Intel Arc B770 vs NVIDIA N1X 48SM Comparison

The Intel Arc B770 and the NVIDIA N1X 48SM represent two fundamentally different approaches to GPU design within the same process generation. Both chips are fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, yet they target entirely different use cases. The Arc B770 is a discrete, dual-slot expansion card built for the Battlemage (Arc 7) generation, while the N1X 48SM is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) from the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. Benchmark results from the database show both products sitting at the 50th percentile when compared against all GPUs, with identical average benchmark scores of zero, indicating that the recorded measurements are preliminary or incomplete. The data available focuses on architectural specifications, memory subsystems, and compute capabilities, which provide a basis for comparison even without direct head-to-head benchmark scores.

FAQ

Q: What are the core counts for the Intel Arc B770 and the NVIDIA N1X 48SM?

A: The Intel Arc B770 has 4096 shading units, 256 texture mapping units, and 128 render output units. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has 6144 shading units, 384 texture mapping units, and 48 render output units.

Q: How much memory does each GPU have and what type is used?

A: The Intel Arc B770 uses 16 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256 bit bus, delivering 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256 bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has a higher FP32 rating at 28.83 TFLOPS, while the Intel Arc B770 delivers 19.66 TFLOPS. The N1X 48SM also has a higher texture rate at 900.9 GTexel/s compared to 614.4 GTexel/s for the Arc B770.

Q: What are the boost clock speeds for each GPU?

A: The Intel Arc B770 has a base clock of 2100 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has a much lower base clock of 741 MHz but a boost clock of 2346 MHz, which is close to the Arc B770's boost figure.

Q: Which GPU has more ray tracing cores?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has 48 ray tracing cores, while the Intel Arc B770 has 32 ray tracing cores. The N1X 48SM also includes 192 tensor cores, while the Arc B770 lists no tensor core count in the database.

Q: What interface does each GPU use to connect to the system?

A: The Intel Arc B770 uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, while the NVIDIA N1X 48SM uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs diverge sharply in their underlying architecture. The Intel Arc B770 is built on the Xe2-HPG architecture, which is part of the Battlemage (Arc 7) generation. Its chip is designated BMG-G31 and has a die size of 368 mm². The NVIDIA N1X 48SM uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture from the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation, with a chip designated GB20B and a slightly larger die size of 382 mm². Both chips are manufactured at TSMC on a 5 nm process, but the N1X 48SM is an integrated part, whereas the Arc B770 is a discrete add-in board.

The memory architecture differs in type and capacity. The Arc B770 uses GDDR6 memory with 16 GB capacity and a 256 bit bus, achieving 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The N1X 48SM uses LPDDR5X memory with 128 GB capacity, also on a 256 bit bus, but bandwidth is lower at 273.2 GB/s. The N1X 48SM's memory clock runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective transfer, while the Arc B770's memory runs at 2000 MHz with 16 Gbps effective transfer. This indicates that the Arc B770 is optimized for raw bandwidth, while the N1X 48SM prioritizes capacity.

Compute resources are distributed differently. The Arc B770 has 4096 shading units, 256 TMUs, and 128 ROPs, while the N1X 48SM has 6144 shading units, 384 TMUs, and only 48 ROPs. The N1X 48SM has more shading units and TMUs but far fewer ROPs. Ray tracing hardware also differs: the Arc B770 has 32 RT cores, while the N1X 48SM has 48 RT cores. The N1X 48SM additionally lists 192 tensor cores, while the Arc B770 has no tensor core entry in the database.

Clock behavior shows a significant gap in base frequencies. The Arc B770 operates at a base clock of 2100 MHz, while the N1X 48SM's base clock is only 741 MHz. Boost clocks are closer: 2400 MHz for the Arc B770 versus 2346 MHz for the N1X 48SM. This suggests that the N1X 48SM relies on boost behavior to reach performance, while the Arc B770 sustains higher clocks at idle and low load.

