NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 vs NVIDIA N1 16SM Comparison

The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 and the NVIDIA N1 16SM are both built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and the 5 nm process at TSMC, yet they are entirely different classes of hardware. The RTX 5080 is a discrete add-in board with an 87th percentile ranking among all GPUs, while the N1 16SM is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 50th percentile ranking and no recorded benchmark scores in the database. The recorded data shows that head-to-head benchmark comparisons are not possible due to the absence of shared test results, so the analysis relies on the architectural and specification differences between the two parts, along with the RTX 5080's nearest rival data.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries for the RTX 5080 versus the N1 16SM. The RTX 5080 has ten recorded benchmark scores, while the N1 16SM has none. Consequently, direct performance comparisons cannot be established from the measured data. The RTX 5080's average benchmark score is 56083, placing it at the 87th percentile of all GPUs. Its nearest rivals in the database include the AMD Radeon 8060S with an average score of 55757 (0.6% behind), the AMD Radeon RX 6750 GRE 12 GB with 55698 (0.7% behind), the AMD Radeon Pro W5700X with 54828 (2.3% behind), and the AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE with 57367 (2.2% ahead). This data indicates that the RTX 5080 sits within a tight cluster of competing parts, slightly ahead of three of its four nearest rivals and slightly behind the RX 9070 GRE.

For the N1 16SM, the average benchmark score is 0, and its nearest rivals list is empty. The percentile rank of 50 suggests it sits at the median of the database's GPU distribution, but without any actual scores, the database cannot substantiate its performance level. The absence of benchmark data for the N1 16SM means no wins can be assigned to either part in head-to-head testing, as the wins counter stands at 0 for both items.

FAQ

Q: What is the difference in average benchmark scores between the two GPUs?

A: The RTX 5080 has an average benchmark score of 56083, while the N1 16SM has an average benchmark score of 0, meaning the RTX 5080 holds a decisive advantage in recorded test results.

Q: How do the memory configurations compare?

A: The RTX 5080 uses 16 GB of GDDR7 memory on a 256-bit bus with 960.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the N1 16SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth.

Q: What are the shading unit counts?

A: The RTX 5080 has 10752 shading units, whereas the N1 16SM has 2048 shading units, a 5.25x difference in favor of the RTX 5080.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The RTX 5080 boosts to 2617 MHz, while the N1 16SM boosts to 2346 MHz, giving the RTX 5080 a boost clock advantage of 271 MHz.

Q: Are the API support profiles different?

A: Yes, the RTX 5080 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1 16SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan.

Q: What is the physical form factor difference?

A: The RTX 5080 is a dual-slot card with dimensions of 304 mm in length, 137 mm in height, and 40 mm in width, while the N1 16SM is an IGP with no listed dimensions.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs share the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and are fabricated on the 5 nm process at TSMC, but their chip designs diverge significantly. The RTX 5080 uses the GB203 chip with a die size of 378 mm² and a transistor count of 45,600 million, yielding a transistor density of 120.6M per mm². The N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip with a slightly larger die size of 382 mm², but its transistor count is listed as unknown in the database.

The compute resource allocation differs sharply. The RTX 5080 packs 10752 shading units, 336 texture mapping units, 112 render output units, 84 ray tracing cores, and 336 tensor cores. The N1 16SM has 2048 shading units, 128 TMUs, 24 ROPs, 16 ray tracing cores, and 64 tensor cores. In every category, the RTX 5080 has substantially more hardware, with shading units at 5.25x, TMUs at 2.6x, ROPs at 4.7x, ray tracing cores at 5.25x, and tensor cores at 5.25x the N1 16SM's counts.

The memory subsystems are architecturally distinct as well. The RTX 5080 uses GDDR7 memory with a 256-bit bus and 960.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the N1 16SM uses LPDDR5X memory with the same 256-bit bus but only 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The N1 16SM compensates with 128 GB of capacity, eight times the RTX 5080's 16 GB, but at a much lower bandwidth. The pixel rate is nearly identical, with the RTX 5080 at 293.1 GPixel/s and the N1 16SM at 56.30 GPixel/s, a 5.2x difference. The texture rate shows a similar gap, with the RTX 5080 at 879.3 GTexel/s versus the N1 16SM's 300.3 GTexel/s, a 2.9x difference.

