Intel Arc A530M vs NVIDIA N1 16SM Comparison

FAQ

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in raw compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is 2.4 times the 3.994 TFLOPS of the Intel Arc A530M. The NVIDIA part also reaches 300.3 GTexel/s texture rate versus 124.8 GTexel/s for Intel.

Q: Which GPU has more memory?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Intel Arc A530M has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: What are the architectural differences?

A: Intel uses the Xe-HPG architecture (DG2-256 chip) on a 6 nm TSMC process with 11,500 million transistors on a 269 mm² die. NVIDIA uses Blackwell 2.0 (GB20B chip) on a 5 nm TSMC process with a 382 mm² die.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. The Intel Arc A530M has 1536 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs.

Q: What are the benchmark scores for each GPU?

A: The Intel Arc A530M scores 49,735 in Geekbench OpenCL and 43,492 in Geekbench Vulkan, with an average benchmark score of 46,614. The NVIDIA N1 16SM has no recorded benchmark scores in the database.

Q: Do both GPUs support DirectX?

A: The Intel Arc A530M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA N1 16SM has no API support listed (N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan).

The Verdict

The data shows two fundamentally different products. The Intel Arc A530M is a measured, shipping mobile GPU with concrete benchmark results and full API support. It sits at the 85th percentile of all GPUs, placing it above the NVIDIA RTX A2000 and RTX 5880 Ada Generation in the database. Its average score of 46,614 puts it nearly level with the AMD Radeon RX 5600M (46,601, 0% delta) and just 0.2% behind the AMD Radeon RX 6550M (46,702).

The NVIDIA N1 16SM has no recorded benchmarks, no average score, and no API support data. It sits at the 50th percentile by default. The hardware specifications are substantial: 128 GB of memory, 9.609 TFLOPS FP32, 2048 shading units, and a 2346 MHz boost clock. But without benchmark data, the database cannot confirm how those specifications translate into real performance.

For buyers who need verified performance today, the Intel Arc A530M is the only one with measurable results. For those evaluating the NVIDIA N1 16SM, the recorded data shows a part with higher peak specifications across nearly every compute metric, but no evidence of actual workload performance. The verdict is straightforward: the Intel part has proven results, the NVIDIA part has unproven potential.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

There are no direct head-to-head benchmark entries in the database, so the comparison relies on the individual recorded measurements and specifications.

The Intel Arc A530M has two recorded benchmark scores. In Geekbench OpenCL it reaches 49,735, and in Geekbench Vulkan it reaches 43,492. These results place it in the 85th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rival data confirms its position: the AMD Radeon RX 5600M scores 46,601 (0% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 6550M scores 46,702 (-0.2% delta), and the NVIDIA RTX A2000 scores 46,043 (1.2% delta). The Intel part outperforms the RTX A2000 by 1.2% and the RTX 5880 Ada Generation by 1.4%, with the latter scoring 45,972.

The NVIDIA N1 16SM has no benchmark scores, no average score, and no nearest rivals. Its 50th percentile ranking is a placeholder until measurements exist. The specification sheet suggests high compute capacity, but the database contains no data on how it performs in OpenCL, Vulkan, or any other workload.

The largest measurable wins belong to the NVIDIA part on paper: 2.4 times the FP32 throughput, 2.4 times the texture rate, and 16 times the memory capacity. However, these are specifications, not benchmark results. The Intel part's recorded scores are the only performance data available in this comparison.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification category.

Process and Die: The Intel Arc A530M uses a 6 nm TSMC process with 11,500 million transistors on a 269 mm² die. The NVIDIA N1 16SM uses a 5 nm TSMC process with a 382 mm² die; its transistor count is unknown.

Clocks: Intel runs at 900 MHz base and 1300 MHz boost, with memory at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). NVIDIA runs at 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost, with memory at 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective).

Memory: Intel has 8 GB GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 224.0 GB/s bandwidth. NVIDIA has 128 GB LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth.

Compute Units: Intel has 1536 shading units, 96 TMUs, 48 ROPs, and 12 RT cores. NVIDIA has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, 24 ROPs, 16 RT cores, and 64 tensor cores. Intel lists no tensor cores.

