AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme GPU vs NVIDIA N1X 40SM Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents two very different integrated graphics solutions. The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme GPU is an established, shipping part with a measurable 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 516, placing it in the 1st percentile of all GPUs in the database. The NVIDIA N1X 40SM is a forthcoming Blackwell IGP with no recorded benchmark scores, a 50th percentile ranking, and zero wins in head-to-head comparisons. For users needing a confirmed, active product today, the AMD part is the only one with verifiable performance data. The NVIDIA part, with its larger memory pool and higher compute specifications, is positioned for future workloads, but its lack of any recorded benchmark results means it cannot be recommended based on measured performance. The data shows a clear split: AMD for immediate, proven functionality, NVIDIA for a higher-spec, unverified IGP.

Architecture Differences

The two chips diverge fundamentally in design. The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme GPU uses the Strix Point chip on a 4 nm TSMC process, built on the RDNA 3.5 architecture. It integrates 34,000 million transistors on a 233 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 145.9M per mm². The NVIDIA N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip on a 5 nm TSMC process, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. Its die size is larger at 382 mm², though its transistor count is listed as unknown in the database, and no density figure is recorded.

Compute resources differ sharply. The AMD GPU carries 1024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, 48 ROPs, and 16 ray tracing cores. The NVIDIA part has 5120 shading units, 320 TMUs, 40 ROPs, 40 RT cores, and 160 tensor cores. The NVIDIA tensor core count is a major architectural addition, as the AMD part lists no tensor cores at all. Clock behavior also diverges: AMD runs at a base of 800 MHz and boosts to 2700 MHz, while NVIDIA runs at a lower 741 MHz base but boosts to 2346 MHz. The AMD part has a fixed 28 W TDP, while the NVIDIA TDP is unknown. Memory architecture is a key differentiator. AMD pairs 16 GB of LPDDR5X on a 128-bit bus with 128.0 GB/s bandwidth. NVIDIA provides 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth, doubling both bus width and bandwidth. Both list 1:1 FP16/FP32 ratios, but the raw throughput is far apart: 5.530 TFLOPS FP32 for AMD versus 24.02 TFLOPS for NVIDIA. Pixel and texture rates also favor NVIDIA in texture work (750.7 GTexel/s versus 172.8 GTexel/s) but AMD leads in pixel rate (129.6 GPixel/s versus 93.84 GPixel/s). API support is a notable gap: AMD lists DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the NVIDIA entry records N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between these two parts. The only recorded 3DMark result for the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme GPU is a Steel Nomad DX12 score of 516. The NVIDIA N1X 40SM has no benchmark scores in the database. This absence of comparative data means the only numerical comparison available is the AMD score against its own nearest rivals. The AMD GPU sits 3.4% below the Intel HD Graphics P4000 (which scores 534) and 3.7% below the AMD Radeon HD 6870 (which scores 536). It is 6.6% above the AMD Radeon HD 6750M (which scores 484) and 9.3% below the AMD Radeon HD 6770M (which scores 569). These deltas place the AMD part in a narrow performance band among older discrete and integrated graphics. For the NVIDIA part, the absence of any recorded benchmark score and any nearest rivals means no comparative performance statements can be made from the data.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher FP32 compute throughput?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 40SM records 24.02 TFLOPS FP32, which is more than four times the 5.530 TFLOPS of the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme GPU.

Q: How much memory does each GPU offer?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme GPU has 16 GB of LPDDR5X on a 128-bit bus. The NVIDIA N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The NVIDIA part provides 273.2 GB/s, while the AMD part provides 128.0 GB/s, a difference of more than double in favor of NVIDIA.

Q: Does the NVIDIA N1X 40SM have any recorded benchmark scores?

A: No. The database lists zero benchmark entries for the NVIDIA N1X 40SM, while the AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme GPU has a single 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 516.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel fill rate?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme GPU records 129.6 GPixel/s, which is higher than the 93.84 GPixel/s of the NVIDIA N1X 40SM.

Q: What API support does each GPU list?

