Intel Arc B580 vs NVIDIA N1 16SM Comparison
Intel Arc B580
N1 16SM
PERFORMANCE BENCHMARKS
Analysis: Intel Arc B580 vs NVIDIA N1 16SM
The Verdict
The database shows two fundamentally different products that should be selected based on workload rather than direct competition. The Intel Arc B580 is a discrete graphics card with a full suite of benchmark results, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM is an integrated graphics processor with no recorded benchmark scores. The Arc B580 delivers 13.67 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS. The Arc B580 has a 68th percentile ranking across all GPUs, while the N1 16SM sits at the 50th percentile. For any user requiring measured performance data, the Arc B580 is the only option with verified results. For a system requiring massive memory capacity and integrated form factor, the N1 16SM offers 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, which is unmatched by the Arc B580's 12 GB GDDR6. The Arc B580 targets gamers and content creators with its 12 Ultimate DirectX support and 20 ray tracing cores. The N1 16SM targets compute-heavy workloads that benefit from 64 tensor cores and a 256-bit memory bus. The data shows the Arc B580 is the choice for gaming and mainstream graphics workloads, while the N1 16SM suits memory-intensive compute tasks in an integrated package.
FAQ
Q: How do the FP32 compute capabilities compare between the two processors?
A: The Intel Arc B580 delivers 13.67 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, which is approximately 42% higher than the NVIDIA N1 16SM's 9.609 TFLOPS. The Arc B580 also offers FP16 performance of 27.34 TFLOPS using a 2:1 ratio, while the N1 16SM provides 9.609 TFLOPS of FP16 with a 1:1 ratio.
Q: What are the memory capacity and bandwidth differences?
A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Intel Arc B580 has 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, delivering 456.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The Arc B580 provides substantially higher bandwidth, while the N1 16SM offers over ten times the capacity.
Q: Which processor has better benchmark results in the database?
A: The Intel Arc B580 has an average benchmark score of 23021 across ten recorded tests, including 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 at 3068, Geekbench Vulkan at 109672, and Passmark G3D at 15748. The NVIDIA N1 16SM has no recorded benchmark scores and an average score of 0.
Q: How does the Arc B580 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?
A: The Arc B580's average score of 23021 places it within 1% of several established GPUs. It trails the AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP by 0.2%, sits 0.6% ahead of the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080, trails the RTX 3080 by 0.7%, and trails the NVIDIA P106-100 by 1%.
Q: What are the API support differences?
A: The Intel Arc B580 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA N1 16SM lists no API support in the database, with DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan all marked as N/A.
Q: What is the power and form factor difference?
A: The Intel Arc B580 is a dual-slot card with a 190 W TDP, requiring a single 8-pin power connector and a 450 W suggested PSU. The NVIDIA N1 16SM is an integrated graphics processor with no power connector and no listed TDP.
Architecture Differences
The Intel Arc B580 uses the BMG-G21 chip built on the Xe2-HPG architecture, belonging to the Battlemage generation within the Arc 5 family. The NVIDIA N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, belonging to the Blackwell IGP generation in the N1x family. Both processors are fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The Arc B580 integrates 19,600 million transistors on a 272 mm² die, achieving a transistor density of 72.1 million per square millimeter. The N1 16SM's transistor count is listed as unknown, but its die size is 382 mm², which is 110 mm² larger than the Arc B580.
The Arc B580 includes 20 ray tracing cores and no dedicated tensor cores, while the N1 16SM includes 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores. This architectural split indicates the Arc B580 focuses on real-time graphics rendering, while the N1 16SM dedicates substantial silicon to tensor operations. The Arc B580 is a discrete PCIe 4.0 x8 card, while the N1 16SM is an integrated graphics processor using PCIe 5.0 x16. The N1 16SM's PCIe 5.0 x16 interface offers double the lane count and a newer generation compared to the Arc B580's x8 link.
The Arc B580 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, positioning it as a full-featured gaming and workstation GPU. The N1 16SM lists no API support, which aligns with its integrated processor role where graphics APIs may be handled through system-level paths. The Arc B580 uses GDDR6 memory, while the N1 16SM uses LPDDR5X, reflecting their different design goals: dedicated graphics memory versus shared system memory.
Specification Differences
The clock speeds differ substantially. The Arc B580 runs at a base and boost clock of 2670 MHz, while the N1 16SM has a 741 MHz base clock and a 2346 MHz boost clock. Memory clocks also differ: the Arc B580's memory runs at 2375 MHz with 19 Gbps effective speed, while the N1 16SM's memory runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective speed.
