NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 vs NVIDIA N1 20SM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data presents a stark contrast between these two NVIDIA parts. The GeForce RTX 5090 has ten benchmark entries across DirectX, OpenCL, Vulkan, and compute workloads, while the N1 20SM has no benchmark scores recorded in the database at all. This absence of data for the N1 20SM means direct numerical comparison is impossible, but the available measurements for the RTX 5090 provide a clear picture of its performance tier.

The RTX 5090 achieves an average benchmark score of 79,842 across its recorded tests. Its strongest single result comes from the Geekbench Vulkan test at 376,728 points, closely followed by the Geekbench OpenCL score of 334,370. In the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, it records 18,355 points. The PassMark suite shows a G3D score of 39,650, with GPU compute at 26,756. Legacy DirectX tests show scores of 395 for DirectX 9, 341 for DirectX 11, 226 for DirectX 10, and 185 for DirectX 12. The 2D graphics test records 1,413 points.

The RTX 5090 sits at the 92nd percentile among all GPUs in the database. Its nearest recorded rivals show how tightly grouped the top-tier results are. The NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB averages 79,605, which is 0.3% behind the RTX 5090. The Tesla P100 PCIe 12 GB averages 79,396, a 0.6% deficit. The AMD Radeon RX 6850M XT averages 78,940, trailing by 1.1%. The AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X averages 80,959, which puts it 1.4% ahead of the RTX 5090 in this specific comparison group.

These margins are remarkably small. The RTX 5090 leads three of its four nearest rivals by less than 1.1%, while one rival leads it by 1.4%. This indicates that in the aggregate scoring used by the database, the RTX 5090 lands in a dense cluster of high-performance parts where percentage differences are minimal. The N1 20SM, with zero recorded benchmarks and a 50th percentile ranking, cannot be placed within this competitive context using measured results.

The Verdict

The data supports a clear separation between these two products. The RTX 5090 is a fully benchmarked, high-performance discrete graphics card with an average score of 79,842 and a 92nd percentile ranking. The N1 20SM has no benchmark results, no average score, and sits at the 50th percentile by default ranking. Any user requiring measured performance data for gaming, compute, or workstation workloads should select the RTX 5090, as it alone has verified results.

The RTX 5090 also holds advantages in every specification category that affects real-world performance. Its FP32 throughput of 104.8 TFLOPS dwarfs the N1 20SM's 12.01 TFLOPS. Memory bandwidth is 1.79 TB/s versus 273.2 GB/s. The RTX 5090 has 21,760 shading units compared to 2,560 on the N1 20SM. These are not incremental differences; they represent orders of magnitude in processing capability.

The N1 20SM, however, has one specification where it dominates: memory capacity. It offers 128 GB of LPDDR5X across a 256-bit bus, while the RTX 5090 provides 32 GB of GDDR7 across a 512-bit bus. For workloads that require massive memory pools rather than raw throughput, the N1 20SM has a structural advantage. Users should select the N1 20SM only if their primary requirement is maximum memory capacity in an integrated form factor.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on NVIDIA's Blackwell 2.0 architecture and manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process. This shared foundation means they use the same architectural generation, but they diverge significantly in implementation scale and purpose.

The RTX 5090 uses the GB202 chip with 92,200 million transistors on a 750 mm² die. Its transistor density measures 122.9 million per mm². The N1 20SM uses the GB20B chip with an unknown transistor count on a 382 mm² die. The die size difference of 750 mm² versus 382 mm² reflects the RTX 5090's role as a full-scale discrete GPU versus the N1 20SM's integrated graphics processor role.

The RTX 5090 belongs to the GeForce 50-series generation, with a release date of January 29, 2025. The N1 20SM belongs to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation, with a release date of May 31, 2026. The RTX 5090 has a predecessor in the GeForce 40 series and a successor in the GeForce 60 series. The N1 20SM has neither predecessor nor successor recorded.

The N1 20SM is classified with a slot width of "IGP" and no power connectors, indicating it is designed as an integrated graphics solution. The RTX 5090 is dual-slot with a single 16-pin power connector. Both use a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface, but the N1 20SM's display output is limited to a single HDMI port, while the RTX 5090 provides one HDMI 2.1b and three DisplayPort 2.1b outputs.

The RTX 5090 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 20SM lists "N/A" for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan API support. This suggests the N1 20SM is not designed for traditional graphics API workloads, reinforcing its positioning as a specialized integrated processor rather than a gaming or compute GPU.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every measurable specification. The RTX 5090 has 21,760 shading units, 680 texture mapping units, and 176 render output units. The N1 20SM has 2,560 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. Ray tracing cores number 170 on the RTX 5090 versus 20 on the N1 20SM. Tensor cores are 680 versus 80.

