AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU vs NVIDIA N1 16SM Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data places both the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU and the NVIDIA N1 16SM at the 50th percentile among all GPUs in the database, with no benchmark scores or head-to-head results available for either part. This means the database currently has no quantitative performance evidence to separate them. The choice between these two rests entirely on their architectural and specification differences rather than measured outcomes.

The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU is a 28 W mobile-class part built on a 4 nm process, designed for compact, power-limited systems. Its 16 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 128 bit bus delivers 119.9 GB/s of bandwidth, which suits games and applications that do not demand massive memory pools. The NVIDIA N1 16SM, by contrast, is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256 bit bus, offering 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth. That memory configuration points toward workloads with very large working sets, such as data processing or AI inference, rather than typical gaming.

For a user prioritizing raw FP32 compute, the NVIDIA part holds a lead with 9.609 TFLOPS versus 8.294 TFLOPS for the AMD part, a difference of roughly 15.9%. For texture throughput, the NVIDIA part delivers 300.3 GTexel/s against 129.6 GTexel/s, more than double the AMD part. However, the AMD part wins in pixel fill rate with 86.40 GPixel/s versus 56.30 GPixel/s, a 53.5% advantage. The AMD part also lists DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 support, while the NVIDIA part lists none of these APIs, which eliminates it from direct gaming comparisons.

The data indicates the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU is the only one of the two with a defined API profile for conventional graphics. The NVIDIA N1 16SM lacks any listed DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan support, so its use case appears confined to non-graphics or proprietary compute environments. The 16 GB memory ceiling on the AMD part is a clear constraint for large-scale workloads, while the 128 GB pool on the NVIDIA part is excessive for gaming and points to server or workstation-class tasks.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different design philosophies. The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU uses the Hawk Point chip with RDNA 3.0 architecture, manufactured on a 4 nm process at TSMC. It packs 25,390 million transistors into a 178 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 142.6 million per square millimeter. The NVIDIA N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip with Blackwell 2.0 architecture, built on a 5 nm process, also at TSMC, with a larger 382 mm² die. The database does not record a transistor count or density for the NVIDIA part, so direct transistor comparisons are impossible.

Shader organization differs substantially. The AMD part has 768 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, 32 ROPs, 12 ray tracing cores, and no tensor cores listed. The NVIDIA part has 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, 24 ROPs, 16 ray tracing cores, and 64 tensor cores. The NVIDIA part's tensor core count is a notable feature, suggesting hardware acceleration for matrix operations, which the AMD part lacks entirely.

Clock behavior also diverges. The AMD part runs at an 800 MHz base clock and boosts to 2700 MHz, while the NVIDIA part runs at 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost. Despite the lower clocks, the NVIDIA part achieves higher FP32 throughput due to its larger shader count. Memory clocks differ too: the AMD memory runs at 937 MHz with 7.5 Gbps effective transfer, while the NVIDIA memory runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective.

The process node difference is meaningful. The AMD part uses 4 nm, which is one generation ahead of the 5 nm node used by the NVIDIA part. That helps explain why the AMD die is much smaller at 178 mm² versus 382 mm², even though the AMD part has far fewer transistors recorded. The NVIDIA die's larger area likely accommodates its 128 GB memory interface and 256 bit bus.

Power and connectivity also separate them. The AMD part carries a 28 W TDP, while the NVIDIA part has no TDP recorded. Both have no power connectors, but the NVIDIA part lists a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface, while the AMD part lists no bus interface. Display outputs differ as well: the AMD part has one USB Type-C output, and the NVIDIA part has one HDMI output. The NVIDIA part is classified as an IGP, meaning it is integrated into a platform, whereas the AMD part is a standalone GPU component.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more FP32 compute power?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS FP32, compared to 8.294 TFLOPS for the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU. This is a 15.9% advantage for the NVIDIA part.

Q: Which GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate?

A: Only the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU lists DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 support. The NVIDIA N1 16SM lists N/A for all three APIs.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU has 16 GB of LPDDR5X on a 128 bit bus. The NVIDIA N1 16SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256 bit bus.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM offers 273.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU offers 119.9 GB/s. The NVIDIA part has 127.9% more bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has a higher pixel fill rate?

