Intel Arc A580 vs NVIDIA N1 16SM Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The benchmark data separates these two processors into entirely different classes. Intel Arc A580 holds a 87th percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database, while NVIDIA N1 16SM sits at the 50th percentile. The Arc A580 delivers an average benchmark score of 57,756, with recorded results across three DirectX and compute workloads. The N1 16SM has no recorded benchmark entries in the database, meaning its performance profile cannot be quantified from our measurements.

The Arc A580 wins in every measurable category. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it posts a score of 2,229. Its Geekbench OpenCL result reaches 91,657, and its Geekbench Vulkan result hits 79,381. The N1 16SM has zero benchmark entries across all test suites, so there are no competing scores to compare. The wins column reflects this: Arc A580 takes 0 wins and N1 16SM takes 0 wins, because no head-to-head benchmark data exists.

The N1 16SM does win on memory capacity. It carries 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory versus the Arc A580's 8 GB of GDDR6. That is a 16x difference in capacity. The N1 16SM also wins on memory clock efficiency in raw terms: its memory runs at 1,067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective transfer, while the Arc A580 runs at 2,000 MHz with 16 Gbps effective. However, the Arc A580's wider effective bandwidth of 512.0 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s gives it the throughput advantage despite the N1's larger pool.

For compute workloads, the Arc A580 delivers 12.29 TFLOPS FP32 and 24.58 TFLOPS FP16 (2:1 ratio). The N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS FP32 and 9.609 TFLOPS FP16 (1:1 ratio). The Arc A580 leads by roughly 28% in FP32 and by 156% in FP16. Pixel fill rate also favors Intel: 192.0 GPixel/s versus 56.30 GPixel/s, a 3.4x lead. Texture fill rate favors Intel as well: 384.0 GTexel/s versus 300.3 GTexel/s, a 28% advantage.

Architecture Differences

The two chips come from different design philosophies. Intel's Arc A580 uses the DG2-512 chip built on the Xe-HPG architecture, part of the Alchemist generation (Arc 5). It is fabricated on a 6 nm process at TSMC, with 21,700 million transistors on a 406 mm² die. The transistor density works out to 53.4M per mm². The NVIDIA N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, part of the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. It is fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, with a die size of 382 mm². Transistor count is listed as unknown, and transistor density is not recorded.

The compute resources differ substantially. Arc A580 has 3,072 shading units, 192 TMUs, 96 ROPs, and 24 ray tracing cores. The N1 16SM has 2,048 shading units, 128 TMUs, 24 ROPs, and 16 ray tracing cores. Intel also includes 64 tensor cores on the N1, while the Arc A580 has no tensor core count recorded. The N1's tensor cores are part of its Blackwell IGP design, but the Arc A580's Xe-HPG architecture does not expose a separate tensor core tally in the database.

Clock behavior diverges sharply. The Arc A580 runs at a 1,700 MHz base and 2,000 MHz boost. The N1 16SM runs at a much lower 741 MHz base but boosts to 2,346 MHz, which is 17% higher than the Arc's boost. The N1's base clock is 44% lower than the Arc's base, indicating a wide clock range for the integrated graphics part.

Memory architecture differs in type and bandwidth. The Arc A580 uses 8 GB GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus, achieving 512.0 GB/s bandwidth. The N1 16SM uses 128 GB LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, achieving 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. Both use a 256-bit interface, but the N1's LPDDR5X memory runs at lower effective speed, capping its bandwidth.

Power and physical design separate them further. The Arc A580 is a dual-slot discrete card with a 175 W TDP, two 8-pin power connectors, and a suggested 450 W PSU. It uses PCIe 4.0 x16. The N1 16SM is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with unknown TDP, no power connectors, and no suggested PSU. It uses PCIe 5.0 x16. The Arc A580 offers 1x HDMI 2.1 and 3x DisplayPort 2.0 outputs, while the N1 16SM offers only 1x HDMI.

API support also separates them. The Arc A580 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 16SM lists DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan all as "N/A". This means the N1 has no recorded API compatibility in the database, making it unsuitable for standard gaming workloads. The Arc A580 is production active and was released on 2023-10-09. The N1 16SM is also production active, with a release date of 2026-05-31, making it a newer part by roughly two and a half years.

The Verdict

The data makes one point clear: the Arc A580 is a discrete GPU with measured performance, while the N1 16SM is an integrated part with no benchmark results. For any workload that requires 3D rendering, compute acceleration, or graphics API support, the Arc A580 is the only option with verified numbers. Its 87th percentile ranking and average score of 57,756 place it among the top 13% of all GPUs in the database. The N1 16SM's 50th percentile ranking with an average score of 0 reflects its lack of recorded performance.

The Arc A580's nearest rivals in the database include AMD Radeon RX 5600 OEM (average score 58,085, 0.6% higher), Intel Arc A570M (average score 58,239, 0.8% higher), AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE (average score 57,367, 0.7% lower), and AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT (average score 58,392, 1.1% higher). These deltas show the Arc A580 sits within a tight performance band around 57,000 to 58,400 average score, trading places with its closest competitors by less than 1.2%.

