NVIDIA N1 16SM vs NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core architectural differences between the NVIDIA N1 16SM and the NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation?

A: The N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, while the RTX 3500 Embedded uses the AD104 chip on Ada Lovelace. The N1 16SM is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with a 382 mm² die, whereas the RTX 3500 Embedded is also an IGP but with a smaller 294 mm² die and 35,800 million transistors.

Q: How do the memory configurations compare between the two GPUs?

A: The N1 16SM features 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The RTX 3500 Embedded has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus with significantly higher bandwidth at 432.0 GB/s.

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute throughput?

A: The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation delivers substantially more compute performance. It offers 23.04 TFLOPS for both FP32 and FP16, compared to the N1 16SM's 9.609 TFLOPS for both precision formats.

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The RTX 3500 Embedded has a base clock of 1725 MHz and a boost clock of 2250 MHz. The N1 16SM operates at a lower 741 MHz base clock but reaches a slightly higher boost clock of 2346 MHz.

Q: Which GPU supports more advanced graphics APIs?

A: The RTX 3500 Embedded supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 16SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support in the database.

Q: What are the release dates and production status for these GPUs?

A: The N1 16SM was released on 2026-05-31 and is marked as Active. The RTX 3500 Embedded was released on 2023-03-20, is also Active, and lists Ampere-MW as its predecessor and Blackwell-MW as its successor.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent different generations of NVIDIA architecture. The N1 16SM uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with the GB20B chip, while the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation employs Ada Lovelace with the AD104 chip. Both are fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, but the N1 16SM has a larger die at 382 mm² compared to the RTX 3500 Embedded's 294 mm². The RTX 3500 Embedded has a recorded transistor count of 35,800 million, resulting in a transistor density of 121.8M per mm². The N1 16SM's transistor count is listed as unknown.

The shading unit counts differ markedly. The N1 16SM carries 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 24 raster output pipelines. The RTX 3500 Embedded has 5120 shading units, 160 TMUs, and 64 ROPs. Ray tracing resources also favor the RTX 3500 Embedded with 40 RT cores versus 16 on the N1 16SM. Tensor core counts follow the same pattern: 160 on the RTX 3500 Embedded versus 64 on the N1 16SM.

The N1 16SM is built as an IGP with a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface and a single HDMI display output. The RTX 3500 Embedded is also an IGP but uses PCIe 4.0 x16 and has no display outputs listed. Power delivery differs as well: the RTX 3500 Embedded has a TDP of 100 W and a suggested PSU of 300 W, while the N1 16SM's TDP is unknown and no suggested PSU is recorded. Both use no power connectors.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation wins decisively in raw compute metrics. Its FP32 throughput of 23.04 TFLOPS is more than double the N1 16SM's 9.609 TFLOPS. The same ratio applies to FP16 performance, with both GPUs delivering 1:1 FP16 to FP32 ratios. The RTX 3500 Embedded also leads in pixel throughput at 144.0 GPixel/s versus 56.30 GPixel/s on the N1 16SM, and in texture throughput at 360.0 GTexel/s versus 300.3 GTexel/s.

Memory bandwidth strongly favors the RTX 3500 Embedded despite its smaller memory capacity. The 432.0 GB/s bandwidth on the RTX 3500 Embedded exceeds the N1 16SM's 273.2 GB/s by a significant margin. This bandwidth advantage matters for workloads that stream large datasets through the GPU. However, the N1 16SM's 128 GB memory capacity dwarfs the RTX 3500 Embedded's 12 GB, making it the clear choice for applications that require massive in-memory datasets, such as large language model inference or huge simulation state spaces.

The N1 16SM's advantage also extends to interconnect and display capabilities. It uses PCIe 5.0 x16, which doubles the per-lane bandwidth of the RTX 3500 Embedded's PCIe 4.0 x16 interface. The N1 16SM also has a display output, whereas the RTX 3500 Embedded has none, indicating the N1 16SM can drive a display directly while the RTX 3500 Embedded is intended for compute-only embedded use.

