NVIDIA N1 16SM vs NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a decisive performance gap between these two NVIDIA parts, with the RTX 5880 Ada Generation dominating every measurable compute category. The N1 16SM, an integrated graphics processor from the Blackwell IGP generation, offers no benchmark scores in the database, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation delivers a substantial body of test results. This absence of recorded scores for the N1 16SM is itself a significant finding: the database contains zero benchmark entries for the integrated part, whereas the RTX 5880 Ada Generation averages 45,972 across its benchmark suite and sits in the 85th percentile of all GPUs.

Where the RTX 5880 Ada Generation does have recorded results, the numbers reveal a workstation-class performer. Its Geekbench OpenCL score reaches 326,898, a figure that places it well above typical workstation graphics cards. The Passmark G3D score of 25,096 further confirms strong DirectX 11 performance, and the GPU compute score of 14,208 indicates solid general-purpose compute capability. The DirectX 9 score of 335 and DirectX 10 score of 167 show expected scaling across legacy API workloads, while DirectX 12 records 70 and the G2D 2D graphics test returns 777.

The RTX 5880 Ada Generation's nearest rivals in the database are interesting reference points. The NVIDIA RTX A2000 posts an average score of 46,043, which is only 0.2% below the RTX 5880 Ada Generation's average, making it the closest competitor. The Intel Arc A730M trails by a 0.8% margin with 45,592, while the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT sits 1.3% behind at 45,384. The AMD Radeon RX 5600M actually leads the RTX 5880 Ada Generation by 1.4% with 46,601. These tight margins indicate that despite its much larger compute resources, the RTX 5880 Ada Generation's average benchmark score lands within a narrow band of mid-range competitors, which suggests the average score may not fully capture its peak capabilities.

For the N1 16SM, the lack of benchmark data means no head-to-head comparisons can be drawn from measured results. The database records zero wins for either side in direct comparisons, leaving only the specification sheet to assess relative capability.

FAQ

Q: Does the N1 16SM have any recorded benchmark scores?

A: No. The database contains no benchmark entries for the N1 16SM, and its average benchmark score is recorded as 0, placing it at the 50th percentile of all GPUs.

Q: What is the RTX 5880 Ada Generation's strongest benchmark result?

A: The Geekbench OpenCL score of 326,898 is the highest single recorded result, followed by the Passmark G3D score of 25,096 and the GPU compute score of 14,208.

Q: How does the RTX 5880 Ada Generation compare to its nearest rivals?

A: The RTX A2000 is 0.2% ahead, the Intel Arc A730M is 0.8% behind, the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT is 1.3% behind, and the AMD Radeon RX 5600M is 1.4% ahead in average benchmark scores.

Q: What memory configurations do these two GPUs use?

A: The N1 16SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation uses 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus with 864.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Are both GPUs manufactured on the same process node?

A: Yes, both are fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, but the RTX 5880 Ada Generation uses the AD102 chip with 76,300 million transistors on a 609 mm² die, while the N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip on a 382 mm² die with unknown transistor count.

Q: What API support does each GPU provide?

A: The RTX 5880 Ada Generation supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 16SM records no API support in the database for DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two NVIDIA products is substantial. The N1 16SM belongs to the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, specifically the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation, and uses the GB20B chip. It is an integrated graphics processor with a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation, by contrast, uses the Ada Lovelace architecture from the Workstation Ada (x000A) generation and employs the AD102 chip, a discrete dual-slot card with a PCIe 4.0 x16 interface.

The compute resource allocation differs dramatically. The N1 16SM packs 2,048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 24 render output units. It also includes 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation scales this up considerably with 14,080 shading units, 440 TMUs, and 176 ROPs. Its ray tracing core count reaches 110, and it carries 440 tensor cores. These numbers translate directly into throughput: the N1 16SM delivers 9.609 TFLOPS of FP32 and FP16 performance, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation delivers 69.27 TFLOPS in both precisions, a 7.2x advantage.

The memory architecture tells a different story in terms of capacity versus bandwidth. The N1 16SM integrates 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, a very large pool for an integrated part, but only achieves 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth over a 256-bit bus. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation uses 48 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 384-bit bus and reaches 864.0 GB/s, a 3.2x bandwidth advantage despite having less than half the capacity. The clock speeds also differ: the N1 16SM runs at a 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation runs at 975 MHz base and 2460 MHz boost. Memory clocks show 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective) for the N1 16SM versus 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective) for the RTX 5880 Ada Generation.

The RTX 5880 Ada Generation's pixel rate reaches 433.0 GPixel/s and texture rate 1,082.4 GTexel/s. The N1 16SM manages 56.30 GPixel/s and 300.3 GTexel/s respectively. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation's die size of 609 mm² with 76,300 million transistors yields a density of 125.3M transistors per mm², while the N1 16SM's 382 mm² die has an unknown transistor count and density.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification field in the database. Process node and foundry are identical: both use 5 nm TSMC. Everything else diverges.

