NVIDIA H800 SXM5 vs NVIDIA N1X 40SM Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core architectural generations of the NVIDIA H800 SXM5 and NVIDIA N1X 40SM?

A: The H800 SXM5 uses the GH100 chip built on the Hopper architecture, while the N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. The H800 belongs to the Server Hopper (Hxx) generation, and the N1X belongs to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation.

Q: How do the two GPUs differ in memory capacity and type?

A: The H800 SXM5 has 80 GB of HBM3 memory with a 5120-bit bus and 3.36 TB/s bandwidth. The N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory with a 256-bit bus and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The H800 offers over 12 times the memory bandwidth, while the N1X offers 48 GB more capacity.

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute throughput?

A: The H800 SXM5 delivers 59.30 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the N1X 40SM delivers 24.02 TFLOPS. The H800 is roughly 2.5 times ahead in single-precision floating-point throughput.

Q: What are the release dates for these two GPUs?

A: The H800 SXM5 was released on March 20, 2023. The N1X 40SM has a release date of May 31, 2026, making it a significantly newer product.

Q: What are the physical form factors and power delivery options?

A: The H800 SXM5 is an SXM Module with a 700 W TDP and uses an 8-pin EPS power connector, with a suggested PSU of 1100 W. The N1X 40SM is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with unknown TDP, no power connectors, and no suggested PSU listed.

Q: Does either GPU support display outputs?

A: The H800 SXM5 has no display outputs. The N1X 40SM has 1x HDMI output, indicating it can drive a display directly.

Architecture Differences

The H800 SXM5 and N1X 40SM represent two distinct design philosophies within NVIDIA's product stack. The H800 is a discrete server module built on the Hopper architecture, designed for high-throughput compute in data center environments. The N1X is an integrated graphics processor based on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, intended for a different class of system integration.

The process nodes are identical at 5 nm, with both manufactured by TSMC. However, the die sizes diverge substantially: the H800 measures 814 mm², while the N1X measures 382 mm², less than half the area. The H800 packs 80,000 million transistors with a density of 98.3M per mm², whereas the N1X has an unknown transistor count and no recorded density figure.

The shading unit counts show a major gap. The H800 features 16,896 shading units, 528 TMUs, and 24 ROPs. The N1X has 5,120 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 40 ROPs. The H800 also has 528 tensor cores, while the N1X has 160 tensor cores. Notably, the N1X includes 40 RT cores, while the H800 has no recorded RT core count, suggesting different feature priorities.

Clock behavior differs significantly. The H800 has a base clock of 1095 MHz and a boost clock of 1755 MHz. The N1X has a lower base clock of 741 MHz but a much higher boost clock of 2346 MHz. This indicates the N1X relies more heavily on dynamic boosting to reach its performance levels, while the H800 operates at more sustained moderate clocks.

Memory architecture is another fundamental split. The H800 uses HBM3 with an 80 GB capacity, a 5120-bit bus, and 3.36 TB/s bandwidth. The N1X uses LPDDR5X with 128 GB capacity, a 256-bit bus, and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The memory clock rates also differ: the H800 runs at 1313 MHz with 5.3 Gbps effective, while the N1X runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective.

The API support differs as well. The H800 lists no DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan support data. The N1X explicitly lists all three APIs as "N/A", indicating neither GPU is primarily aimed at consumer graphics workloads. The H800 has no display outputs, while the N1X includes a single HDMI output.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded benchmark data for these two GPUs is minimal, with no head-to-head benchmark results available and no wins assigned to either side. The percentile rankings for both are identical at 50, placing them at the median of all GPUs in the database. However, the specification-level comparisons provide substantial insight into their relative capabilities.

The most striking difference appears in memory bandwidth. The H800 delivers 3.36 TB/s, while the N1X delivers 273.2 GB/s. This represents a 12.3 times advantage for the H800 in raw memory throughput. For workloads that are bandwidth-bound, such as large matrix operations or data-intensive inference tasks, this gap would be decisive.

In FP32 compute, the H800 achieves 59.30 TFLOPS versus 24.02 TFLOPS for the N1X, a 2.5 times advantage. The FP16 situation is more complex: the H800 reaches 237.2 TFLOPS with a 4:1 ratio, while the N1X achieves 24.02 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio. The H800's FP16 throughput is nearly 10 times higher than the N1X's, reflecting its tensor core density and memory bandwidth advantages.

Pixel throughput favors the N1X. The N1X achieves 93.84 GPixel/s compared to 42.12 GPixel/s for the H800, a 2.2 times advantage for the integrated part. This likely stems from the N1X's higher boost clock and different ROP configuration. Texture throughput tells a different story: the H800 reaches 926.6 GTexel/s versus 750.7 GTexel/s for the N1X, a 1.2 times advantage for the server GPU.

The boost clock difference is notable. The N1X boosts to 2346 MHz, which is 591 MHz higher than the H800's 1755 MHz boost. This higher clock helps the N1X compensate for its smaller core configuration in certain throughput metrics. The H800's higher base clock of 1095 MHz versus 741 MHz suggests more stable performance under sustained load.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification category. The chip identity differs: GH100 for the H800 versus GB20B for the N1X. The architectures are Hopper versus Blackwell 2.0, and the generations are Server Hopper (Hxx) versus Blackwell IGP (N1x).