Rates: Intel achieves 62.40 GPixel/s pixel rate and 124.8 GTexel/s texture rate. NVIDIA achieves 56.30 GPixel/s pixel rate and 300.3 GTexel/s texture rate.

FP16: Intel delivers 7.987 TFLOPS FP16 at a 2:1 ratio. NVIDIA delivers 9.609 TFLOPS FP16 at a 1:1 ratio.

Power and Interface: Intel is rated at 65 W TDP with a PCIe 4.0 x8 interface. NVIDIA has an unknown TDP, no power connectors, and a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface. Both are IGP slot width.

Display Outputs: Intel is portable device dependent. NVIDIA has 1x HDMI.

API Support: Intel supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. NVIDIA lists N/A for all three.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Arc A530M uses the Xe-HPG architecture on the DG2-256 chip, belonging to the Alchemist generation (Arc 5 Mobile). It is built on TSMC's 6 nm process with 11,500 million transistors. The architecture includes 12 RT cores and 96 TMUs, with FP16 compute running at a 2:1 ratio relative to FP32. The GPU has full API support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it a general-purpose graphics solution for gaming and compute workloads.

The NVIDIA N1 16SM uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture on the GB20B chip, belonging to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. It is built on TSMC's 5 nm process with a 382 mm² die. The architecture includes 16 RT cores and 64 tensor cores, with FP16 compute running at a 1:1 ratio relative to FP32. The tensor core count is notable: the NVIDIA part has 64 tensor cores while the Intel part lists none. The 1:1 FP16 ratio means the NVIDIA part does not gain a throughput advantage from reduced precision, unlike the Intel part which doubles its FP16 rate.

The memory architecture differs substantially. Intel uses 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, a conventional discrete GPU memory setup. NVIDIA uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, which is an integrated-class memory configuration. The bandwidth figures reflect this: NVIDIA reaches 273.2 GB/s versus Intel's 224.0 GB/s.

The interface differences also point to different design intents. Intel uses PCIe 4.0 x8, while NVIDIA uses PCIe 5.0 x16, providing four times the lane count and a newer bus generation. The NVIDIA part has no power connectors, consistent with an IGP design, while Intel is rated at 65 W TDP.

Where Each One Wins

The NVIDIA N1 16SM wins on raw specification strength. It has 2.4 times the FP32 throughput (9.609 TFLOPS versus 3.994 TFLOPS), 2.4 times the texture rate (300.3 GTexel/s versus 124.8 GTexel/s), and 2.4 times the shading units (2048 versus 1536). It also has 16 times the memory capacity (128 GB versus 8 GB), 26.3% more memory bandwidth (273.2 GB/s versus 224.0 GB/s), and a boost clock that runs 80.5% higher (2346 MHz versus 1300 MHz). The 64 tensor cores give it a dedicated AI compute advantage that the Intel part does not offer. The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides a wider, newer bus connection.

The Intel Arc A530M wins on measured performance and ecosystem readiness. Its average benchmark score of 46,614 places it in the 85th percentile of all GPUs, with Geekbench OpenCL at 49,735 and Geekbench Vulkan at 43,492. The NVIDIA part has no scores at all. Intel also wins on pixel rate (62.40 GPixel/s versus 56.30 GPixel/s), which is notable given that NVIDIA has more shading units and TMUs. The Intel part has full API support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the NVIDIA part lists no API support. The Intel GPU has 48 ROPs versus 24 on the NVIDIA part, which contributes to its pixel throughput advantage.

For workloads that depend on fill rate and rasterization, the Intel Arc A530M has the measured edge. For workloads that depend on raw FP32 compute, memory capacity, tensor operations, and texture throughput, the NVIDIA N1 16SM has the specification advantage, but the database contains no benchmark evidence to confirm real-world delivery. The Intel part also has a known 65 W TDP, while the NVIDIA part's power draw is unlisted.

The data supports this split: choose the Intel Arc A530M for verified performance, API compatibility, and rasterization throughput. The NVIDIA N1 16SM is the higher-specification part on paper, but its 50th percentile ranking and empty benchmark record mean its actual performance remains unmeasured in the database.