Specification Differences

The following specifications differ between the two GPUs:

• Chip: GB20B (N1 16SM) versus AD104 (RTX 3500 Embedded)
• Architecture: Blackwell 2.0 versus Ada Lovelace
• Generation: Blackwell IGP (N1x) versus Ada-MW
• Die size: 382 mm² versus 294 mm²
• Transistors: unknown versus 35,800 million
• Transistor density: null versus 121.8M / mm²
• Base clock: 741 MHz versus 1725 MHz
• Boost clock: 2346 MHz versus 2250 MHz
• Memory clock: 1067 MHz 8.5 Gbps effective versus 2250 MHz 18 Gbps effective
• Memory size: 128 GB versus 12 GB
• Memory type: LPDDR5X versus GDDR6
• Memory bus width: 256 bit versus 192 bit
• Memory bandwidth: 273.2 GB/s versus 432.0 GB/s
• Shading units: 2048 versus 5120
• TMUs: 128 versus 160
• ROPs: 24 versus 64
• RT cores: 16 versus 40
• Tensor cores: 64 versus 160
• Pixel rate: 56.30 GPixel/s versus 144.0 GPixel/s
• Texture rate: 300.3 GTexel/s versus 360.0 GTexel/s
• FP32: 9.609 TFLOPS versus 23.04 TFLOPS
• FP16: 9.609 TFLOPS (1:1) versus 23.04 TFLOPS (1:1)
• TDP: unknown versus 100 W
• Suggested PSU: null versus 300 W
• Bus interface: PCIe 5.0 x16 versus PCIe 4.0 x16
• Display outputs: 1x HDMI versus No outputs
• DirectX support: N/A versus 12 Ultimate (12_2)
• OpenGL support: N/A versus 4.6
• Vulkan support: N/A versus 1.4
• Release date: 2026-05-31 versus 2023-03-20
• Predecessor: null versus Ampere-MW
• Successor: null versus Blackwell-MW

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no direct head-to-head benchmark results between these two GPUs, and neither has an average benchmark score. Both sit at the 50th percentile among all GPUs in the database. The absence of measured performance data means the comparison must rely entirely on the recorded specifications.

The largest compute gap appears in FP32 throughput. The RTX 3500 Embedded delivers 23.04 TFLOPS, which is 2.4 times the N1 16SM's 9.609 TFLOPS. This difference suggests the RTX 3500 Embedded can process roughly 140% more floating-point operations per second. The pixel rate gap is even wider in relative terms: 144.0 GPixel/s versus 56.30 GPixel/s puts the RTX 3500 Embedded at 2.56 times the N1 16SM's fill rate.

The texture rate comparison is closer but still favors the RTX 3500 Embedded. At 360.0 GTexel/s versus 300.3 GTexel/s, the RTX 3500 Embedded leads by about 20%. Memory bandwidth shows a similar pattern: 432.0 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s gives the RTX 3500 Embedded a 58% advantage, which can be critical for bandwidth-bound workloads.

The N1 16SM counters with memory capacity. Its 128 GB allocation is over 10 times the RTX 3500 Embedded's 12 GB. For workloads that fit within the smaller memory footprint, the RTX 3500 Embedded's bandwidth advantage will dominate. But for datasets exceeding 12 GB, the N1 16SM is the only option that can hold the data on-device at all. The N1 16SM also has a higher boost clock at 2346 MHz versus 2250 MHz, though its base clock is far lower at 741 MHz versus 1725 MHz.

The Verdict

The recorded data shows two GPUs with fundamentally different design priorities. The NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation is the compute powerhouse, offering 23.04 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, 144.0 GPixel/s pixel throughput, 432.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, and full DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 API support. It also carries more shading units, TMUs, ROPs, RT cores, and tensor cores than the N1 16SM. Any workload that stresses raw arithmetic throughput, ray tracing, or high-bandwidth memory access will favor the RTX 3500 Embedded.

The NVIDIA N1 16SM makes its case through memory capacity and platform integration. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory is the standout feature, enabling models and datasets that would be impossible to fit in 12 GB. The PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides newer interconnect technology, and the single HDMI output gives it display capability that the RTX 3500 Embedded lacks entirely. The N1 16SM's higher boost clock of 2346 MHz also suggests it can reach competitive peak frequencies under favorable conditions.

For users whose primary constraint is memory capacity, such as those running very large inference models or memory-hungry simulation workloads, the N1 16SM's 128 GB allocation is decisive. For users whose primary constraint is compute throughput, fill rate, or bandwidth, the RTX 3500 Embedded's specifications are clearly superior. The RTX 3500 Embedded also offers established API support across DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, while the N1 16SM lists no API support in the database.

Both GPUs are IGP solutions with no power connectors and active production status. The RTX 3500 Embedded has a recorded 100 W TDP and 300 W suggested PSU, while the N1 16SM's power characteristics are not recorded. The choice between them depends entirely on whether the workload demands maximum compute per watt or maximum on-device memory. The data does not indicate any scenario where both criteria are satisfied by a single product.