The compute unit counts show different configurations. The Arc B580 has 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 80 render output units. The N1 16SM has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and only 24 ROPs. The Arc B580 delivers 213.6 GPixel/s pixel rate and 427.2 GTexel/s texture rate. The N1 16SM delivers 56.30 GPixel/s pixel rate and 300.3 GTexel/s texture rate. The Arc B580's pixel rate is nearly four times higher, while its texture rate is about 42% higher.
The memory subsystems diverge significantly. The Arc B580 has 12 GB GDDR6 with a 192-bit bus and 456.0 GB/s bandwidth. The N1 16SM has 128 GB LPDDR5X with a 256-bit bus and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The N1 16SM provides roughly 10.7 times the memory capacity but only 60% of the bandwidth.
The power and physical specifications differ completely. The Arc B580 has a 190 W TDP, dual-slot width, one 8-pin power connector, and a 450 W suggested PSU. It measures 272 mm in length, 115 mm in height, and 45 mm in width. The N1 16SM has an unknown TDP, IGP slot width, no power connectors, and no listed dimensions. The Arc B580 displays through 1x HDMI 2.1a and 3x DisplayPort 2.1 outputs, while the N1 16SM has a single HDMI output.
Head-to-Head Benchmarks
The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark entries between the Intel Arc B580 and the NVIDIA N1 16SM. The N1 16SM has an empty benchmark array, and no comparative test results exist. The Arc B580 has ten recorded benchmarks, providing a detailed performance profile. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 3068 indicates capable DirectX 12 gaming performance. Geekbench scores of 92821 in OpenCL and 109672 in Vulkan show strong compute and graphics API performance.
Passmark results for the Arc B580 cover multiple DirectX versions: 76 in DirectX 10, 128 in DirectX 11, 76 in DirectX 12, and 183 in DirectX 9. The higher DirectX 9 score suggests legacy API optimization. The Passmark G2D score of 709 and G3D score of 15748 indicate the card excels in 3D workloads. The Passmark GPU compute score of 7729 shows moderate compute throughput.
The nearest rival comparisons for the Arc B580 place its average score of 23021 within a tight cluster. The AMD Radeon RX 580 2048SP scores 23061, a 0.2% gap. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 2080 scores 22895, which the Arc B580 leads by 0.6%. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3080 scores 23172, leading the Arc B580 by 0.7%. The NVIDIA P106-100 scores 23249, leading by 1%. These margins indicate the Arc B580 performs within 1% of each rival, a remarkably tight grouping.
The N1 16SM's percentile ranking of 50 places it at the median of all GPUs, but with no benchmark scores, this ranking cannot be verified through measured data. The Arc B580's 68th percentile ranking is supported by its full benchmark suite.
Where Each One Wins
The Intel Arc B580 wins in every measured benchmark category because it is the only processor with recorded results. Its 13.67 TFLOPS FP32 output and 27.34 TFLOPS FP16 output (2:1 ratio) provide raw compute muscle. The 456.0 GB/s memory bandwidth supports high-resolution textures and fast data movement. The 213.6 GPixel/s pixel rate and 427.2 GTexel/s texture rate make it suitable for high-refresh-rate gaming. The 20 ray tracing cores enable hardware-accelerated ray tracing, and DirectX 12 Ultimate support ensures compatibility with modern gaming titles. The dual-slot design with 190 W TDP and 8-pin connector fits standard desktop configurations. The 68th percentile ranking across all GPUs places it above the majority of graphics hardware.
The NVIDIA N1 16SM wins in memory capacity with 128 GB of LPDDR5X, a figure that dwarfs the Arc B580's 12 GB. The 256-bit memory bus provides a wide path for data, and the 64 tensor cores offer dedicated AI acceleration hardware. The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides maximum bandwidth to the host system. The integrated form factor with no power connectors allows deployment in systems without discrete graphics power delivery. The 5 nm process at TSMC matches the Arc B580's manufacturing technology. The 382 mm² die size suggests a complex integrated design. The 16 ray tracing cores provide some hardware ray tracing capability, though fewer than the Arc B580's 20. The 50th percentile ranking places it at the median, though this is unverified by benchmark data.
The data supports a clear workload split. For gaming, 3D rendering, and any application requiring DirectX or Vulkan support, the Arc B580 is the only viable option with verified results. For memory-heavy compute tasks that can use tensor cores and require large capacity, the N1 16SM offers capabilities the Arc B580 cannot match. The Arc B580's bandwidth advantage of 456.0 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s favors throughput-sensitive workloads, while the N1 16SM's 128 GB capacity favors datasets that exceed 12 GB. The Arc B580's launch MSRP is 249 USD. The N1 16SM has no launch MSRP recorded. The Arc B580 is available as an active production product with a release date of December 2024. The N1 16SM is listed as active with a release date of May 2026. The Arc B580 succeeds the Alchemist generation, while the N1 16SM has no predecessor listed.