NVIDIA H100 CNX vs NVIDIA N1X 40SM Comparison

The Verdict

The database separates these two NVIDIA parts into entirely different compute classes. The H100 CNX is a dedicated server accelerator built on the Hopper architecture, while the N1X 40SM is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The recorded data shows the H100 CNX delivers more than double the FP32 throughput, with 53.84 TFLOPS versus 24.02 TFLOPS for the N1X 40SM. That is a 29.82 TFLOPS gap, or roughly 124% higher raw single-precision compute. For FP16 work, the gap widens dramatically: the H100 CNX reaches 215.4 TFLOPS using a 4:1 rate, while the N1X 40SM sustains 24.02 TFLOPS at a 1:1 rate. The H100 CNX is therefore the choice for compute-heavy server workloads, whereas the N1X 40SM suits integrated, power-constrained platforms that need a display output.

The H100 CNX carries 14,592 shading units, 456 tensor cores, and 80 GB of HBM2e memory on a 5120-bit bus delivering 2.04 TB/s of bandwidth. The N1X 40SM counters with 5,120 shading units, 160 tensor cores, 40 ray tracing cores, and 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus at 273.2 GB/s. The memory capacity favors the N1X 40SM by 48 GB, but the bandwidth advantage belongs to the H100 CNX by an order of magnitude. The data indicates that anyone needing massive memory bandwidth for large models or datasets should select the H100 CNX. Anyone needing a compact IGP with onboard display capability should select the N1X 40SM.

Where Each One Wins

The H100 CNX wins decisively in raw compute throughput. Its FP32 figure of 53.84 TFLOPS is more than double the N1X 40SM's 24.02 TFLOPS. In FP16, the H100 CNX's 215.4 TFLOPS is nearly nine times higher than the N1X 40SM's 24.02 TFLOPS. The texture rate also favors the H100 CNX at 841.3 GTexel/s versus 750.7 GTexel/s, a 90.6 GTexel/s lead. The huge memory bandwidth of 2.04 TB/s on the H100 CNX dwarfs the 273.2 GB/s on the N1X 40SM, which is critical for memory-bound server workloads.

The N1X 40SM wins in pixel throughput. Its pixel rate is 93.84 GPixel/s, more than double the H100 CNX's 44.28 GPixel/s. It also provides a display output, a single HDMI port, whereas the H100 CNX has no display outputs at all. The N1X 40SM has a higher boost clock at 2346 MHz versus 1845 MHz for the H100 CNX, and a higher base clock at 741 MHz versus 690 MHz. The N1X 40SM also carries 40 ray tracing cores, a feature entirely absent from the H100 CNX's specification sheet. Memory capacity is another N1X 40SM win: 128 GB versus 80 GB, a 48 GB advantage.

Architecture Differences

The H100 CNX uses the GH100 chip on the Hopper architecture, built for the Server Hopper generation. The N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, built for the Blackwell IGP generation. Both are fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, but the die sizes differ substantially. The H100 CNX measures 814 mm² with 80,000 million transistors, yielding a transistor density of 98.3 million per mm². The N1X 40SM measures 382 mm² with a transistor count listed as unknown in the database.

The H100 CNX is a dual-slot card requiring an 8-pin EPS power connector and a suggested 750 W power supply. The N1X 40SM is an IGP with no power connectors and no suggested power supply listed. The H100 CNX has a thermal design power of 350 W, while the N1X 40SM's TDP is unknown. Both use a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface. The H100 CNX has no display outputs; the N1X 40SM has one HDMI output. The H100 CNX's API support lists no DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan versions, and the N1X 40SM lists "N/A" for all three.

The H100 CNX features 456 tensor cores and 456 texture mapping units, with 24 raster operation units. The N1X 40SM features 160 tensor cores, 320 TMUs, 40 ROPs, and 40 ray tracing cores. The H100 CNX has no ray tracing cores. The memory types differ completely: HBM2e for the H100 CNX versus LPDDR5X for the N1X 40SM. The H100 CNX memory clock is 1593 MHz with 3.2 Gbps effective, while the N1X 40SM runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective. The H100 CNX uses a 5120-bit memory bus; the N1X 40SM uses a 256-bit bus.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The H100 CNX delivers 53.84 TFLOPS, which is 29.82 TFLOPS more than the N1X 40SM's 24.02 TFLOPS, a lead of roughly 124%.

Q: Does the N1X 40SM support ray tracing?

A: Yes, the N1X 40SM includes 40 ray tracing cores. The H100 CNX lists no ray tracing cores in the database.

