NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4060 vs NVIDIA N1 20SM Comparison

The GeForce RTX 4060 and the NVIDIA N1 20SM target fundamentally different segments, and the recorded data confirms this split. The RTX 4060 is a discrete, end-of-life add-in board from the GeForce 40-series, while the N1 20SM is an active integrated graphics processor (IGP) from the Blackwell 2.0 generation. The RTX 4060 holds a substantial advantage in raw compute and DirectX workloads, whereas the N1 20SM offers a vastly larger memory pool and a newer PCIe interface. The database shows no head-to-head benchmark comparisons between the two, and the N1 20SM has no recorded benchmark scores, making the RTX 4060 the only unit with measurable performance data.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 4060 wins in every measurable performance category because it is the only unit with benchmark results in the database. Its average benchmark score is 17,639, placing it in the 61st percentile of all GPUs. The N1 20SM has an average benchmark score of 0 and sits in the 50th percentile, with no tests recorded. For any application relying on DirectX 12, Vulkan, or OpenCL, the RTX 4060 is the only viable option. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2,302, its Geekbench OpenCL score is 95,057, and its Geekbench Vulkan score is 48,643.

The N1 20SM wins where the RTX 4060 cannot compete: memory capacity and interface bandwidth. The N1 20SM carries 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The RTX 4060 has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus with 272.0 GB/s. While bandwidth is nearly identical, the N1 20SM offers 16 times the capacity. The N1 20SM also uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, whereas the RTX 4060 uses PCIe 4.0 x8. For workloads that require holding large datasets in video memory, the N1 20SM is the clear choice, despite its lower compute throughput.

The architecture split is stark. The RTX 4060 delivers 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32 and FP16 (1:1) compute, while the N1 20SM delivers 12.01 TFLOPS in both. The RTX 4060 also has higher pixel throughput at 118.1 GPixel/s versus 56.30 GPixel/s for the N1 20SM. However, the N1 20SM excels in texture throughput, offering 375.4 GTexel/s compared to 236.2 GTexel/s for the RTX 4060. In short, the RTX 4060 wins on compute and pixel fill, while the N1 20SM wins on texture fill and memory capacity.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different NVIDIA architectures. The RTX 4060 uses the AD107 chip based on Ada Lovelace, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The N1 20SM uses the GB20B chip based on Blackwell 2.0, also on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The RTX 4060 integrates 18,900 million transistors on a 159 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 118.9 million per mm². The N1 20SM has an unknown transistor count but a substantially larger die at 382 mm².

Core configuration differs significantly. The RTX 4060 has 3,072 shading units, 96 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 24 RT cores, and 96 tensor cores. The N1 20SM has 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, 24 ROPs, 20 RT cores, and 80 tensor cores. The RTX 4060 has more shaders, ROPs, RT cores, and tensor cores, while the N1 20SM has more TMUs. Clock speeds also diverge: the RTX 4060 has a base clock of 1,830 MHz and a boost of 2,460 MHz, while the N1 20SM runs at 741 MHz base and 2,346 MHz boost. The RTX 4060's higher boost clock and larger shader count drive its compute advantage.

Memory architecture is a major differentiator. The RTX 4060 uses 8 GB of GDDR6 with a 128-bit bus at 2,125 MHz (17 Gbps effective), producing 272.0 GB/s. The N1 20SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X with a 256-bit bus at 1,067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective), producing 273.2 GB/s. The N1 20SM's memory clock is lower, but the wider bus compensates to deliver slightly higher bandwidth. The N1 20SM's 128 GB capacity dwarfs the RTX 4060's 8 GB.

API support splits the two completely. The RTX 4060 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 20SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, indicating no support for these standard graphics APIs. The RTX 4060 also has a 12-pin power connector and a 300 W suggested PSU, while the N1 20SM uses no power connectors and is an IGP. The RTX 4060 is dual-slot with dimensions of 240 mm length, 111 mm height, and 40 mm width, while the N1 20SM has no recorded dimensions.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark results for these two GPUs. The winsA and winsB fields are both 0, and the headToHeadBenchmarks array is empty. As such, there are no direct comparative scores to walk through. The only numerical comparison available is through the RTX 4060's nearest rivals in the database, which are all AMD products: the Radeon HD 7790, Radeon 780M, Radeon Pro 560, and Radeon Pro 460. The RTX 4060's average score of 17,639 is 0.2% below the HD 7790 (17,666), 0.3% above the Radeon 780M (17,588), 0.5% above the Radeon Pro 560 (17,551), and 0.7% above the Radeon Pro 460 (17,509). These deltas are all within 1%, indicating near-identical average performance among these five GPUs.

