AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU vs NVIDIA N1X 48SM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark results for the AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU and the NVIDIA N1X 48SM. Both parts show a zero average benchmark score and zero recorded wins in the comparison set. The absence of measured performance data means the relative standing between these two GPUs cannot be established through direct testing results. The percentile rank for each GPU is identical at 50, which places both in the middle of the database's distribution of all GPUs, but this is a broad categorization rather than a specific performance comparison.

The AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU delivers 1.638 TFLOPS of FP32 compute throughput. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM delivers 28.83 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, which is a substantially higher figure. Pixel throughput also favors the NVIDIA part: 112.6 GPixel/s versus 25.60 GPixel/s for the AMD chip. Texture rate shows an even larger gap, with the N1X 48SM achieving 900.9 GTexel/s compared to 51.20 GTexel/s on the Steam Deck OLED GPU. These figures indicate that in raw theoretical throughput, the NVIDIA IGP holds a commanding lead across every major compute metric.

Memory bandwidth follows the same pattern. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM uses a 256-bit bus with LPDDR5X memory at 273.2 GB/s, while the AMD part uses a 128-bit bus with LPDDR5 at 176.0 GB/s. The NVIDIA part also carries 128 GB of memory versus 16 GB on the AMD GPU. The AMD GPU's memory clock is listed at 1375 MHz with 11 Gbps effective, while the NVIDIA memory runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective. Despite the lower memory clock, the wider bus on the N1X 48SM produces the higher bandwidth.

The shading unit counts reinforce the performance hierarchy. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has 6144 shading units, 384 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU has 512 shading units, 32 TMUs, and 16 ROPs. The NVIDIA part also includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, while the AMD GPU includes 8 RT cores and no tensor cores. The FP16 throughput figures differ in ratio as well: the AMD GPU lists 3.277 TFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio to FP32, while the NVIDIA GPU lists 28.83 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio.

The Verdict

The recorded data indicates that the NVIDIA N1X 48SM is the stronger GPU on paper for nearly every measurable specification. Its FP32 compute of 28.83 TFLOPS is roughly 17.6 times the AMD part's 1.638 TFLOPS. The texture rate of 900.9 GTexel/s is about 17.6 times the 51.20 GTexel/s on the AMD GPU. Pixel rate on the NVIDIA part, 112.6 GPixel/s, is about 4.4 times the 25.60 GPixel/s on the AMD part. Memory bandwidth on the NVIDIA part, 273.2 GB/s, is about 1.55 times the 176.0 GB/s on the AMD part.

However, the two GPUs serve entirely different product categories. The AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU is a console GPU designed by Valve, with a 15 W TDP and dimensions of 298 mm length, 117 mm height, and 49 mm width. It is an integrated graphics solution for a handheld gaming device, released on 2023-11-08. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM is a Blackwell IGP (integrated graphics processor) for the N1x generation, with no TDP listed, no power connectors, and a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface. It is slated for release on 2026-05-31. The NVIDIA part is an IGP form factor, meaning it is designed to be integrated into a motherboard or system-on-chip package.

Given that no benchmark scores exist for either part, the verdict must rely on specification analysis. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM is the clear choice for workloads demanding high throughput, such as large-scale compute or high-resolution rendering, based on its superior pixel rate, texture rate, FP32 throughput, and memory bandwidth. The AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU is the only option for a low-power handheld console context, given its 15 W TDP and compact dimensions. The choice between the two is dictated by the intended platform, not by comparative performance, since the AMD part targets a portable gaming device and the NVIDIA part targets an integrated desktop or laptop die.

Architecture Differences

The AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU uses the RDNA 2.0 architecture on a chip named Sephiroth. It is built on a 6 nm process at TSMC, with 2,400 million transistors on a 131 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 18.3M per mm². The NVIDIA N1X 48SM uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture on a chip named GB20B. It is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 382 mm². The transistor count for the NVIDIA chip is listed as unknown, and no transistor density is provided.

