NVIDIA L20 vs NVIDIA N1X 48SM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows no direct head-to-head benchmark comparisons between the NVIDIA L20 and the NVIDIA N1X 48SM. The L20 holds two benchmark entries in the database: a Geekbench OpenCL score of 274,276 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 228,018. These results combine for an average benchmark score of 251,147, placing the L20 in the 99th percentile among all GPUs. The N1X 48SM, by contrast, has no recorded benchmark scores, an average benchmark score of 0, and sits in the 50th percentile. The absence of comparable measurements means a direct numerical comparison across identical workloads is not possible from the database.

The L20's benchmark results can be contextualized against its nearest rivals. The NVIDIA PG506-232 averages 225,124, which places the L20 11.6% ahead. The AMD Radeon PRO W7900D averages 219,827, placing the L20 14.2% ahead. On the other side, the NVIDIA L40 averages 284,111, which is 11.6% higher than the L20, and the NVIDIA RTX 6000 Ada Generation averages 287,237, which is 12.6% higher. These figures indicate that the L20 operates in a competitive band, trailing the top Ada workstation cards but clearly ahead of the older Ampere-based PG506-232 and the AMD workstation contender.

The N1X 48SM's 50th percentile placement with zero recorded scores suggests the database has not yet accumulated performance measurements for this part. Without any benchmark data, its relative standing among competing GPUs cannot be quantified. The percentile rank of 50 appears to reflect the absence of data rather than a measured performance level. This creates an asymmetry: one product has meaningful, verifiable performance numbers, while the other has none.

Architecture Differences

The two processors represent distinct architectural generations and design philosophies. The L20 uses the AD102 chip built on Ada Lovelace architecture, while the N1X 48SM uses the GB20B chip on Blackwell 2.0 architecture. Both are fabricated by TSMC on a 5 nm process, so the manufacturing node is shared. The L20 belongs to the Server Ada (Lxx) generation, whereas the N1X 48SM belongs to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation.

Transistor and die measurements diverge substantially. The L20 packs 76,300 million transistors on a 609 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 125.3 million per mm². The N1X 48SM has an unknown transistor count but a considerably smaller die at 382 mm², with no density figure recorded. The die size difference of 227 mm² suggests the L20 allocates significantly more silicon area, consistent with its larger shading core count.

Compute resources differ in both quantity and configuration. The L20 carries 11,776 shading units, 368 texture mapping units, 128 ROPs, 92 RT cores, and 368 tensor cores. The N1X 48SM houses 6,144 shading units, 384 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 48 RT cores, and 192 tensor cores. The L20 has nearly double the shading units and RT cores, while the N1X 48SM has slightly more TMUs despite its smaller overall core configuration. The L20's FP32 throughput reaches 59.35 TFLOPS, exactly matching its FP16 rate at a 1:1 ratio. The N1X 48SM delivers 28.83 TFLOPS in both FP32 and FP16, which is less than half the L20's compute ceiling.

Clock behavior reveals different operating strategies. The L20 runs at a 1440 MHz base clock and boosts to 2520 MHz. The N1X 48SM starts lower at 741 MHz base but boosts to 2346 MHz. The boost clocks are within 174 MHz of each other, but the base clocks differ by 699 MHz. This suggests the N1X 48SM relies on boost behavior for performance, possibly due to power or thermal constraints in an integrated graphics package.

Memory subsystems present a stark contrast. The L20 uses 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus, achieving 864.0 GB/s bandwidth. The N1X 48SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, achieving 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The L20 has 590.8 GB/s more bandwidth, a margin of more than 3 to 1. However, the N1X 48SM offers 80 GB more capacity. The memory clock also differs: the L20 runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective, while the N1X 48SM runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective.

The N1X 48SM's IGP designation carries physical implications. It is listed as an integrated graphics processor with no slot width, no power connectors, no dimensions, and no suggested PSU. The L20 is a dual-slot card measuring 267 mm (10.5 inches) in length and 111 mm (4.4 inches) in height, requiring a single 16-pin power connector and a 600 W suggested PSU. These form factors could not be more different: a discrete add-in board versus an integrated processor.

Where Each One Wins

Based on the recorded data, the L20 wins decisively in raw compute throughput. Its FP32 performance of 59.35 TFLOPS doubles the N1X 48SM's 28.83 TFLOPS. The same ratio applies to FP16. The L20 also leads in pixel rate at 322.6 GPixel/s versus 112.6 GPixel/s, a 210 GPixel/s advantage. Texture rate is nearly tied, with the L20 at 927.4 GTexel/s and the N1X 48SM at 900.9 GTexel/s, a difference of only 26.5 GTexel/s.

Memory bandwidth strongly favors the L20. The 864.0 GB/s figure is more than three times the N1X 48SM's 273.2 GB/s. This matters for workloads that stream large datasets through the memory subsystem, such as training large models or rendering high-resolution scenes. The L20's 384-bit bus width versus 256-bit contributes directly to this advantage.

