NVIDIA L20 vs NVIDIA N1 16SM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows no direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons between the NVIDIA L20 and the NVIDIA N1 16SM. The L20 has two benchmark entries in the database, while the N1 16SM has none. This makes a direct performance comparison impossible based on measured scores.

The L20 posts a Geekbench OpenCL score of 274,276 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 228,018. Its average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 251,147. This places the L20 in the 99th percentile of all GPUs tracked by the database. The N1 16SM sits at the 50th percentile, with an average benchmark score of 0 due to the absence of recorded tests.

For context, the L20's nearest rivals in the database provide useful reference points. The NVIDIA PG506-232 averages 225,124, which is 11.6% slower than the L20. The AMD Radeon PRO W7900D averages 219,827, putting it 14.2% behind. On the higher end, the NVIDIA L40 averages 284,111, which is 11.6% faster than the L20, and the NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation averages 287,237, 12.6% faster.

Without benchmark data for the N1 16SM, any performance projection must rely on architectural specifications rather than measured results. The L20's FP32 throughput of 59.35 TFLOPS dwarfs the N1 16SM's 9.609 TFLOPS, a ratio of roughly 6.2 to 1. Texture fill rate tells a similar story: the L20 delivers 927.4 GTexel/s versus 300.3 GTexel/s for the N1 16SM. Pixel rates differ by an even wider margin, with the L20 at 322.6 GPixel/s and the N1 16SM at 56.30 GPixel/s.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from entirely different architectural generations. The L20 uses the AD102 chip built on the Ada Lovelace architecture, part of the Server Ada (Lxx) generation. It is fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with 76,300 million transistors packed into a 609 mm² die. The transistor density works out to 125.3 million per square millimeter.

The N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, belonging to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. It also uses a 5 nm TSMC process, but the die size is 382 mm². Transistor count is listed as unknown, and transistor density is not recorded.

Shader resources differ substantially. The L20 carries 11,776 shading units, 368 texture mapping units, and 128 raster output units. It also has 92 ray tracing cores and 368 tensor cores. The N1 16SM has 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, and only 24 ROPs. Its ray tracing core count is 16, and it has 64 tensor cores. The L20 thus has roughly 5.7 times more shading units, 2.9 times more TMUs, and 5.3 times more ROPs.

Clock behavior also diverges. The L20 runs at a base clock of 1440 MHz and boosts to 2520 MHz. The N1 16SM has a much lower base of 741 MHz but boosts to 2346 MHz, which is only about 7% below the L20's boost. Memory clocks differ as well: the L20's memory runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective speed, while the N1 16SM's memory runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective.

The L20 uses 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus, yielding 864.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The N1 16SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, yielding 273.2 GB/s. The L20 has 3.16 times the bandwidth, but the N1 16SM has 2.67 times the capacity.

Form factors and interfaces differ completely. The L20 is a dual-slot card, 267 mm long and 111 mm tall, with a 1x 16-pin power connector and a 600 W suggested PSU. Its power draw is rated at 275 W. The N1 16SM is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with no power connector and no slot width in the traditional sense. It uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, while the L20 uses PCIe 4.0 x16.

Display outputs also distinguish them. The L20 provides 4x DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. The N1 16SM has a single HDMI output. API support shows another major split: the L20 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.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more raw compute throughput?

A: The L20 delivers 59.35 TFLOPS of FP32 and FP16 performance, while the N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS for both. The L20 is approximately 6.2 times faster in these metrics.

Q: How do memory capacities and bandwidth compare?

A: The N1 16SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, providing 273.2 GB/s. The L20 has 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus, providing 864.0 GB/s. The L20 offers over 3 times the bandwidth, while the N1 16SM offers nearly 3 times the capacity.

Q: What are the physical form factor differences?

A: The L20 is a dual-slot PCIe card measuring 267 mm by 111 mm, using a single 16-pin power connector, with a 275 W TDP and 600 W suggested PSU. The N1 16SM is an IGP with no power connector and no recorded dimensions.

Q: Which card supports newer PCIe standards?

A: The N1 16SM uses PCIe 5.0 x16, while the L20 uses PCIe 4.0 x16. The N1 16SM's interface is one generation newer.

Q: Do both support the same graphics APIs?

A: No. The L20 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 16SM records N/A for all three APIs, indicating a different intended use case.