The API support also separates the two. The Arc B770 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X 48SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, indicating that it may rely on different software stacks or that the database has not recorded full API support for this integrated part.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc B770 wins in scenarios that depend on memory bandwidth and pixel throughput. Its 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth is nearly double the N1X 48SM's 273.2 GB/s, which benefits workloads that stream large textures or data sets. The Arc B770 also has a much higher pixel rate at 307.2 GPixel/s, compared to 112.6 GPixel/s for the N1X 48SM. This is driven by its 128 ROPs versus the N1X 48SM's 48 ROPs. For traditional rasterization at high resolutions, the Arc B770 has an advantage in fill-rate-limited tasks.

The NVIDIA N1X 48SM wins in compute-heavy workloads. Its FP32 throughput of 28.83 TFLOPS exceeds the Arc B770's 19.66 TFLOPS by a substantial margin. The N1X 48SM also has a higher texture rate at 900.9 GTexel/s versus 614.4 GTexel/s, giving it an edge in texture-heavy compute. With 6144 shading units and 384 TMUs, the N1X 48SM is designed for parallel compute throughput rather than pixel output.

The N1X 48SM also wins in memory capacity. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory dwarfs the Arc B770's 16 GB. For workloads that require large working sets, such as complex simulations or large language model inference, the N1X 48SM's capacity is a decisive factor. The Arc B770 cannot hold the same volume of data in its memory, which may force transfers to system memory or limit the size of datasets.

The Arc B770 wins in power delivery and form factor flexibility. It uses a dual-slot design with 1x 6-pin and 1x 8-pin power connectors and a suggested PSU of 550 W. The N1X 48SM is an IGP with no power connectors and no suggested PSU, meaning it draws power from the motherboard. The Arc B770's discrete design allows for dedicated cooling and higher sustained clocks, while the N1X 48SM is limited by the thermal constraints of an integrated package.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification field. The process node is identical at 5 nm, but the die sizes differ: 368 mm² for the Arc B770 and 382 mm² for the N1X 48SM. Both chips have an unknown transistor count and no transistor density figure.

Clock speeds differ in base and boost. The Arc B770 has a base clock of 2100 MHz and a boost clock of 2400 MHz. The N1X 48SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz. Memory clocks also differ: 2000 MHz with 16 Gbps effective for the Arc B770, versus 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective for the N1X 48SM.

Memory specifications diverge on size and type. The Arc B770 has 16 GB of GDDR6, while the N1X 48SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X. The bus width is the same at 256 bit, but bandwidth differs at 512.0 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s.

Compute unit counts differ across the board. The Arc B770 has 4096 shading units, 256 TMUs, 128 ROPs, and 32 RT cores. The N1X 48SM has 6144 shading units, 384 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 48 RT cores, and 192 tensor cores. The Arc B770 has no tensor core entry.

Pixel and texture rates differ significantly. The Arc B770 achieves 307.2 GPixel/s and 614.4 GTexel/s. The N1X 48SM achieves 112.6 GPixel/s and 900.9 GTexel/s. FP32 and FP16 performance also differ: the Arc B770 delivers 19.66 TFLOPS FP32 and 39.32 TFLOPS FP16 with a 2:1 ratio, while the N1X 48SM delivers 28.83 TFLOPS FP32 and 28.83 TFLOPS FP16 with a 1:1 ratio.

Power and physical specifications are not comparable. The Arc B770 has a TDP of 225 W, a dual-slot width, and 1x 6-pin plus 1x 8-pin power connectors. The N1X 48SM has an unknown TDP, an IGP slot width, and no power connectors. The Arc B770's suggested PSU is 550 W, while the N1X 48SM has no suggested PSU. The Arc B770 uses PCIe 4.0 x16, while the N1X 48SM uses PCIe 5.0 x16. Display outputs also differ: the Arc B770 has 1x HDMI 2.1a and 3x DisplayPort 2.1, while the N1X 48SM has only 1x HDMI. The N1X 48SM's production status is listed as Active, while the Arc B770 has no production status entry.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

No head-to-head benchmark scores are recorded in the database for these two GPUs. The wins fields for both items are zero, and the head-to-head benchmark list is empty. The average benchmark score for each GPU is zero, and both sit at the 50th percentile against all GPUs. This means a direct performance comparison using measured benchmark results is not possible from the available data.