The FP32 and FP16 compute rates are both listed at a 1:1 ratio for each GPU. The RTX 5080 delivers 56.28 TFLOPS in both FP32 and FP16, while the N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS in both, a 5.86x gap in raw floating-point throughput.

Specification Differences

The clock speeds differ across the board. The RTX 5080 has a base clock of 2295 MHz and a boost clock of 2617 MHz, while the N1 16SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz. The memory clocks also differ: the RTX 5080 runs at 1875 MHz with 30 Gbps effective speed, while the N1 16SM runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective speed.

Memory capacity and type are clear differentiators. The RTX 5080 offers 16 GB of GDDR7, while the N1 16SM offers 128 GB of LPDDR5X. Both use a 256-bit bus, but bandwidth favors the RTX 5080 at 960.0 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s.

The power and physical specifications are markedly different. The RTX 5080 has a TDP of 360 W, uses a 1x 16-pin power connector, and requires a 750 W suggested PSU. The N1 16SM has an unknown TDP, no power connectors, and no suggested PSU, consistent with its IGP form factor. The RTX 5080 is dual-slot with dimensions of 304 mm by 137 mm by 40 mm, while the N1 16SM is an IGP with no dimensions listed.

Both use a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface. Display outputs differ: the RTX 5080 has 1x HDMI 2.1b and 3x DisplayPort 2.1b, while the N1 16SM has 1x HDMI.

API support is another differentiator. The RTX 5080 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 16SM lists N/A for all three APIs.

Production status is Active for both. The release dates differ, with the RTX 5080 released on 2025-01-29 and the N1 16SM on 2026-05-31.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5080 wins on nearly every measurable compute metric. Its FP32 throughput of 56.28 TFLOPS vastly exceeds the N1 16SM's 9.609 TFLOPS. Its pixel rate of 293.1 GPixel/s is over 5x higher, and its texture rate of 879.3 GTexel/s is nearly 3x higher. The memory bandwidth of 960.0 GB/s gives it a 3.5x advantage over the N1 16SM's 273.2 GB/s, which directly impacts fill-rate-heavy workloads and high-resolution rendering.

The N1 16SM wins on memory capacity, offering 128 GB versus 16 GB, which is an 8x advantage. This capacity, combined with its IGP form factor and absence of power connectors, positions it for scenarios where large memory pools and low physical footprint matter more than raw throughput. Its lower clock speeds and reduced compute resources indicate a focus on efficiency and integration rather than peak performance.

The RTX 5080's benchmark scores demonstrate its competitive standing: its 56083 average places it at the 87th percentile, and its nearest rival data shows it within 2.3% of four AMD parts. The N1 16SM has no benchmark scores to establish its standing, leaving its 50th percentile rank as the only performance indicator.

The Verdict

The data clearly favors the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5080 for any workload requiring high compute throughput. Its 56.28 TFLOPS FP32 rate, 960.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, and 10752 shading units make it the only viable option among the two for gaming, rendering, or GPU compute tasks, as evidenced by its 56083 average benchmark score and 87th percentile ranking. The N1 16SM, with its 9.609 TFLOPS and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth, cannot compete on raw performance, and its lack of benchmark scores leaves its actual capability unverified.

The NVIDIA N1 16SM is the choice only in scenarios defined by memory capacity and integration. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory is unmatched by the RTX 5080's 16 GB, and its IGP form factor with no power connectors suits compact, low-power systems. The 50th percentile rank suggests it sits at the median of the database, but without recorded scores, its performance claims remain unsupported.

For users prioritizing measured performance, the RTX 5080 is the definitive pick based on the recorded data. For those needing maximum memory capacity in an integrated package, the N1 16SM offers a unique specification profile, but the absence of benchmark results means its performance cannot be quantified. The RTX 5080's nearest rival comparisons show it competitive with AMD parts like the Radeon RX 9070 GRE, which is 2.2% ahead, and the Radeon 8060S, which is 0.6% behind, reinforcing its position in the upper tier of the database.