For the RTX 4060's individual benchmarks, the data shows a specific profile. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 2,302. In Geekbench OpenCL, it scores 95,057. In Geekbench Vulkan, it scores 48,643. PassMark results include 103 for DirectX 10, 175 for DirectX 11, 76 for DirectX 12, 236 for DirectX 9, 1,037 for G2D, 19,545 for G3D, and 9,213 for GPU compute. The G3D score of 19,545 is the highest single metric, followed by GPU compute at 9,213. The DirectX 12 score of 76 is the lowest, suggesting that the RTX 4060 performs relatively weaker in that specific PassMark test compared to its other scores.

The N1 20SM has no benchmark scores, so its performance cannot be quantified against the RTX 4060 or any other GPU in the database. Its percentile of 50 is a placeholder without supporting data. The only meaningful comparison is architectural: the RTX 4060 has 15.11 TFLOPS FP32 versus 12.01 TFLOPS for the N1 20SM, a difference of 3.10 TFLOPS in favor of the discrete card. Pixel rate similarly favors the RTX 4060 at 118.1 GPixel/s versus 56.30 GPixel/s, a 61.8 GPixel/s gap. Texture rate favors the N1 20SM at 375.4 GTexel/s versus 236.2 GTexel/s, a 139.2 GTexel/s gap in the IGP's favor.

Specification Differences

The specification sheets for these two GPUs differ in nearly every field. The RTX 4060 belongs to the GeForce 40-series and uses the Ada Lovelace architecture, while the N1 20SM belongs to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation and uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The RTX 4060's chip is AD107, the N1 20SM's is GB20B. Both use a 5 nm process at TSMC, but the die sizes diverge: 159 mm² for the RTX 4060 versus 382 mm² for the N1 20SM. Transistor counts are 18,900 million for the RTX 4060 and unknown for the N1 20SM.

Clock speeds show the RTX 4060 with a higher base (1,830 MHz vs 741 MHz) and boost (2,460 MHz vs 2,346 MHz). Memory clocks are 2,125 MHz (17 Gbps effective) for the RTX 4060 and 1,067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective) for the N1 20SM. Memory size is 8 GB versus 128 GB, with GDDR6 versus LPDDR5X. Bus width is 128-bit versus 256-bit. Bandwidth is nearly equal: 272.0 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s.

Compute units favor the RTX 4060 in shading units (3,072 vs 2,560), ROPs (48 vs 24), RT cores (24 vs 20), and tensor cores (96 vs 80). The N1 20SM has more TMUs (160 vs 96). Pixel rate is 118.1 GPixel/s for the RTX 4060 versus 56.30 GPixel/s for the N1 20SM. Texture rate is 236.2 GTexel/s versus 375.4 GTexel/s. FP32 and FP16 are both 15.11 TFLOPS for the RTX 4060 and 12.01 TFLOPS for the N1 20SM.

Power and physical specs differ completely. The RTX 4060 has a TDP of 115 W, is dual-slot, uses a 12-pin power connector, and has a suggested PSU of 300 W. The N1 20SM has an unknown TDP, is an IGP, uses no power connectors, and has no suggested PSU. The RTX 4060 uses PCIe 4.0 x8, while the N1 20SM uses PCIe 5.0 x16. Display outputs are 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 1.4a for the RTX 4060, versus 1x HDMI for the N1 20SM. API support is full for the RTX 4060 (DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.4) and N/A for the N1 20SM. Production status is end-of-life for the RTX 4060 and active for the N1 20SM. The RTX 4060 has a launch MSRP of 299 USD; the N1 20SM has no launch MSRP.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher FP32 compute throughput?

A: The GeForce RTX 4060 delivers 15.11 TFLOPS of FP32, while the NVIDIA N1 20SM delivers 12.01 TFLOPS. The RTX 4060 is ahead by 3.10 TFLOPS.

Q: How do the memory capacities compare?

A: The RTX 4060 has 8 GB of GDDR6, while the N1 20SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X. The N1 20SM offers 16 times the memory capacity.

Q: What are the memory bandwidth figures for each GPU?

A: The RTX 4060 achieves 272.0 GB/s on a 128-bit bus, and the N1 20SM achieves 273.2 GB/s on a 256-bit bus. The N1 20SM has a slight 1.2 GB/s advantage.

Q: Does the N1 20SM support DirectX or Vulkan?

A: The database lists DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support as N/A for the N1 20SM. The RTX 4060 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the average benchmark score for each GPU?

A: The RTX 4060 has an average benchmark score of 17,639. The N1 20SM has an average benchmark score of 0, with no recorded benchmarks.

Q: How does the RTX 4060 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The RTX 4060's average score of 17,639 is 0.2% below the AMD Radeon HD 7790 (17,666), 0.3% above the AMD Radeon 780M (17,588), 0.5% above the AMD Radeon Pro 560 (17,551), and 0.7% above the AMD Radeon Pro 460 (17,509).