Q: How do their production statuses and release dates differ?

A: Both are listed as Active. The L20 was released on November 15, 2023. The N1 16SM has a release date of May 31, 2026.

The Verdict

The data points to two distinct products with different goals. The L20 is a traditional discrete server GPU with high compute throughput, high bandwidth, and a full complement of rendering features. Its 99th percentile ranking and substantial lead in every compute metric make it the clear choice for workloads that demand raw processing power.

The N1 16SM is an integrated graphics processor with a different profile. It has more memory capacity at 128 GB, a newer PCIe interface, and a much lower power footprint (no power connector required). Its 50th percentile ranking and lack of benchmark data suggest it targets scenarios where memory capacity and integration matter more than peak throughput.

The L20 wins decisively on FP32 compute (59.35 vs 9.609 TFLOPS), texture rate (927.4 vs 300.3 GTexel/s), pixel rate (322.6 vs 56.30 GPixel/s), memory bandwidth (864.0 vs 273.2 GB/s), and feature support for graphics APIs. The N1 16SM wins on memory capacity (128 vs 48 GB), PCIe generation (5.0 vs 4.0), and physical integration (IGP with no power connector). Neither product is a substitute for the other; they serve different segments of the market.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA L20 | NVIDIA N1 16SM |

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

| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Blackwell 2.0 |

| Chip | AD102 | GB20B |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 5 nm |

| Die Size | 609 mm² | 382 mm² |

| Transistors | 76,300 million | unknown |

| Base Clock | 1440 MHz | 741 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2520 MHz | 2346 MHz |

| Memory Size | 48 GB | 128 GB |

| Memory Type | GDDR6 | LPDDR5X |

| Memory Bus Width | 384 bit | 256 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 864.0 GB/s | 273.2 GB/s |

| Memory Clock | 2250 MHz, 18 Gbps effective | 1067 MHz, 8.5 Gbps effective |

| Shading Units | 11776 | 2048 |

| TMUs | 368 | 128 |

| ROPs | 128 | 24 |

| RT Cores | 92 | 16 |

| Tensor Cores | 368 | 64 |

| Pixel Rate | 322.6 GPixel/s | 56.30 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 927.4 GTexel/s | 300.3 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 59.35 TFLOPS | 9.609 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 59.35 TFLOPS (1:1) | 9.609 TFLOPS (1:1) |

| TDP | 275 W | unknown |

| Slot Width | Dual-slot | IGP |

| Power Connectors | 1x 16-pin | None |

| Suggested PSU | 600 W | null |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 4.0 x16 | PCIe 5.0 x16 |

| Display Outputs | 4x DisplayPort 1.4a | 1x HDMI |

| DirectX | 12 Ultimate (12_2) | N/A |

| OpenGL | 4.6 | N/A |

| Vulkan | 1.4 | N/A |

| Dimensions | 267 mm x 111 mm | null |

| Release Date | 2023-11-15 | 2026-05-31 |

Where Each One Wins

The L20 wins in every performance-oriented category recorded in the database. Its FP32 throughput of 59.35 TFLOPS is more than six times the N1 16SM's 9.609 TFLOPS. Texture fill rate favors the L20 at 927.4 GTexel/s versus 300.3 GTexel/s. Pixel throughput shows the L20 at 322.6 GPixel/s against 56.30 GPixel/s. Memory bandwidth also favors the L20: 864.0 GB/s compared to 273.2 GB/s. The L20 additionally supports modern graphics APIs, while the N1 16SM records none.

The N1 16SM wins on memory capacity with 128 GB versus 48 GB. It also has a newer PCIe 5.0 x16 interface compared to the L20's PCIe 4.0 x16. Its IGP form factor with no power connector means it can fit into systems where a discrete card cannot. The N1 16SM's 64 tensor cores and 16 RT cores, while fewer than the L20's 368 and 92, still provide some acceleration for those workloads. Its boost clock of 2346 MHz is close to the L20's 2520 MHz, though the base clock is far lower at 741 MHz versus 1440 MHz.

For server deployments requiring maximum compute and bandwidth, the L20 is the data-backed choice. For applications that need large memory pools in a compact, integrated package with a newer bus interface, the N1 16SM offers distinct advantages. The recorded specifications show complementary strengths rather than direct competition.