NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5070 vs NVIDIA N1 20SM Comparison

NVIDIA’s two Blackwell 2.0 parts occupy opposite ends of the product spectrum. The GeForce RTX 5070 is a discrete add-in board with full display and compute features, while the N1 20SM is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) aimed at unified memory systems. The database contains measured results for the RTX 5070 only; the N1 20SM has no benchmark entries, so comparisons rely on architectural specifications and the RTX 5070’s recorded performance profile.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The RTX 5070 delivers a comprehensive set of recorded scores. In 3DMark Steel Nomad (DX12), it records 5077 points. Its Geekbench OpenCL score is 172660, and its Geekbench Vulkan score is 178923. Passmark results include a G3D score of 29137, a GPU compute score of 15787, a G2D score of 1305, and DirectX 9/10/11/12 scores of 320, 180, 277, and 108 respectively. The average benchmark score across all tests is 40377, placing it in the 82nd percentile of all GPUs in the database.

The N1 20SM has no benchmark scores recorded. Its average benchmark score is 0, and it occupies the 50th percentile by default due to the absence of data. This means no direct numerical head-to-head comparison is possible from the database. The RTX 5070’s nearest rivals, all with recorded scores, provide context: the AMD Radeon Pro 580 averages 40318 (0.1% behind the RTX 5070), the AMD Radeon Pro WX 7100 averages 40063 (0.8% behind), and the AMD Radeon Pro 5300 averages 40870 (1.2% ahead). The NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile averages 39568 (2.0% behind). These deltas are small, indicating the RTX 5070 sits in a tightly clustered performance band.

For the N1 20SM, there are no wins to report in the head-to-head section. Its peak boost clock of 2346 MHz is close to the RTX 5070’s 2512 MHz boost, but the N1’s base clock of 741 MHz is significantly lower, suggesting a power-limited design. The RTX 5070’s FP32 throughput of 30.87 TFLOPS dwarfs the N1’s 12.01 TFLOPS. Texture rate also favors the discrete card: 482.3 GTexel/s versus 375.4 GTexel/s. Pixel rate is 201.0 GPixel/s for the RTX 5070 versus 56.30 GPixel/s for the N1.

The memory subsystems diverge sharply. The RTX 5070 uses 12 GB of GDDR7 on a 192-bit bus, delivering 672.0 GB/s bandwidth. The N1 uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, but bandwidth is only 273.2 GB/s. The N1’s capacity advantage is substantial, but its bandwidth is less than half that of the RTX 5070. In compute-heavy workloads, the RTX 5070’s 6144 shading units outperform the N1’s 2560. The RTX 5070 also has 192 tensor cores versus 80, and 48 RT cores versus 20.

The Verdict

The data shows a clear split in intended use. The RTX 5070 is a performance-oriented discrete GPU for gaming and high-throughput compute. Its 82nd percentile ranking and average score of 40377 indicate strong performance relative to all recorded GPUs. The N1 20SM, with no benchmark data, cannot be assessed for raw speed. Its 128 GB memory capacity and IGP form factor point toward a different role: large-memory, low-power integrated graphics for systems where capacity matters more than frame rates.

For users prioritizing measured performance, the RTX 5070 is the only option with recorded results. Its nearest rival, the AMD Radeon Pro 580, is 0.1% behind, meaning the RTX 5070 essentially ties that card in average score. The N1’s lack of any benchmark entries means it cannot be recommended for tasks where benchmark scores are the primary selection criterion.

The RTX 5070’s launch MSRP is 549 USD. The N1 has no launch MSRP recorded. The RTX 5070 requires a 600 W suggested PSU and a 16-pin power connector, while the N1 uses no external power connectors and is classified as an IGP. This makes the N1 suitable for compact, low-power builds, but its performance envelope is unverified.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs use the Blackwell 2.0 architecture on a 5 nm process from TSMC, but they are distinct chips. The RTX 5070 uses the GB205 chip with a die size of 263 mm² and 31,100 million transistors, yielding a transistor density of 118.3M per mm². The N1 uses the GB20B chip with a die size of 382 mm²; its transistor count is unknown. Despite the larger die, the N1 has far fewer active units: 2560 shading units versus 6144, 160 TMUs versus 192, and 24 ROPs versus 80.