The N1X 48SM wins on memory capacity. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X exceeds the L20's 48 GB by 80 GB. For workloads that require holding very large datasets in memory, such as certain inference scenarios or large language model serving, the capacity advantage could be decisive despite the lower bandwidth. The N1X 48SM also offers PCIe 5.0 x16 connectivity, while the L20 uses PCIe 4.0 x16. The newer bus standard doubles the per-lane transfer rate, which could benefit data movement between the GPU and host system.

The L20 supports a full API stack: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X 48SM lists all APIs as N/A, indicating no DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan support in the recorded data. This restricts the N1X 48SM to compute-oriented workloads rather than graphics rendering through standard graphics APIs. The L20 also offers four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, while the N1X 48SM has a single HDMI output.

The L20's 99th percentile ranking among all GPUs contrasts sharply with the N1X 48SM's 50th percentile. Even accounting for the missing benchmark data on the N1X 48SM, the L20's measured performance places it among the top 1% of GPUs in the database. The N1X 48SM's placement at the median suggests either unmeasured performance or a lower tier of capability.

The Verdict

The data presents a clear split between two very different products. The L20 is a high-throughput, high-bandwidth discrete accelerator aimed at compute-heavy workloads. Its 59.35 TFLOPS FP32, 864.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, and 92 RT cores position it for demanding parallel processing. Its benchmark scores place it 11.6% ahead of the NVIDIA PG506-232 and 14.2% ahead of the AMD Radeon PRO W7900D, while trailing the NVIDIA L40 by 11.6% and the RTX 6000 Ada Generation by 12.6%. These margins show the L20 as a solid mid-to-high performer in the workstation accelerator segment.

The N1X 48SM targets a different role. Its 128 GB memory capacity is its standout feature, combined with a compact IGP form factor and PCIe 5.0 support. The 28.83 TFLOPS compute and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth are modest by comparison, and the lack of graphics API support narrows its use cases to compute-focused tasks. The 50th percentile ranking and zero benchmark scores indicate that the database has not yet captured its performance profile, making a definitive performance verdict impossible.

For applications that prioritize raw throughput, memory bandwidth, and graphics API compatibility, the L20 is the choice supported by data. Its measured benchmark scores, 99th percentile ranking, and comprehensive API support give it a verifiable performance track record. For applications that need maximum memory capacity in a low-footprint integrated package, the N1X 48SM offers 128 GB where the L20 offers only 48 GB, but without any benchmark data to confirm its execution speed.

The L20's release date of November 15, 2023, and its active production status indicate a mature product. The N1X 48SM has a release date of May 31, 2026, suggesting a newer part still establishing its presence. The L20's predecessor and successor are recorded as Server Ampere and Server Hopper respectively, showing its position in a defined product lineage. The N1X 48SM has no recorded predecessor or successor, marking it as a standalone entry.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA L20 delivers 59.35 TFLOPS in FP32, while the NVIDIA N1X 48SM delivers 28.83 TFLOPS. The L20 has more than double the FP32 throughput.

Q: How do the two GPUs compare in memory bandwidth?

A: The L20 achieves 864.0 GB/s with 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus. The N1X 48SM achieves 273.2 GB/s with 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus. The L20 has more than three times the bandwidth.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference?

A: The N1X 48SM offers 128 GB of memory, which is 80 GB more than the L20's 48 GB. The N1X 48SM uses LPDDR5X memory, while the L20 uses GDDR6.

Q: Which GPU supports DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan?

A: The L20 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X 48SM lists all three APIs as N/A, indicating no support for these graphics APIs.

Q: How does the L20 compare to its nearest rivals in the database?

A: The L20's average benchmark score of 251,147 is 11.6% higher than the NVIDIA PG506-232 and 14.2% higher than the AMD Radeon PRO W7900D. It trails the NVIDIA L40 by 11.6% and the RTX 6000 Ada Generation by 12.6%.

Q: What is the physical form factor difference?

A: The L20 is a dual-slot card measuring 267 mm by 111 mm, requiring a 16-pin power connector and a 600 W suggested PSU. The N1X 48SM is an IGP with no slot width, no power connectors, and no recorded dimensions.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA L20 | NVIDIA N1X 48SM |

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

| Chip | AD102 | GB20B |

| Architecture | Ada Lovelace | Blackwell 2.0 |

| Generation | Server Ada (Lxx) | Blackwell IGP (N1x) |

| Die Size | 609 mm² | 382 mm² |

| Transistors | 76,300 million | unknown |

| Base Clock | 1440 MHz | 741 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2520 MHz | 2346 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective) | 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective) |

| 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 |

| Shading Units | 11,776 | 6,144 |

| TMUs | 368 | 384 |

| ROPs | 128 | 48 |

| RT Cores | 92 | 48 |

| Tensor Cores | 368 | 192 |

| Pixel Rate | 322.6 GPixel/s | 112.6 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 927.4 GTexel/s | 900.9 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 59.35 TFLOPS | 28.83 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 59.35 TFLOPS (1:1) | 28.83 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 |

| Predecessor | Server Ampere | null |

| Successor | Server Hopper | null |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 5 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | TSMC |

| Percentile vs All GPUs | 99 | 50 |

| Avg Benchmark Score | 251,147 | 0 |