The N1 16SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and boost clock of 2346 MHz, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation runs at 975 MHz base and 2460 MHz boost. Memory type differs completely: LPDDR5X versus GDDR6. The N1 16SM carries 128 GB of memory; the RTX 5880 Ada Generation carries 48 GB. Bus width is 256 bit for the N1 16SM and 384 bit for the RTX 5880 Ada Generation. Memory bandwidth measures 273.2 GB/s versus 864.0 GB/s. Memory clock is 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective) versus 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective).

Shading units number 2,048 versus 14,080. TMUs are 128 versus 440. ROPs are 24 versus 176. Ray tracing cores are 16 versus 110. Tensor cores are 64 versus 440. Pixel rate is 56.30 GPixel/s versus 433.0 GPixel/s. Texture rate is 300.3 GTexel/s versus 1,082.4 GTexel/s. FP32 and FP16 performance is 9.609 TFLOPS versus 69.27 TFLOPS.

Power characteristics show the RTX 5880 Ada Generation as a 285 W part requiring a single 16-pin connector and a 600 W suggested PSU. The N1 16SM has no recorded TDP, uses no power connectors, and is an integrated part with an IGP slot width. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is a dual-slot card measuring 267 mm in length and 112 mm in height. Display outputs differ: the N1 16SM provides a single HDMI port, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation offers four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

API support is only recorded for the RTX 5880 Ada Generation: DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 16SM has no API entries. Bus interface differs, with PCIe 5.0 x16 on the N1 16SM and PCIe 4.0 x16 on the RTX 5880 Ada Generation. Release dates also differ: the N1 16SM launched with a 2026-05-31 date, while the RTX 5880 Ada Generation launched on 2024-01-04. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation lists its predecessor as Workstation Ampere and successor as Blackwell PRO W.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5880 Ada Generation wins in every category where measured data exists. Its 69.27 TFLOPS of FP32 compute is 7.2x higher than the N1 16SM's 9.609 TFLOPS. Texture rate of 1,082.4 GTexel/s versus 300.3 GTexel/s gives it a 3.6x advantage in texture-heavy workloads. Pixel rate of 433.0 GPixel/s versus 56.30 GPixel/s represents a 7.7x lead in fill-rate-bound scenarios. Bandwidth of 864.0 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s provides a 3.2x edge in memory-intensive tasks. The 110 ray tracing cores versus 16 and 440 tensor cores versus 64 indicate substantial advantages in ray-traced rendering and AI-accelerated workloads.

The N1 16SM holds advantages in specific areas. Its 128 GB memory capacity is 2.7x larger than the RTX 5880 Ada Generation's 48 GB, which matters for very large datasets that must fit entirely in VRAM. Its PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides a newer bus standard than the RTX 5880 Ada Generation's PCIe 4.0 x16. The N1 16SM is an integrated part requiring no power connectors, making it suitable for systems where discrete GPU power delivery is unavailable. It also has a smaller die at 382 mm² versus 609 mm², which typically indicates lower manufacturing cost per wafer, though no pricing data exists in the database.

The RTX 5880 Ada Generation's benchmark results confirm its workstation positioning. Its Geekbench OpenCL score of 326,898 and Passmark GPU compute score of 14,208 indicate strong general compute performance. The Passmark G3D score of 25,096 shows capable 3D graphics rendering. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation also provides four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs versus a single HDMI on the N1 16SM, supporting multi-display workstation configurations.

The Verdict

The data clearly separates these two GPUs into different use cases. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the only one with recorded benchmark performance, and its specifications align with a dedicated workstation accelerator. Its 69.27 TFLOPS FP32 throughput, 864.0 GB/s bandwidth, 110 ray tracing cores, and 440 tensor cores position it for compute-heavy rendering, simulation, and AI workloads. The 285 W power draw and dual-slot form factor confirm it is designed for desktop workstations with discrete power delivery.

The N1 16SM serves a fundamentally different role. As an integrated GPU with 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, it offers exceptional memory capacity for an IGP but with limited bandwidth at 273.2 GB/s. Its 9.609 TFLOPS of compute is modest by discrete standards, and its 24 ROPs and 16 ray tracing cores indicate a part optimized for basic graphics output rather than intensive rendering. The single HDMI output and lack of recorded API support further indicate a simpler display-oriented role.

For users requiring maximum compute throughput, the RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the clear choice based on the recorded data. Its benchmark scores, while landing close to mid-range competitors like the RTX A2000 and RX 5600M in average terms, demonstrate strong peak performance in OpenCL and compute tests. The N1 16SM, with no benchmark entries and a 50th percentile ranking, cannot be evaluated on measured performance. Its value lies in its integrated nature, large memory pool, and PCIe 5.0 interface, making it suitable for systems where a discrete GPU is not an option. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation remains the only one of the two with verified performance data, and that data points to a capable workstation GPU.