Intel Arc A380E vs NVIDIA N1 16SM Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no recorded head-to-head benchmark results between the Intel Arc A380E and the NVIDIA N1 16SM. Both entries show zero benchmark scores, zero average benchmark scores, and zero wins in the head-to-head comparison. The percentile ranking for each GPU sits at 50, placing both in the midpoint of all recorded graphics hardware.

Without direct benchmark numbers, the comparative analysis relies entirely on the architectural and specification data available in the database. The Intel Arc A380E delivers 4.096 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS of FP32, a margin of approximately 2.35x in raw floating-point throughput. In FP16 workloads, the Arc A380E reaches 8.192 TFLOPS using a 2:1 ratio, while the N1 16SM maintains 9.609 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio, showing that NVIDIA's part sustains identical throughput across both precision formats.

Texture processing favors the N1 16SM with 300.3 GTexel/s versus 128.0 GTexel/s for the Arc A380E, a difference of roughly 2.35x. Pixel fill rates are closer: the Arc A380E produces 64.00 GPixel/s, while the N1 16SM produces 56.30 GPixel/s, meaning Intel's part holds a 13.7% advantage in pixel throughput despite its lower overall compute. Memory bandwidth also favors the NVIDIA part at 273.2 GB/s versus 186.0 GB/s, a 46.9% margin.

Clock behavior differs substantially. The Arc A380E runs at a fixed 2000 MHz for both base and boost, whereas the N1 16SM spans from 741 MHz base to 2346 MHz boost. The NVIDIA part's boost clock sits 17.3% higher than Intel's fixed clock, but its base clock is 63% lower, indicating a wider dynamic range in operating frequency.

Architecture Differences

The Intel Arc A380E uses the DG2-128 chip built on the Xe-HPG architecture, part of the Alchemist generation (Arc 3 family). It is fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC, containing 7,200 million transistors on a 157 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 45.9 million per square millimeter. The NVIDIA N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, from the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. It is fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a 382 mm² die size; transistor count and density are not recorded in the database.

The core configurations differ significantly. The Arc A380E contains 1024 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 raster output units, with 8 ray tracing cores and no dedicated tensor cores. The N1 16SM contains 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output units, with 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores. NVIDIA's part doubles the shader, TMU, and RT core counts, while Intel's part carries 8 more ROPs.

Memory subsystems diverge sharply. The Arc A380E uses 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus, achieving 186.0 GB/s bandwidth with memory clocked at 1937 MHz (15.5 Gbps effective). The N1 16SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, achieving 273.2 GB/s bandwidth with memory at 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective). The capacity gap is 21.3x in favor of NVIDIA, while the bandwidth gap is 1.47x.

Interface and power characteristics also differ. The Arc A380E uses PCIe 4.0 x8, has a 75 W TDP, requires no power connectors, and suggests a 250 W power supply. The N1 16SM uses PCIe 5.0 x16, has an unknown TDP, requires no power connectors, and lists no suggested power supply. The Arc A380E is a single-slot card measuring 254 mm in length, 127 mm in height, and 20 mm in width. The N1 16SM is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with no recorded physical dimensions.

Display outputs favor Intel substantially. The Arc A380E provides 4x DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, while the N1 16SM provides a single HDMI output. API support also diverges completely: the Arc A380E supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1 16SM records N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, indicating no conventional graphics API compatibility in the database.

Production status and release timing differ. The Arc A380E is marked as end-of-life, with a release date of 2024-03-31, a predecessor of Xe Graphics, and a successor of Battlemage. The N1 16SM is marked as active, with a release date of 2026-05-31, and no predecessor or successor recorded. The Arc A380E's FP16 ratio is 2:1, meaning it halves FP16 throughput relative to FP32, while the N1 16SM operates at a 1:1 ratio, delivering equal throughput in both formats.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A380E wins in pixel fill rate, delivering 64.00 GPixel/s versus 56.30 GPixel/s for the NVIDIA N1 16SM, a 13.7% advantage that benefits rasterization-heavy workloads at high resolutions where ROP throughput becomes the limiting factor. The Arc A380E also wins on display connectivity, offering 4x DisplayPort 2.0 outputs compared to a single HDMI on the N1 16SM, making it suitable for multi-monitor configurations or display-centric applications. Its fixed 2000 MHz clock across base and boost provides predictable performance scaling without dynamic frequency variation. The Arc A380E supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, enabling conventional gaming and graphics workloads that the N1 16SM cannot run due to its N/A API status. Its 6 GB memory capacity, while far smaller than the N1 16SM's 128 GB, is adequate for standard graphics workloads and carries a 96-bit bus that consumes less board complexity.