A: The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU reaches 86.40 GPixel/s, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM reaches 56.30 GPixel/s. The AMD part is 53.5% faster in pixel throughput.

Q: Are there tensor cores on either GPU?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM includes 64 tensor cores. The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU lists no tensor cores.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every recorded specification. The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU uses the Hawk Point chip with RDNA 3.0 architecture, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip with Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The process nodes differ: 4 nm for AMD, 5 nm for NVIDIA. Die size is 178 mm² for AMD versus 382 mm² for NVIDIA. Transistor count is recorded only for AMD at 25,390 million.

Clock speeds differ: AMD base is 800 MHz and boost is 2700 MHz; NVIDIA base is 741 MHz and boost is 2346 MHz. Memory clocks also differ: AMD runs at 937 MHz with 7.5 Gbps effective, NVIDIA at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective. Memory capacity is 16 GB for AMD versus 128 GB for NVIDIA. Bus width is 128 bit for AMD versus 256 bit for NVIDIA. Bandwidth is 119.9 GB/s for AMD versus 273.2 GB/s for NVIDIA.

Compute unit counts differ: AMD has 768 shading units, 48 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and 12 RT cores. NVIDIA has 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, 24 ROPs, 16 RT cores, and 64 tensor cores. Pixel rate is 86.40 GPixel/s for AMD versus 56.30 GPixel/s for NVIDIA. Texture rate is 129.6 GTexel/s for AMD versus 300.3 GTexel/s for NVIDIA. FP32 is 8.294 TFLOPS for AMD versus 9.609 TFLOPS for NVIDIA. FP16 matches FP32 at 1:1 ratio on both parts.

Power and form factor differ: AMD has a 28 W TDP and no slot width recorded; NVIDIA has no TDP recorded and is classified as an IGP. The AMD part has no bus interface listed, while the NVIDIA part uses PCIe 5.0 x16. Display outputs differ: one USB Type-C on AMD, one HDMI on NVIDIA. The API support differs completely: AMD lists DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4; NVIDIA lists N/A for all.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark results between the AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU and the NVIDIA N1 16SM. Neither part has any individual benchmark scores recorded, and both sit at the same 50th percentile against all GPUs. The wins and losses counters are both zero.

Without measured performance data, the specification sheet provides the only comparative evidence. The largest NVIDIA advantages appear in memory capacity and bandwidth. The NVIDIA part has 128 GB versus 16 GB, an 8x capacity advantage. Its 273.2 GB/s bandwidth is 127.9% higher than the AMD part's 119.9 GB/s. Texture rate also favors NVIDIA at 300.3 GTexel/s versus 129.6 GTexel/s, a 131.7% advantage. FP32 compute favors NVIDIA by 15.9%.

The AMD advantages are concentrated in pixel processing and API readiness. The AMD part's 86.40 GPixel/s is 53.5% higher than NVIDIA's 56.30 GPixel/s. The AMD part also has a higher boost clock at 2700 MHz versus 2346 MHz, and a smaller die at 178 mm² versus 382 mm². The AMD part's 28 W TDP is the only power figure recorded between the two.

Where Each One Wins

The AMD Ryzen Z2 GPU wins in scenarios that demand high pixel throughput and standard graphics APIs. Its 86.40 GPixel/s pixel rate and DirectX 12 Ultimate support make it the only part in this comparison that can run conventional games with modern graphics features. Its 28 W TDP and 178 mm² die suggest efficiency in compact systems. The 16 GB memory capacity is workable for gaming at typical resolutions.

The NVIDIA N1 16SM wins in scenarios that demand massive memory capacity and high texture throughput. Its 128 GB memory pool and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth point to workloads that hold large datasets in memory. The 64 tensor cores indicate hardware acceleration for matrix math, which the AMD part cannot offer. Its 9.609 TFLOPS FP32 and 300.3 GTexel/s texture rate give it a raw compute edge for non-graphics workloads. The lack of DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support means these advantages apply outside conventional gaming.

The data suggests a clean split: the AMD part for graphics-oriented tasks with API support and pixel throughput, the NVIDIA part for memory-heavy compute tasks with tensor acceleration and raw throughput. Neither part has measured benchmarks to confirm these tendencies, so the specification differences stand as the only basis for selection.