AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU vs NVIDIA N1 16SM Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents two fundamentally different GPU designs with no overlapping benchmark results. The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU is a low-power console-class part built on RDNA 2.0, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM is a Blackwell 2.0 integrated graphics processor with significantly higher raw specifications. Based solely on the database entries, the NVIDIA N1 16SM holds the advantage in nearly every measurable compute and memory category, with 9.609 TFLOPS FP32 performance against the AMD part's 1.638 TFLOPS, and 273.2 GB/s memory bandwidth versus 102.4 GB/s.

The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU is positioned for environments where the 15 W TDP is a hard constraint. Its 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs places it at the median of the database, and its modest 512 shading units and 16 GB LPDDR5 memory indicate a part intended for light workloads or battery-conscious systems. The NVIDIA N1 16SM, also at the 50th percentile, delivers 4x the shading units, 4x the texture mapping units, and 8x the FP32 throughput, making it the clear choice for any workload that scales with compute resources.

The data shows no benchmark results for either product, so the verdict rests on architectural specifications and stated production status. The AMD part is active with a release date of December 31, 2024, while the NVIDIA part is active with a release date of May 31, 2026. For users who need maximum compute and memory capacity in an integrated form factor, the NVIDIA N1 16SM is the only rational selection from these two entries. For users constrained by a 15 W power envelope, the AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU is the only option that fits that limit. Neither part has a launch MSRP in the database.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU uses the Van Gogh chip on a 7 nm process from TSMC, with 2,400 million transistors on a 163 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 14.7 million per square millimeter. Its architecture is RDNA 2.0, which supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip on a 5 nm process from TSMC, with a larger 382 mm² die but an unknown transistor count and density. Its architecture is Blackwell 2.0, and notably, the database lists its DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support as N/A.

The AMD part has 512 shading units, 32 texture mapping units, 16 ROPs, and 8 ray tracing cores. The NVIDIA part has 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, 24 ROPs, 16 ray tracing cores, and 64 tensor cores, which the AMD part lacks entirely. The AMD GPU operates at a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 1600 MHz, while the NVIDIA GPU runs at 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost. The NVIDIA part's higher boost clock, combined with its larger shader count, drives its substantial FP32 advantage.

Memory subsystems differ completely. The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU uses 16 GB of LPDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, with 800 MHz memory clock and 6.4 Gbps effective speed, producing 102.4 GB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA N1 16SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, with 1067 MHz memory clock and 8.5 Gbps effective speed, producing 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The NVIDIA part offers 8x the memory capacity and 2.67x the bandwidth.

Physical and interface differences are also recorded. The AMD part has a 15 W TDP and a single USB Type-C display output, with no bus interface listed. The NVIDIA part has an unspecified TDP, is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a single HDMI output, uses PCIe 5.0 x16, and requires no power connectors. The NVIDIA part's die size of 382 mm² is more than double the AMD part's 163 mm², reflecting the larger shader array and memory interface.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark results for these two products, and neither item has an average benchmark score or a list of nearest rivals. Both are recorded with a percentile rank of 50 among all GPUs, but with zero benchmark entries, this ranking reflects placement rather than measured performance. The winsA and winsB fields are both zero, indicating no recorded comparison victories.

Without benchmark data, the specification sheet provides the only quantitative comparison. The NVIDIA N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS FP32 performance, which is 5.87x the AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU's 1.638 TFLOPS. In FP16, the NVIDIA part maintains 9.609 TFLOPS at a 1:1 ratio, while the AMD part achieves 3.277 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio, giving the NVIDIA part a 2.93x advantage. The texture rate of 300.3 GTexel/s on the NVIDIA part versus 51.20 GTexel/s on the AMD part represents a 5.87x gap. The pixel rate of 56.30 GPixel/s versus 25.60 GPixel/s shows a smaller 2.20x difference, reflecting the NVIDIA part's relatively lower ROP count per shader.