The NVIDIA N1 16SM wins decisively in compute throughput. Its 9.609 TFLOPS FP32 performance is 2.35x that of the Arc A380E, and its 9.609 TFLOPS FP16 performance matches its FP32 output, whereas the Arc A380E's FP16 throughput drops to 8.192 TFLOPS. The N1 16SM's 300.3 GTexel/s texture rate is 2.35x higher, accelerating texture-heavy workloads such as procedural generation or high-detail rendering. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory represents a 21.3x capacity advantage, enabling large datasets, model weights, or in-memory processing that the Arc A380E cannot accommodate. The 273.2 GB/s memory bandwidth is 46.9% higher, reducing bottlenecks in memory-bound operations. The N1 16SM includes 64 tensor cores, providing dedicated matrix math acceleration that the Arc A380E lacks entirely. Its 16 ray tracing cores double the Arc A380E's 8 RT cores, improving ray-traced workload throughput. The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides double the lane width and a newer generation compared to the Arc A380E's PCIe 4.0 x8, enabling faster host communication. The N1 16SM's boost clock of 2346 MHz exceeds the Arc A380E's 2000 MHz by 17.3%, and its 2048 shading units double Intel's count, providing more parallel execution lanes.

The form factor also differentiates use cases. The Arc A380E is a physical single-slot card with dimensions of 254 mm by 127 mm by 20 mm, requiring installation in a PCIe slot. The N1 16SM is an IGP with no dimensions, integrated directly into a platform, consuming no additional board space and requiring no discrete installation.

The Verdict

The data indicates two fundamentally different products serving different roles. The Intel Arc A380E is a discrete, end-of-life graphics card with conventional API support, multiple display outputs, and a modest 75 W power envelope. Its strengths lie in pixel throughput, display connectivity, and compatibility with standard graphics APIs. The NVIDIA N1 16SM is an active integrated processor with massive memory capacity, high compute throughput, tensor cores, and a newer PCIe interface, but it offers no conventional graphics API support and only a single HDMI output.

For workloads requiring DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan compatibility, the Arc A380E is the only option, as the N1 16SM records N/A across all three APIs. For multi-display setups, the Arc A380E's 4x DisplayPort 2.0 outputs clearly outperform the N1 16SM's single HDMI. For compute-heavy tasks that do not rely on conventional graphics APIs, the N1 16SM delivers more than double the FP32 throughput, nearly double the texture rate, and 64 tensor cores for accelerated matrix operations.

The N1 16SM's 128 GB memory capacity is the largest in the comparison, suited for large in-memory datasets, while the Arc A380E's 6 GB is typical for discrete graphics workloads. The Arc A380E's fixed 2000 MHz clock provides consistent performance, whereas the N1 16SM's 741 MHz base to 2346 MHz boost range indicates variable operating points. The Arc A380E is marked end-of-life with a successor named Battlemage, while the N1 16SM is active with no successor listed. The Arc A380E's pixel rate advantage of 13.7% is the only performance metric where Intel's part leads.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, which is 2.35x the 4.096 TFLOPS of the Intel Arc A380E.

Q: How do the memory capacities compare?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus, while the Intel Arc A380E has 6 GB of GDDR6 on a 96-bit bus. The N1 16SM's capacity is 21.3x larger.

Q: Does the Intel Arc A380E support modern graphics APIs?

A: Yes, the Arc A380E supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA N1 16SM records N/A for all three APIs.

Q: What is the pixel fill rate difference?

A: The Intel Arc A380E produces 64.00 GPixel/s, which is 13.7% higher than the NVIDIA N1 16SM's 56.30 GPixel/s.

Q: How many display outputs does each GPU provide?

A: The Intel Arc A380E provides 4x DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM provides a single HDMI output.

Q: What are the production statuses of these GPUs?

A: The Intel Arc A380E is marked as end-of-life with a successor named Battlemage, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM is marked as active with no successor recorded.