Q: Which GPU has more memory capacity?

A: The N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, which is 48 GB more than the H100 CNX's 80 GB of HBM2e.

Q: Which GPU offers a display output?

A: The N1X 40SM provides one HDMI output. The H100 CNX has no display outputs, consistent with its server accelerator role.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The H100 CNX achieves 2.04 TB/s over a 5120-bit bus, while the N1X 40SM reaches 273.2 GB/s over a 256-bit bus. The H100 CNX bandwidth is roughly 7.5 times higher.

Q: Which GPU has the higher boost clock?

A: The N1X 40SM boosts to 2346 MHz, while the H100 CNX boosts to 1845 MHz. The N1X 40SM also has a higher base clock at 741 MHz versus 690 MHz.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no explicit head-to-head benchmark scores for these two parts, so the comparison relies on recorded specification data. The largest win for the H100 CNX appears in FP16 throughput. The H100 CNX posts 215.4 TFLOPS at a 4:1 rate, which is 191.38 TFLOPS above the N1X 40SM's 24.02 TFLOPS at 1:1. That is a factor of 8.97 in favor of the H100 CNX. In FP32, the H100 CNX leads by 29.82 TFLOPS, from 53.84 to 24.02 TFLOPS, a factor of 2.24.

Memory bandwidth strongly favors the H100 CNX. The 2.04 TB/s figure versus 273.2 GB/s represents a 1.77 TB/s gap, or a 7.47-fold advantage. The H100 CNX also leads in texture rate, posting 841.3 GTexel/s against 750.7 GTexel/s, a 90.6 GTexel/s difference. The H100 CNX has more shading units (14,592 versus 5,120), more TMUs (456 versus 320), and more tensor cores (456 versus 160).

The N1X 40SM claims the pixel rate crown. Its 93.84 GPixel/s is 49.56 GPixel/s higher than the H100 CNX's 44.28 GPixel/s, a factor of 2.12. The N1X 40SM also has more ROPs (40 versus 24) and more ray tracing cores (40 versus none). The boost clock advantage goes to the N1X 40SM by 501 MHz, and the base clock advantage goes to the N1X 40SM by 51 MHz. The N1X 40SM has a smaller die at 382 mm² versus 814 mm², and it carries 40 ROPs versus 24.

The production status for both is listed as Active. The release dates differ: the H100 CNX entered the database on 2023-03-20, while the N1X 40SM is dated 2026-05-31. The H100 CNX has a predecessor listed as Server Ada and a successor as Server Blackwell. The N1X 40SM has no predecessor or successor listed. Both parts share the same percentile ranking of 50 out of all GPUs in the database, and both have an average benchmark score of 0, reflecting the absence of recorded benchmark runs.

Specification Differences

| Field | NVIDIA H100 CNX | NVIDIA N1X 40SM |

|---|---|---|

| Architecture | Hopper | Blackwell 2.0 |

| Generation | Server Hopper (Hxx) | Blackwell IGP (N1x) |

| Chip | GH100 | GB20B |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 5 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | TSMC |

| Die Size | 814 mm² | 382 mm² |

| Transistors | 80,000 million | unknown |

| Transistor Density | 98.3M / mm² | null |

| Base Clock | 690 MHz | 741 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 1845 MHz | 2346 MHz |

| Memory Size | 80 GB | 128 GB |

| Memory Type | HBM2e | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus Width | 5120 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 2.04 TB/s | 273.2 GB/s |

| Memory Clock | 1593 MHz, 3.2 Gbps effective | 1067 MHz, 8.5 Gbps effective |

| Shading Units | 14592 | 5120 |

| TMUs | 456 | 320 |

| ROPs | 24 | 40 |

| Ray Tracing Cores | null | 40 |

| Tensor Cores | 456 | 160 |

| Pixel Rate | 44.28 GPixel/s | 93.84 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 841.3 GTexel/s | 750.7 GTexel/s |

| FP32 Performance | 53.84 TFLOPS | 24.02 TFLOPS |

| FP16 Performance | 215.4 TFLOPS (4:1) | 24.02 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 350 W | unknown |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | IGP |

| Power Connectors | 8-pin EPS | None |

| Suggested PSU | 750 W | null |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | No outputs | 1x HDMI |

| Release Date | 2023-03-20 | 2026-05-31 |

| Production Status | Active | Active |

| Predecessor | Server Ada | null |

| Successor | Server Blackwell | null |

| Dimensions | 267 mm length, 111 mm height | null |