Clock behavior differs significantly. The RTX 5070 has a base clock of 2325 MHz and a boost of 2512 MHz. The N1 has a base of 741 MHz and a boost of 2346 MHz. The N1’s low base clock suggests aggressive power management, typical for an integrated part. Memory clocks also differ: the RTX 5070 runs GDDR7 at 1750 MHz (28 Gbps effective), while the N1 runs LPDDR5X at 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective).

The memory interface is a major architectural divider. The RTX 5070 uses a 192-bit bus with 12 GB, while the N1 uses a 256-bit bus with 128 GB. The N1’s bandwidth of 273.2 GB/s is constrained by LPDDR5X, whereas the RTX 5070’s GDDR7 achieves 672.0 GB/s. The API support also differs: the RTX 5070 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 lists DirectX N/A, OpenGL N/A, and Vulkan N/A, indicating it is not designed for standard graphics API workloads.

Physical specifications diverge as well. The RTX 5070 is a dual-slot card measuring 245 mm in length, 115 mm in height, and 40 mm in width, with a TDP of 250 W. The N1 has no dimensions recorded and no TDP listed. The RTX 5070 provides one HDMI 2.1b and three DisplayPort 2.1b outputs; the N1 has a single HDMI output. Both use PCIe 5.0 x16, but the N1’s integrated nature means it likely shares power and cooling with the host system.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute throughput?

A: The RTX 5070 delivers 30.87 TFLOPS FP32, while the N1 20SM delivers 12.01 TFLOPS FP32. The RTX 5070 is more than 2.5 times faster in this metric.

Q: How do their memory sizes and bandwidths compare?

A: The N1 20SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, providing 273.2 GB/s. The RTX 5070 has 12 GB of GDDR7 on a 192-bit bus, providing 672.0 GB/s. The N1 offers far more capacity, but the RTX 5070 offers more than double the bandwidth.

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

A: No. The N1 lists DirectX N/A, OpenGL N/A, and Vulkan N/A. The RTX 5070 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What are the power requirements for each?

A: The RTX 5070 has a TDP of 250 W, uses a 1x 16-pin power connector, and requires a 600 W suggested PSU. The N1 20SM has no TDP listed, no power connectors, and no suggested PSU, consistent with its IGP classification.

Q: Which card has more shading units and ray tracing cores?

A: The RTX 5070 has 6144 shading units, 192 tensor cores, and 48 RT cores. The N1 20SM has 2560 shading units, 80 tensor cores, and 20 RT cores.

Q: Is the N1 20SM faster in any recorded benchmark?

A: No. The database contains no benchmark entries for the N1 20SM. Its average benchmark score is 0, while the RTX 5070 averages 40377.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5070 wins every measurable performance category. Its 30.87 TFLOPS FP32 throughput supports high-frame-rate gaming and GPU compute tasks. The 672.0 GB/s memory bandwidth feeds its 6144 shading units efficiently, as reflected in its 82nd percentile ranking. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 5077 and Passmark G3D score of 29137 confirm strong DirectX 12 performance. For users running standard graphics APIs, the RTX 5070 is the only viable choice between the two.

The N1 20SM wins on memory capacity by a wide margin. Its 128 GB LPDDR5X pool is over ten times larger than the RTX 5070’s 12 GB. This makes it suited to workloads that require large in-memory datasets, such as certain AI inference or data processing tasks, though its 12.01 TFLOPS compute and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth impose limits. The N1’s IGP design with no power connectors and no slot width means it fits in systems where a discrete card cannot. Its 256-bit memory bus is wider than the RTX 5070’s 192-bit bus, but the slower LPDDR5X standard negates that advantage in bandwidth.

The RTX 5070 also wins on display outputs, offering four ports versus the N1’s single HDMI. The RTX 5070’s production status is Active, as is the N1’s, but the RTX 5070 has a predecessor (GeForce 40) and successor (GeForce 60), while the N1 has neither. The RTX 5070’s release date is 2025-03-03, and the N1’s is 2026-05-31, making the N1 a newer design. However, newer does not imply faster in the recorded data. The RTX 5070’s average benchmark score of 40377 stands as the sole quantitative performance anchor, and the N1’s score of 0 leaves it without a statistical basis for comparison.