The AMD architecture includes 8 RT cores for ray tracing, and it supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The NVIDIA architecture includes 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, which are absent on the AMD part. The NVIDIA part lists its API support as N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, which indicates that the database does not assign standard API compatibility to this IGP, possibly because it is designed for a proprietary or non-standard software stack.

The FP16 processing ratio differs between the two architectures. The AMD GPU achieves FP16 at a 2:1 ratio relative to FP32, meaning it can process half-precision at double the rate of single-precision. The NVIDIA GPU achieves FP16 at a 1:1 ratio, meaning its half-precision throughput equals its single-precision throughput. This is a notable architectural distinction: the NVIDIA part does not gain a throughput advantage from using reduced precision, while the AMD part does.

The process node difference is one step: 6 nm for AMD versus 5 nm for NVIDIA, both from TSMC. The die size difference is substantial, with the NVIDIA die at 382 mm² being nearly three times the size of the AMD die at 131 mm². The AMD part's transistor density of 18.3M per mm² is computable from the listed data, while no density figure exists for the NVIDIA part.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification field in the database. The AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU has a base clock of 1000 MHz and a boost clock of 1600 MHz. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz. The boost clock on the NVIDIA part is significantly higher, while its base clock is lower than the AMD part's base clock.

Memory configuration differs in size, type, bus width, and bandwidth. The AMD GPU has 16 GB of LPDDR5 on a 128-bit bus. The NVIDIA GPU has 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus. The memory bandwidth figures are 176.0 GB/s for AMD and 273.2 GB/s for NVIDIA.

The display outputs differ: the AMD GPU has 1x USB Type-C, while the NVIDIA GPU has 1x HDMI. The bus interface also differs: the AMD GPU has no listed bus interface, while the NVIDIA GPU uses PCIe 5.0 x16. The power configuration differs: the AMD GPU has a TDP of 15 W and no listed power connectors, while the NVIDIA GPU has no TDP listed and no power connectors. The NVIDIA part is classified as an IGP with a slot width of "IGP", while the AMD part has a slot width of null.

The physical dimensions are only listed for the AMD part: 298 mm length, 117 mm height, and 49 mm width. The NVIDIA part has no dimensions listed. The release dates differ: the AMD GPU was released on 2023-11-08, and the NVIDIA GPU is scheduled for 2026-05-31. Both parts are listed as Active in production status. Neither part has a launch MSRP in the database.

The shading unit, TMU, and ROP counts are all different: 512/32/16 for AMD versus 6144/384/48 for NVIDIA. The RT core counts are 8 for AMD and 48 for NVIDIA. The tensor core counts are null for AMD and 192 for NVIDIA. The FP32 and FP16 throughput figures are all different as well, as are the pixel rate and texture rate figures.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has 28.83 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU has 1.638 TFLOPS. The NVIDIA part is approximately 17.6 times higher in this metric.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, while the AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU has 16 GB of LPDDR5 memory. The NVIDIA part also uses a 256-bit bus versus the AMD part's 128-bit bus.

Q: Does the AMD GPU support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU includes 8 RT cores for ray tracing. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM includes 48 RT cores, but the AMD part is the one with listed API support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3.

Q: What is the process node for each GPU?

A: The AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU is built on a 6 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 131 mm². The NVIDIA N1X 48SM is built on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 382 mm².

Q: Which GPU has more texture mapping units?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has 384 TMUs, while the AMD Steam Deck OLED GPU has 32 TMUs. The texture rate for the NVIDIA part is 900.9 GTexel/s versus 51.20 GTexel/s for the AMD part.

Q: Are there any benchmark scores recorded for these GPUs?

A: No, the database shows no benchmark scores for either GPU. Both have an average benchmark score of 0 and a percentile rank of 50 against all GPUs. The head-to-head benchmark list is also empty.