The memory comparison favors the NVIDIA part in both capacity and speed. At 273.2 GB/s, the NVIDIA memory bandwidth exceeds the AMD part's 102.4 GB/s by a factor of 2.67. The NVIDIA part's 128 GB LPDDR5X memory dwarfs the AMD part's 16 GB LPDDR5, and the 256-bit bus is double the 128-bit bus of the AMD part. These differences are consistent across all recorded performance metrics, with no field where the AMD part exceeds the NVIDIA part.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM records 9.609 TFLOPS FP32, which is 5.87x the AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU's 1.638 TFLOPS.

Q: What are the memory capacities and types?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU uses 16 GB of LPDDR5 on a 128-bit bus, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus.

Q: Does either GPU include tensor cores?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM includes 64 tensor cores. The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU has no tensor cores listed in the database.

Q: What is the power consumption of each part?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU has a TDP of 15 W. The NVIDIA N1 16SM has an unknown TDP in the database.

Q: Which GPU supports more display outputs?

A: Both parts list a single display output. The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU has 1x USB Type-C, and the NVIDIA N1 16SM has 1x HDMI.

Q: What process nodes are used?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU is fabricated on TSMC's 7 nm process, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM is fabricated on TSMC's 5 nm process.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU wins in the power efficiency category, with a recorded TDP of 15 W. This makes it suitable for systems with strict thermal or battery constraints, and its 7 nm process from TSMC with 2,400 million transistors on a 163 mm² die indicates a compact, low-power design. The AMD part also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, which are explicit API entries in the database. Its release date of December 31, 2024 makes it the earlier available product.

The NVIDIA N1 16SM wins in every raw performance category recorded. Its 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, 24 ROPs, 16 ray tracing cores, and 64 tensor cores provide a substantial compute advantage. The 128 GB LPDDR5X memory with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth and a 256-bit bus offers 8x the capacity and 2.67x the bandwidth of the AMD part. The NVIDIA part's boost clock of 2346 MHz, combined with its 5 nm process and 382 mm² die, enables the 9.609 TFLOPS FP32 throughput. Its PCIe 5.0 x16 interface and integrated design with no power connectors position it for modern platforms with high-bandwidth interconnect requirements.

The absence of benchmark results means the wins are defined by specification dominance. The NVIDIA N1 16SM is the clear compute winner, while the AMD Ryzen Z2 A GPU is the clear power-draw winner. For any workload that leverages tensor cores, ray tracing, or large memory pools, the NVIDIA part is the only viable option. For workloads that must fit within a 15 W envelope, the AMD part is the only viable option.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two products in the database:

• Chip: Van Gogh (AMD) vs GB20B (NVIDIA)
• Architecture: RDNA 2.0 vs Blackwell 2.0
• Process Node: 7 nm vs 5 nm
• Die Size: 163 mm² vs 382 mm²
• Transistor Count: 2,400 million vs unknown
• Transistor Density: 14.7M / mm² vs not listed
• Base Clock: 1000 MHz vs 741 MHz
• Boost Clock: 1600 MHz vs 2346 MHz
• Memory Clock: 800 MHz (6.4 Gbps effective) vs 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective)
• Memory Size: 16 GB vs 128 GB
• Memory Type: LPDDR5 vs LPDDR5X
• Memory Bus Width: 128 bit vs 256 bit
• Memory Bandwidth: 102.4 GB/s vs 273.2 GB/s
• Shading Units: 512 vs 2048
• Texture Mapping Units: 32 vs 128
• ROPs: 16 vs 24
• Ray Tracing Cores: 8 vs 16
• Tensor Cores: not listed vs 64
• Pixel Rate: 25.60 GPixel/s vs 56.30 GPixel/s
• Texture Rate: 51.20 GTexel/s vs 300.3 GTexel/s
• FP32 Performance: 1.638 TFLOPS vs 9.609 TFLOPS
• FP16 Performance: 3.277 TFLOPS (2:1) vs 9.609 TFLOPS (1:1)
• TDP: 15 W vs unknown
• Slot Width: not listed vs IGP
• Power Connectors: not listed vs None
• Bus Interface: not listed vs PCIe 5.0 x16
• Display Outputs: 1x USB Type-C vs 1x HDMI
• DirectX Support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) vs N/A
• OpenGL Support: 4.6 vs N/A
• Vulkan Support: 1.4 vs N/A
• Release Date: 2024-12-31 vs 2026-05-31