Intel Arc B390 vs NVIDIA N1 16SM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

Direct benchmark comparisons between the Intel Arc B390 and the NVIDIA N1 16SM are limited by the available recorded data. The Intel Arc B390 has a single measured benchmark result: a 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 points. This places it in the 9th percentile of all GPUs in the database, indicating that it outperforms only a small fraction of the entire GPU landscape. The NVIDIA N1 16SM, by contrast, has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, meaning direct head-to-head numerical comparisons cannot be established from existing measurements.

The Intel Arc B390's nearest rivals in the database are all older NVIDIA discrete GPUs. It sits 1.3% ahead of the GeForce GT 520MX, which averages 1463 points. It is 1.5% ahead of the GeForce 800M, which averages 1460 points. The gap widens slightly against the GeForce GT 625 OEM, which averages 1446 points, putting the Arc B390 2.5% ahead. Against the GeForce GT 710, which averages 1443 points, the Arc B390 leads by 2.7%. These deltas are modest in absolute terms, but they show the Arc B390 clustering tightly with low-end GPUs from past generations rather than competing with modern mid-range or high-end parts.

The NVIDIA N1 16SM does not have any nearest rivals listed in the database, and its average benchmark score is recorded as zero. This absence of data means the N1 16SM cannot be positioned against the Arc B390 using measured performance figures. The database records the N1 16SM at the 50th percentile of all GPUs, but this percentile is derived from its placement among other entries, not from an actual benchmark run. With no score to compare, any assertion about which GPU is faster in synthetic workloads remains unsupported by the available measurements.

The head-to-head benchmark list between the two products is empty, and the win counts for both items are zero. This is a case where the data simply does not contain a direct comparison. The only concrete numeric anchor is the Arc B390's 1482 score in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, which at least provides a reference point for its absolute performance level. The N1 16SM offers no such anchor.

The Verdict

Based strictly on the recorded data, the Intel Arc B390 is the only one of the two with a measurable performance profile. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 points, while low in the overall distribution (9th percentile), at least confirms that it can execute a modern DirectX 12 Ultimate workload and produce a result. The NVIDIA N1 16SM has no benchmark scores, no nearest rivals, and no average score, so there is no evidence in the database that it performs at any particular level in gaming or compute tests.

The Arc B390 also carries a defined feature set for graphics work: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 support. The N1 16SM lists DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan as N/A. For any application relying on these APIs, the Arc B390 is the only option that the data confirms will run. The N1 16SM's API support is unlisted, which suggests it may not be intended for traditional graphics workloads, or that the database has not recorded its capabilities.

For users who need a GPU with confirmed API compatibility and a measured 3DMark result, the Arc B390 is the safer choice from the available data. For users who are considering the N1 16SM, the database provides no performance evidence to justify selection over the Arc B390. The N1 16SM does offer substantially more raw hardware resources, including 2048 shading units versus 1536, 128 texture mapping units versus 48, and 16 ray tracing cores versus 12, but without benchmark scores, these specifications do not translate into verified performance.

Where Each One Wins

Intel Arc B390 wins on measured performance evidence. The database contains a real benchmark score for this GPU: 1482 in 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12. It also records a full set of graphics API support, including DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Any workload that requires these APIs can be assumed to run on the Arc B390 based on the recorded data.

NVIDIA N1 16SM wins on hardware resource counts. It has more shading units (2048 versus 1536), more texture mapping units (128 versus 48), more ray tracing cores (16 versus 12), and a much larger memory configuration (128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus versus system shared memory). It also includes 64 tensor cores, a feature the Arc B390 does not list at all. These are specification advantages, not measured performance advantages. The database does not confirm that they translate into faster results in any test.

Intel Arc B390 wins on API coverage. The Arc B390 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 16SM lists all three as N/A. For software that depends on these interfaces, the Arc B390 is the only viable option per the data.

NVIDIA N1 16SM wins on memory capacity and bandwidth. The N1 16SM has 128 GB of dedicated LPDDR5X memory with 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Arc B390 uses system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth. For workloads that require large resident datasets and consistent memory throughput, the N1 16SM's dedicated memory is a structural advantage.

Intel Arc B390 wins on process node. The Arc B390 is fabricated on a 3 nm process, while the N1 16SM uses a 5 nm process. The Arc B390 also has a much smaller die size potential given its transistor count is unknown, but the N1 16SM has a recorded die size of 382 mm². The Arc B390's die size is not listed.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher benchmark score in the database?

A: The Intel Arc B390 has a recorded 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 1482 points. The NVIDIA N1 16SM has no recorded benchmark scores, so no comparison is possible.

