 architecture on a 4 nm TSMC process, with a 178 mm² die size and 25,390 million transistors. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture on a 5 nm TSMC process, with a 382 mm² die size and an unknown transistor count.

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

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 N1X 48SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth, which is over five times the bandwidth of the AMD part.

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute throughput?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 48SM delivers 28.83 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU delivers 2.560 TFLOPS. The NVIDIA part also matches its FP32 rate in FP16 at 28.83 TFLOPS (1:1), whereas the AMD part achieves 5.120 TFLOPS FP16 via a 2:1 ratio.

Q: What are the shading unit and texture mapping differences?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has 6,144 shading units, 384 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU has 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, and 8 ROPs. The NVIDIA part also includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, while the AMD part has 4 RT cores and no tensor cores.

Q: What is the power draw of each GPU?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU has a TDP of 30 W. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has an unknown TDP, though it is classified as an IGP and uses no power connectors, similar to the AMD part which also has no power connectors.

Q: When were these products released and what is their production status?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU was released on 2023-09-17 and remains Active in production. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM was released on 2026-05-31 and is also Active in production.

Architecture Differences

The recorded data shows two fundamentally different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU is built on the RDNA 3.0 architecture using TSMC's 4 nm process, resulting in a compact 178 mm² die that houses 25,390 million transistors. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture on TSMC's 5 nm process, with a substantially larger 382 mm² die and an undisclosed transistor count. This size difference alone indicates a significant gap in complexity and intended capability.

The compute architecture diverges sharply. The NVIDIA part packs 6,144 shading units, 384 TMUs, and 48 ROPs, alongside 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores. The AMD part has 256 shading units, 16 TMUs, 8 ROPs, and only 4 RT cores, with no tensor cores present. This means the NVIDIA N1X 48SM has 24 times the shading units and 24 times the TMUs of the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU. The tensor core count of 192 on the NVIDIA side suggests a design aimed at AI workloads, while the AMD part lacks this feature entirely.

Clock behavior also differs. The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU runs at a base clock of 1500 MHz and boosts to 2500 MHz. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM starts at a lower 741 MHz base but boosts to 2346 MHz. Despite the lower base clock, the NVIDIA part's massive shader count gives it overwhelming throughput advantages. The memory architecture reinforces this: the AMD part uses LPDDR5 with a 64-bit bus and 51.20 GB/s bandwidth, while the NVIDIA part uses LPDDR5X with a 256-bit bus and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth.

The API support tells a different story. The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, which indicates it may not be designed for traditional graphics API workloads in the same manner. The NVIDIA part also has a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface and a single HDMI output, while the AMD part has no bus interface listed and no display outputs at all.

The physical specifications reinforce the positioning. The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU measures 280 mm in length, 111 mm in height, and 21 mm in width, with a 30 W TDP. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM is classified as an IGP with no dimensions recorded, and its TDP is unknown. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of 599 USD, while the NVIDIA part has no launch MSRP recorded.

The Verdict

The data points to a stark performance hierarchy. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM delivers 28.83 TFLOPS FP32, which is 11.3 times the 2.560 TFLOPS of the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU. The memory bandwidth gap is equally decisive: 273.2 GB/s versus 51.20 GB/s, a factor of 5.3. The texture rate of 900.9 GTexel/s on the NVIDIA part versus 40.00 GTexel/s on the AMD part represents a 22.5 fold difference. The pixel rate of 112.6 GPixel/s versus 20.00 GPixel/s shows a 5.6 fold gap.

For users seeking maximum compute throughput, the NVIDIA N1X 48SM is the clear choice. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory dwarfs the 16 GB of the AMD part, and its 192 tensor cores provide dedicated AI acceleration that the AMD part cannot match. The NVIDIA part also has 48 RT cores versus 4 on the AMD side, making it more capable for ray-traced workloads.

However, the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU has advantages in specific contexts. Its 30 W TDP makes it far more power-efficient on paper, and its 4 nm process node is more advanced than the 5 nm node used by the NVIDIA part. The AMD part also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the NVIDIA part has N/A for all three APIs, suggesting the AMD part is intended for conventional graphics applications while the NVIDIA part may target specialized compute roles.