For users who need a discrete graphics solution with full API support, the Arc A580 delivers measurable results. For users who need massive memory capacity in an integrated form factor, the N1 16SM offers 128 GB, but without any recorded 3D performance to validate its capabilities. The N1's lack of DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support means it cannot run standard graphics applications. The Arc A580's support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 makes it the only part in this comparison that can handle modern gaming and compute APIs.

The choice depends on the workload. The Arc A580 wins on raw compute, graphics features, and verified performance. The N1 16SM wins on memory capacity and integration, but its performance remains unmeasured. The database records no head-to-head benchmarks between these two parts, so any direct comparison relies entirely on the Arc A580's existing scores and the N1's absence of scores.

FAQ

Q: Which processor has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Arc A580 has an average benchmark score of 57,756. The NVIDIA N1 16SM has an average benchmark score of 0, as no benchmark results are recorded for it.

Q: How do the memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The Intel Arc A580 provides 512.0 GB/s of bandwidth using 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus. The NVIDIA N1 16SM provides 273.2 GB/s using 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus. The Arc A580 leads by 87%.

Q: What are the FP32 compute figures for each part?

A: The Intel Arc A580 delivers 12.29 TFLOPS FP32. The NVIDIA N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS FP32. The Arc A580 is approximately 28% higher.

Q: Does the NVIDIA N1 16SM support DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan?

A: The database lists all three APIs as "N/A" for the NVIDIA N1 16SM. The Intel Arc A580 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: Which part has a higher boost clock?

A: The NVIDIA N1 16SM boosts to 2,346 MHz, while the Intel Arc A580 boosts to 2,000 MHz. The N1's boost is 17% higher, though its base clock of 741 MHz is much lower than the Arc's 1,700 MHz.

Q: What are the nearest rivals to the Intel Arc A580 in the database?

A: The closest competitors are AMD Radeon RX 5600 OEM (58,085, 0.6% higher), Intel Arc A570M (58,239, 0.8% higher), AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE (57,367, 0.7% lower), and AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT (58,392, 1.1% higher).

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

No head-to-head benchmark entries exist between the Intel Arc A580 and the NVIDIA N1 16SM. The database records zero head-to-head tests, and the wins column shows 0 for both parts. This absence of direct comparison data means the relative performance must be inferred from the Arc A580's standalone results and the N1's complete lack of benchmark entries.

The Arc A580's strongest standalone result comes from Geekbench OpenCL, where it scores 91,657. Its Geekbench Vulkan score reaches 79,381, and its 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 score is 2,229. These three results contribute to its 87th percentile ranking among all GPUs. The N1 16SM has no scores in any of these tests, so it cannot be placed in the same ranking context.

The closest comparable data comes from the Arc A580's nearest rival list. The AMD Radeon RX 5600 OEM scores 58,085, which is 0.6% higher than the Arc A580. The Intel Arc A570M scores 58,239, 0.8% higher. The AMD Radeon RX 9070 GRE scores 57,367, 0.7% lower. The AMD Radeon RX 6950 XT scores 58,392, 1.1% higher. These deltas show the Arc A580 performing within a narrow band, roughly 1.1% below its strongest rival and 0.7% above its weakest.

For the N1 16SM, the nearest rival list is empty. There are no adjacent GPUs to compare against, which reinforces its position as an integrated part without a measurable performance footprint. The N1's 50th percentile ranking is a default placement, not a reflection of tested performance.

The Arc A580's pixel rate of 192.0 GPixel/s and texture rate of 384.0 GTexel/s demonstrate its fill-rate capabilities. The N1's 56.30 GPixel/s and 300.3 GTexel/s are lower across both metrics. The FP16 compute comparison is stark: the Arc A580 delivers 24.58 TFLOPS with a 2:1 ratio, while the N1 delivers 9.609 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio. That means the Arc has more than double the half-precision throughput.

The memory comparison favors the N1 on capacity but the Arc on speed. The N1's 128 GB pool is 16 times larger than the Arc's 8 GB, but the Arc's 512.0 GB/s bandwidth is 87% higher than the N1's 273.2 GB/s. For workloads that need large datasets in memory, the N1 has an advantage. For workloads that need fast data movement, the Arc wins.

The release timeline also differs. The Arc A580 launched on 2023-10-09, while the N1 16SM is dated 2026-05-31. Despite the N1 being a newer design on a 5 nm node, it does not record any performance data. The Arc A580, built on the older 6 nm node, has verified scores across three test suites. The N1's lack of API support further limits its applicability.

In summary, the Arc A580 is the only part with measurable performance in this comparison. Its 87th percentile ranking, three benchmark scores, and full API support make it a functional discrete GPU. The N1 16SM offers a larger memory pool and a higher boost clock, but without benchmark results or API support, its real-world performance remains unquantified.