Instead, the comparison relies on the recorded specification sheet. The most significant numerical difference is in memory bandwidth. The Arc B770's 512.0 GB/s is 238.8 GB/s higher than the N1X 48SM's 273.2 GB/s. This represents a 87.4% advantage for the Arc B770 in raw bandwidth, which translates to faster data movement for memory-bound tasks. In contrast, the N1X 48SM has a 9.17 TFLOPS advantage in FP32 compute, which is 46.6% higher than the Arc B770's 19.66 TFLOPS. The N1X 48SM also leads in texture rate by 286.5 GTexel/s, a 46.6% advantage.

The pixel rate tells the opposite story. The Arc B770's 307.2 GPixel/s is 194.6 GPixel/s higher than the N1X 48SM's 112.6 GPixel/s, a 172.8% advantage. This is driven by the ROP count difference: 128 versus 48. The FP16 comparison also favors the Arc B770, which delivers 39.32 TFLOPS versus 28.83 TFLOPS for the N1X 48SM, a 10.49 TFLOPS lead. However, the Arc B770 uses a 2:1 ratio for FP16, while the N1X 48SM uses a 1:1 ratio, meaning the N1X 48SM's FP16 and FP32 throughput are equal.

Memory capacity is the largest absolute difference. The N1X 48SM has 112 GB more memory than the Arc B770, which is a 700% increase. This makes the N1X 48SM suitable for workloads that require large memory pools, such as data processing or large model inference, where the Arc B770's 16 GB would be insufficient.

The boost clock difference is small, with the Arc B770 at 2400 MHz and the N1X 48SM at 2346 MHz, a 54 MHz gap. The base clock difference is large, with the Arc B770 at 2100 MHz versus 741 MHz, a 1359 MHz gap. This suggests the Arc B770 maintains high clocks consistently, while the N1X 48SM depends on boost to approach similar frequencies.

The Verdict

The data indicates a clear split in intended use. The Intel Arc B770 is built for rasterization-focused workloads that benefit from high bandwidth and high pixel throughput. Its 512.0 GB/s bandwidth, 307.2 GPixel/s pixel rate, and 128 ROPs make it the stronger choice for traditional rendering tasks where fill rate and memory speed dominate. Its 39.32 TFLOPS FP16 performance also gives it an advantage in workloads that can use the 2:1 ratio, such as certain AI inference paths that rely on reduced precision.

The NVIDIA N1X 48SM is oriented toward compute and capacity. Its 28.83 TFLOPS FP32 performance, 6144 shading units, and 900.9 GTexel/s texture rate make it more capable in general-purpose compute. The 128 GB memory capacity is the defining feature, enabling workloads that the Arc B770 cannot accommodate. The 192 tensor cores also indicate a focus on tensor operations, though the database does not provide performance figures for those cores.

For a user selecting between these two, the choice depends on the workload profile. The Arc B770 suits scenarios that require high memory bandwidth and high pixel throughput, such as high-resolution rendering or frame generation. The N1X 48SM suits scenarios that require high compute throughput and large memory capacity, such as scientific computing or large-scale data processing. Both GPUs are at the 50th percentile, but the percentile does not reflect the specialization of each part. The Arc B770 uses a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface, while the N1X 48SM uses PCIe 5.0 x16, which may matter for system integration. The Arc B770 has a 225 W TDP and requires a 550 W PSU, while the N1X 48SM has no power connectors and an unknown TDP, making it simpler to integrate into a compact system. The recorded data does not include benchmark scores, so the verdict is based on architectural specifications rather than measured performance.