A: The AMD part lists DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA part lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Z2 Extreme GPU wins in the categories that are immediately measurable. It has a recorded 3DMark benchmark score of 516, confirming it functions in a real graphics workload. It also holds a higher pixel rate at 129.6 GPixel/s versus 93.84 GPixel/s for NVIDIA, indicating stronger fill-rate performance in pixel-bound operations. Its boost clock of 2700 MHz exceeds the NVIDIA boost of 2346 MHz, and its base clock of 800 MHz is higher than NVIDIA's 741 MHz. The AMD part also has a clearly defined 28 W TDP, whereas the NVIDIA TDP is unknown, giving AMD a confirmed power envelope. Its API stack is fully specified, including DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan 1.4, while the NVIDIA part lists no API support in the database. The AMD part is also currently active in production with a release date of July 2025, while the NVIDIA part is dated for May 2026.

The NVIDIA N1X 40SM wins on raw specification counts. Its FP32 throughput of 24.02 TFLOPS is substantially higher than AMD's 5.530 TFLOPS. Its texture rate of 750.7 GTexel/s is more than four times AMD's 172.8 GTexel/s. Its shading unit count of 5120, TMU count of 320, RT core count of 40, and tensor core count of 160 all exceed AMD's respective counts of 1024, 64, 16, and zero. Memory capacity is eight times larger at 128 GB versus 16 GB, and bandwidth is more than double at 273.2 GB/s versus 128.0 GB/s. The NVIDIA part also uses a wider 256-bit memory bus versus AMD's 128-bit bus, and it lists a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, which the AMD entry does not specify. Its die size of 382 mm² is larger, and its 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs is far above AMD's 1st percentile, though this ranking is not backed by any benchmark score in the database.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every recorded field. Process node: AMD uses 4 nm, NVIDIA uses 5 nm, both from TSMC. Die size: AMD is 233 mm², NVIDIA is 382 mm². Transistor count: AMD has 34,000 million, NVIDIA is listed as unknown. Transistor density: AMD has 145.9M per mm², NVIDIA has no recorded value. Base clock: AMD is 800 MHz, NVIDIA is 741 MHz. Boost clock: AMD is 2700 MHz, NVIDIA is 2346 MHz. Memory clock: AMD is 1000 MHz (8 Gbps effective), NVIDIA is 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective). Memory size: AMD is 16 GB, NVIDIA is 128 GB. Memory type: both use LPDDR5X. Memory bus width: AMD is 128 bit, NVIDIA is 256 bit. Memory bandwidth: AMD is 128.0 GB/s, NVIDIA is 273.2 GB/s. Shading units: AMD has 1024, NVIDIA has 5120. TMUs: AMD has 64, NVIDIA has 320. ROPs: AMD has 48, NVIDIA has 40. RT cores: AMD has 16, NVIDIA has 40. Tensor cores: AMD has none listed, NVIDIA has 160. Pixel rate: AMD is 129.6 GPixel/s, NVIDIA is 93.84 GPixel/s. Texture rate: AMD is 172.8 GTexel/s, NVIDIA is 750.7 GTexel/s. FP32: AMD is 5.530 TFLOPS, NVIDIA is 24.02 TFLOPS. FP16: AMD is 5.530 TFLOPS (1:1), NVIDIA is 24.02 TFLOPS (1:1). TDP: AMD is 28 W, NVIDIA is unknown. Slot width: AMD is not listed, NVIDIA is IGP. Power connectors: both are None. Bus interface: AMD is not listed, NVIDIA is PCIe 5.0 x16. Display outputs: AMD has 1x USB Type-C, NVIDIA has 1x HDMI. DirectX: AMD lists 12 Ultimate (12_2), NVIDIA lists N/A. OpenGL: AMD lists 4.6, NVIDIA lists N/A. Vulkan: AMD lists 1.4, NVIDIA lists N/A. Production status: both are Active. Release date: AMD is July 2025, NVIDIA is May 2026. Launch MSRP: neither has a recorded value. Benchmark score: AMD has 516, NVIDIA has zero. Percentile: AMD is 1st, NVIDIA is 50th. Nearest rivals: AMD has four listed, NVIDIA has none.