Clock speeds show a different pattern. The RTX 5090 has a base clock of 2017 MHz and a boost clock of 2407 MHz. The N1 20SM has a lower base clock of 741 MHz but a boost clock of 2346 MHz, which is close to the RTX 5090's boost figure. The N1 20SM's low base clock with high boost suggests aggressive power management for an integrated part.

Memory specifications diverge completely. The RTX 5090 uses 32 GB of GDDR7 with a 512-bit bus and 1.79 TB/s bandwidth. The N1 20SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X with a 256-bit bus and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The memory clock differs as well: 1750 MHz with 28 Gbps effective on the RTX 5090 versus 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective on the N1 20SM.

Pixel and texture rates reflect the scale difference. The RTX 5090 achieves 423.6 GPixel/s and 1,636.8 GTexel/s. The N1 20SM achieves 56.30 GPixel/s and 375.4 GTexel/s. FP32 and FP16 performance are identical within each GPU at 104.8 TFLOPS for the RTX 5090 and 12.01 TFLOPS for the N1 20SM, indicating a 1:1 FP16 ratio on both.

Power specifications are incomplete for the N1 20SM, which lists "unknown" TDP and no suggested PSU. The RTX 5090 has a 575 W TDP and a 950 W suggested PSU. Physical dimensions are recorded for the RTX 5090 at 304 mm length, 137 mm height, and 40 mm width, while the N1 20SM has no dimensions recorded. The RTX 5090 has a launch MSRP of 1,999 USD; the N1 20SM has no launch MSRP recorded.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The RTX 5090 delivers 104.8 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16, while the N1 20SM delivers 12.01 TFLOPS for both. The RTX 5090 is approximately 8.7 times higher in compute throughput.

Q: Does the N1 20SM have more memory than the RTX 5090?

A: Yes. The N1 20SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X, while the RTX 5090 has 32 GB of GDDR7. However, the RTX 5090's bandwidth is 1.79 TB/s versus 273.2 GB/s on the N1 20SM.

Q: Are both GPUs on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both use TSMC's 5 nm process and NVIDIA's Blackwell 2.0 architecture. They differ in chip design, with the RTX 5090 using GB202 on a 750 mm² die and the N1 20SM using GB20B on a 382 mm² die.

Q: What is the release timeline for these products?

A: The RTX 5090 released on January 29, 2025. The N1 20SM has a release date of May 31, 2026, which is over a year later.

Q: Which GPU has better API support?

A: The RTX 5090 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 20SM lists N/A for all three APIs, indicating it does not support these standard graphics interfaces.

Q: How does the RTX 5090 rank among all GPUs in the database?

A: The RTX 5090 sits at the 92nd percentile with an average benchmark score of 79,842. Its nearest rivals are within 1.4% of its score, including the AMD Radeon Pro Vega 64X at 1.4% ahead and the NVIDIA Tesla P100 PCIe 16 GB at 0.3% behind.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5090 wins decisively in every benchmarked category. Its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score of 18,355, Geekbench OpenCL score of 334,370, and Geekbench Vulkan score of 376,728 all represent verified performance data. Its PassMark G3D score of 39,650 and GPU compute score of 26,756 further establish its capability across graphics and compute workloads. The RTX 5090 is the appropriate choice for gaming, 3D rendering, scientific computing, and any workload that relies on standard graphics APIs or massive parallel throughput.

The N1 20SM wins exclusively on memory capacity and integration. Its 128 GB memory pool is four times larger than the RTX 5090's 32 GB. Its IGP slot classification and lack of power connectors indicate it operates without a discrete power supply, which suits embedded or tightly integrated systems. The single HDMI output and absence of DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support suggest it targets specialized display or data-persistence roles rather than general-purpose GPU computing.

The physical design differences reinforce this split. The RTX 5090 requires a dual-slot footprint, a 16-pin power connector, and a 950 W suggested PSU. The N1 20SM has no power connectors and no recorded dimensions. The RTX 5090 is a high-power discrete component; the N1 20SM is a low-power integrated solution.

For users building a desktop workstation or gaming system, the RTX 5090's benchmark results and API support make it the only viable option between these two. For users needing maximum memory capacity in an integrated form factor without discrete power requirements, the N1 20SM offers a specification that the RTX 5090 cannot match, though its lack of benchmark data means its real-world performance remains unverified in the database.