The release dates are informative: the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU launched in 2023, while the NVIDIA N1X 48SM is dated 2026. The NVIDIA part is a newer design that leverages a larger die and more advanced architecture generation, but its unknown TDP and lack of traditional API support mean it may not be a drop-in replacement for graphics workloads. The AMD part, with its compact die, low power draw, and standard API support, serves a different purpose entirely.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every measurable specification. The process node is 4 nm for AMD versus 5 nm for NVIDIA. Die size is 178 mm² versus 382 mm². Transistor count is 25,390 million for AMD, while NVIDIA's is unknown. The base clock is 1500 MHz for AMD versus 741 MHz for NVIDIA, but the boost clock is 2500 MHz versus 2346 MHz, a smaller gap. Memory size is 16 GB versus 128 GB, memory type is LPDDR5 versus LPDDR5X, bus width is 64 bit versus 256 bit, and bandwidth is 51.20 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s.

The shading units are 256 versus 6,144, TMUs are 16 versus 384, ROPs are 8 versus 48, RT cores are 4 versus 48, and the NVIDIA part has 192 tensor cores while the AMD part has none. Pixel rate is 20.00 GPixel/s versus 112.6 GPixel/s, texture rate is 40.00 GTexel/s versus 900.9 GTexel/s, FP32 is 2.560 TFLOPS versus 28.83 TFLOPS, and FP16 is 5.120 TFLOPS versus 28.83 TFLOPS. The TDP is 30 W for AMD versus unknown for NVIDIA. The NVIDIA part has a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface and one HDMI output, while the AMD part has no bus interface and no display outputs. The AMD part has dimensions of 280 mm by 111 mm by 21 mm, while the NVIDIA part has none recorded. The NVIDIA part is an IGP form factor, while the AMD part is not. The AMD part has a launch MSRP of 599 USD, while the NVIDIA part has none.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data shows no direct head-to-head benchmark scores, and both parts have an average benchmark score of 0. The database places both at the 50th percentile versus all GPUs, with no nearest rivals listed. This means the comparative analysis must rely on the specification-derived metrics.

The most decisive win for the NVIDIA N1X 48SM is in FP32 compute, where it achieves 28.83 TFLOPS versus 2.560 TFLOPS for the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU. This is an 11.3 fold advantage. The FP16 comparison is similarly one-sided: 28.83 TFLOPS versus 5.120 TFLOPS, though the AMD part's 2:1 ratio means it achieves half its FP32 rate in FP16, while the NVIDIA part maintains a 1:1 ratio.

The texture rate gap is the largest proportional difference. The NVIDIA part delivers 900.9 GTexel/s versus 40.00 GTexel/s, a 22.5 fold margin. The pixel rate shows 112.6 GPixel/s versus 20.00 GPixel/s, a 5.6 fold difference. Memory bandwidth is 273.2 GB/s versus 51.20 GB/s, a 5.3 fold gap. The shading unit count difference of 6,144 versus 256 is a 24 fold margin, and the TMU count of 384 versus 16 is also a 24 fold margin.

The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU wins in base clock, with 1500 MHz versus 741 MHz, and it also has a higher boost clock at 2500 MHz versus 2346 MHz. The AMD part also has a smaller die at 178 mm² versus 382 mm², and a lower TDP at 30 W versus unknown. The AMD part's transistor density is 142.6M per mm², while the NVIDIA part has no density recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA N1X 48SM wins in every raw throughput category recorded. Its FP32 and FP16 compute are both 28.83 TFLOPS, making it suitable for heavy compute workloads. The 128 GB memory capacity and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth position it for large data sets and memory-intensive operations. The 192 tensor cores give it dedicated AI acceleration capabilities that the AMD part lacks. The 48 RT cores provide ray tracing hardware that far exceeds the 4 RT cores on the AMD side. The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface suggests high-bandwidth host connectivity, and the single HDMI output allows display capability.

The AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU wins in power efficiency, with a 30 W TDP versus an unknown figure for the NVIDIA part. Its smaller die and more advanced 4 nm process node suggest lower manufacturing complexity per unit area. The higher base clock of 1500 MHz indicates a design tuned for responsiveness at lower power states. The AMD part's support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 makes it usable in standard graphics applications, while the NVIDIA part's N/A API entries suggest limited conventional graphics compatibility. The AMD part also has a defined physical footprint at 280 mm by 111 mm by 21 mm, which facilitates integration into systems with known space constraints.

The database shows both parts at the 50th percentile versus all GPUs, with no benchmark scores or rivals to differentiate them further. The specification data indicates the NVIDIA N1X 48SM is designed for maximum compute and memory throughput, while the AMD Ryzen Z1 GPU is optimized for low power and compact integration. Users with power constraints or standard graphics API requirements would favor the AMD part. Users needing massive memory capacity, tensor core acceleration, or extreme FP32 throughput would favor the NVIDIA part. The release dates confirm the NVIDIA part is a newer design by several years, which explains its architectural advantages in raw specifications.