Process technology is identical at 5 nm from TSMC, but die size differs substantially: 814 mm² for the H800 versus 382 mm² for the N1X. Transistor count is 80,000 million for the H800 and unknown for the N1X. Transistor density is 98.3M per mm² for the H800, with no figure recorded for the N1X.

Clock specifications show the H800 with a 1095 MHz base and 1755 MHz boost, while the N1X has a 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost. Memory clocks differ: the H800 runs at 1313 MHz with 5.3 Gbps effective, the N1X at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective.

Memory capacity, type, bus width, and bandwidth all diverge. The H800 has 80 GB HBM3 on a 5120-bit bus with 3.36 TB/s. The N1X has 128 GB LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s.

Compute unit counts differ: 16,896 shading units, 528 TMUs, and 24 ROPs for the H800 versus 5,120 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 40 ROPs for the N1X. Tensor cores are 528 versus 160. RT cores are absent from the H800's records but present at 40 on the N1X.

Pixel rate favors the N1X at 93.84 GPixel/s versus 42.12 GPixel/s. Texture rate favors the H800 at 926.6 GTexel/s versus 750.7 GTexel/s. FP32 is 59.30 TFLOPS versus 24.02 TFLOPS. FP16 is 237.2 TFLOPS (4:1) versus 24.02 TFLOPS (1:1).

Power and form factor differ completely: the H800 has a 700 W TDP, SXM Module slot width, and 8-pin EPS connector with 1100 W suggested PSU. The N1X has unknown TDP, IGP slot width, no power connectors, and no suggested PSU. The bus interface is PCIe 5.0 x16 for both, but display outputs are "No outputs" for the H800 and "1x HDMI" for the N1X.

API support shows the H800 with null values for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, while the N1X lists all three as "N/A". Release dates differ by over three years: March 20, 2023 for the H800 and May 31, 2026 for the N1X. The H800 has a predecessor in Server Ada and a successor in Server Blackwell, while the N1X has neither recorded.

Where Each One Wins

The H800 SXM5 wins decisively in compute-intensive server workloads. Its 59.30 TFLOPS FP32 performance is 2.5 times that of the N1X. Its FP16 throughput of 237.2 TFLOPS versus 24.02 TFLOPS gives it a nearly 10 times advantage in mixed-precision training and inference tasks. The 3.36 TB/s memory bandwidth, 12.3 times higher than the N1X, makes it the clear choice for large-scale data movement and memory-bound algorithms.

The H800 also wins in texture throughput with 926.6 GTexel/s versus 750.7 GTexel/s, a 1.2 times advantage. Its 528 tensor cores versus 160 give it a structural advantage in deep learning operations. The 700 W TDP and SXM Module form factor indicate it is designed for dedicated server installation with robust power delivery, including the 1100 W suggested PSU.

The N1X 40SM wins in pixel throughput with 93.84 GPixel/s versus 42.12 GPixel/s, a 2.2 times advantage. Its higher boost clock of 2346 MHz versus 1755 MHz suggests better burst performance in clock-sensitive workloads. The 128 GB memory capacity exceeds the H800's 80 GB by 48 GB, providing more headroom for large model residency in a single memory pool.

The N1X's integrated form factor with no power connectors and unknown TDP indicates it operates within a host system's power envelope, making it suitable for compact deployments where discrete power delivery is unavailable. Its single HDMI output enables direct display connection, which the H800 cannot offer. The presence of 40 RT cores, absent in the H800's recorded specifications, suggests the N1X has ray tracing capabilities that the H800 either lacks or does not prioritize.

The N1X's 5 nm process with a 382 mm² die makes it a smaller, more integrated solution. Its 273.2 GB/s bandwidth, while far below the H800, is still substantial for an integrated part and suits workloads that fit within its memory capacity.

The Verdict

The data indicates two GPUs with fundamentally different purposes. The H800 SXM5 is a dedicated server accelerator optimized for maximum compute throughput and memory bandwidth. Its 59.30 TFLOPS FP32, 237.2 TFLOPS FP16, and 3.36 TB/s bandwidth place it in a performance class that the N1X cannot approach for large-scale compute tasks.

The N1X 40SM is an integrated processor with a different set of strengths. Its 128 GB memory capacity, 93.84 GPixel/s pixel rate, and 2346 MHz boost clock show a design focused on integration efficiency and display capability. The 40 RT cores and HDMI output indicate graphics-oriented features that the H800 does not record.

For server deployments requiring maximum throughput in AI training, scientific computing, or high-performance data processing, the H800's specifications make it the appropriate choice. Its 12.3 times memory bandwidth advantage and 2.5 times FP32 advantage are decisive for these workloads.

For systems where integration, display output, and memory capacity take priority, the N1X offers a different value proposition. Its 48 GB additional memory capacity and single HDMI output enable use cases that the H800 cannot support. The higher boost clock delivers competitive burst performance despite fewer shading units.

The identical percentile ranking of 50 for both GPUs in the database indicates that, in the absence of direct benchmark results, both are positioned at the median of all recorded GPUs. The lack of head-to-head benchmarks and zero wins for either side means the specification differences must guide any assessment.

The H800, released in 2023, is an established server product with a defined predecessor and successor lineage. The N1X, dated 2026, represents a newer generation built on Blackwell 2.0. Each GPU serves its intended market segment, and the recorded data shows no single winner across all metrics. The H800 dominates compute and bandwidth metrics, while the N1X leads in pixel throughput, memory capacity, and clock speed. The selection depends entirely on the workload requirements.