Q: Does the NVIDIA N1 16SM support DirectX 12?

A: The database lists DirectX as N/A for the NVIDIA N1 16SM. The Intel Arc B390 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2).

Q: How much memory does each GPU have?

A: The Intel Arc B390 uses system shared memory with system dependent bandwidth. The NVIDIA N1 16SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM has 2048 shading units, while the Intel Arc B390 has 1536 shading units.

Q: What is the process node for each GPU?

A: The Intel Arc B390 is fabricated on a 3 nm process by Intel. The NVIDIA N1 16SM is fabricated on a 5 nm process by TSMC.

Q: Does the NVIDIA N1 16SM have tensor cores?

A: Yes, the NVIDIA N1 16SM has 64 tensor cores. The Intel Arc B390 does not list a tensor core count.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Arc B390 uses the Xe3-LPG architecture built on the Panther Lake chip. It is part of the Arc Graphics-M (Panther Lake) generation. The process node is 3 nm, and the foundry is Intel itself. The NVIDIA N1 16SM uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture on the GB20B chip, part of the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. Its process node is 5 nm, fabricated by TSMC.

The Arc B390 has 1536 shading units, 48 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units. It includes 12 ray tracing cores but does not list tensor cores. The N1 16SM has 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units. It includes 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores.

The memory subsystems differ fundamentally. The Arc B390 uses system shared memory for capacity, type, bus width, and bandwidth is system dependent. The N1 16SM has a dedicated 128 GB LPDDR5X memory pool on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The memory clock for the N1 16SM is 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective transfer rate, while the Arc B390 lists no dedicated memory clock.

The pixel rates are close: the Arc B390 achieves 60.00 GPixel/s, while the N1 16SM achieves 56.30 GPixel/s. The texture rates diverge more significantly: the Arc B390 delivers 120.0 GTexel/s, while the N1 16SM delivers 300.3 GTexel/s. FP32 throughput favors the N1 16SM at 9.609 TFLOPS versus 7.680 TFLOPS for the Arc B390. FP16 performance differs in ratio: the Arc B390 delivers 15.36 TFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio, while the N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio.

The Arc B390's boost clock is 2500 MHz with a base of 300 MHz. The N1 16SM's boost clock is 2346 MHz with a base of 741 MHz. The Arc B390 has a power draw of 80 W, while the N1 16SM's TDP is unknown. Both are IGP slot width with no power connectors. Display outputs differ: the Arc B390 is portable device dependent, while the N1 16SM has 1x HDMI.

The Arc B390 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 16SM lists all three APIs as N/A. The bus interface also differs: the Arc B390 uses IGP, while the N1 16SM uses PCIe 5.0 x16.

Specification Differences

The following specification fields differ between the Intel Arc B390 and the NVIDIA N1 16SM:

• Chip: Panther Lake versus GB20B
• Architecture: Xe3-LPG versus Blackwell 2.0
• Generation: Arc Graphics-M (Panther Lake) versus Blackwell IGP (N1x)
• Process node: 3 nm versus 5 nm
• Foundry: Intel versus TSMC
• Die size: unknown versus 382 mm²
• Base clock: 300 MHz versus 741 MHz
• Boost clock: 2500 MHz versus 2346 MHz
• Memory clock: System Shared versus 1067 MHz 8.5 Gbps effective
• Memory size: System Shared versus 128 GB
• Memory type: System Shared versus LPDDR5X
• Memory bus width: System Shared versus 256 bit
• Memory bandwidth: System Dependent versus 273.2 GB/s
• Shading units: 1536 versus 2048
• Texture mapping units: 48 versus 128
• Raster output units: 24 versus 24 (same)
• Ray tracing cores: 12 versus 16
• Tensor cores: null versus 64
• Pixel rate: 60.00 GPixel/s versus 56.30 GPixel/s
• Texture rate: 120.0 GTexel/s versus 300.3 GTexel/s
• FP32 performance: 7.680 TFLOPS versus 9.609 TFLOPS
• FP16 performance: 15.36 TFLOPS (2:1) versus 9.609 TFLOPS (1:1)
• TDP: 80 W versus unknown
• Bus interface: IGP versus PCIe 5.0 x16
• Display outputs: Portable Device Dependent versus 1x HDMI
• DirectX support: 12 Ultimate (12_2) versus N/A
• OpenGL support: 4.6 versus N/A
• Vulkan support: 1.4 versus N/A
• Release date: 2026-01-26 versus 2026-05-31