NVIDIA N1 16SM vs NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data positions the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell as the clearly dominant compute and graphics part. It holds a 72nd percentile rank among all GPUs in the database, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM sits at the 50th percentile with an average benchmark score of zero, meaning no benchmark results are recorded for it. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell delivers 36.83 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is 3.8 times the 9.609 TFLOPS of the N1 16SM. In every measurable category, the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell shows higher specifications: more shading units, more texture mapping units, more raster operation units, more ray tracing cores, and more tensor cores. The N1 16SM is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with no standalone power connectors and no TDP listed, while the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell is a single-slot add-in card with a 140 W TDP and a single 16-pin power connector. The data indicates that the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell is the appropriate choice for any workload involving DirectX 12, OpenGL, or Vulkan, as the N1 16SM lists all three APIs as N/A. The N1 16SM, with its 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, may serve a niche role where massive memory capacity matters more than raw throughput, but the absence of recorded benchmark scores limits any quantitative support for that use case.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more shading units?

A: The NVIDIA RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell has 8960 shading units, while the NVIDIA N1 16SM has 2048 shading units. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell provides 4.4 times the shading unit count.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell delivers 672.0 GB/s of bandwidth using 24 GB of GDDR7 on a 192-bit bus. The N1 16SM provides 273.2 GB/s using 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell offers 2.5 times the bandwidth, despite having a narrower memory bus.

Q: What API support does each GPU list?

A: The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell lists DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 16SM lists DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan all as N/A, indicating no API support is recorded in the database.

Q: Which GPU has a higher boost clock?

A: The N1 16SM has a boost clock of 2346 MHz, which is higher than the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell's boost clock of 2055 MHz. However, the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell has a higher base clock of 1230 MHz compared to 741 MHz for the N1 16SM.

Q: What is the transistor count difference?

A: The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell lists 45,600 million transistors on a 378 mm² die, giving a transistor density of 120.6M per mm². The N1 16SM has an unknown transistor count but a die size of 382 mm².

Q: Does the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell have recorded benchmark scores?

A: Yes, the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell has nine recorded benchmark scores across tests like 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 (4648), Geekbench Vulkan (194168), and Passmark G3D (28427). Its average benchmark score is 27135. The N1 16SM has no recorded benchmark scores, with an average of zero.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs use the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and are fabricated on TSMC's 5 nm process node. The chips differ substantially: the N1 16SM uses the GB20B chip, while the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell uses the GB203 chip. The N1 16SM belongs to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation, indicating an integrated graphics design. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell belongs to the Blackwell PRO W (x000) generation, a workstation-oriented product line.

The N1 16SM features 2048 shading units, 128 texture mapping units, and 24 raster operation units. It includes 16 ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell has 8960 shading units, 280 texture mapping units, and 96 raster operation units, along with 70 ray tracing cores and 280 tensor cores. The N1 16SM has a smaller proportion of raster operation units relative to its shading units, which suggests it may be optimized for compute density rather than traditional rasterization throughput.

The N1 16SM integrates 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus, a configuration that prioritizes capacity. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell uses 24 GB of GDDR7 on a 192-bit bus, prioritizing bandwidth. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell lists full API support for DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 16SM lists no API support in the database, which may reflect its role as an IGP with a different software stack.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every recorded specification. The N1 16SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz, while the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell has a base clock of 1230 MHz and a boost clock of 2055 MHz. Memory clocks differ as well: the N1 16SM runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective, while the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell runs at 1750 MHz with 28 Gbps effective.

The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell lists a TDP of 140 W, a single-slot width, and one 16-pin power connector, with a suggested PSU of 300 W. The N1 16SM has an unknown TDP, is classed as an IGP, and uses no power connectors. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell offers four DisplayPort 2.1b outputs, while the N1 16SM has a single HDMI output.

The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell has physical dimensions of 241 mm length, 111 mm height, and 20 mm width. The N1 16SM has no recorded dimensions, consistent with an integrated design. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell lists a predecessor of "Workstation Ada," while the N1 16SM has no predecessor recorded. The release dates also differ: the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell released in March 2025, while the N1 16SM is dated May 2026.

Pixel and texture rates show the performance gap: the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell achieves 197.3 GPixel/s and 575.4 GTexel/s, while the N1 16SM achieves 56.30 GPixel/s and 300.3 GTexel/s. FP16 performance follows the same pattern, with the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell at 36.83 TFLOPS (1:1) versus 9.609 TFLOPS (1:1) for the N1 16SM.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The head-to-head benchmark list in the database is empty, recording zero wins for each GPU. The N1 16SM has no benchmark entries at all, so no direct comparative scores exist. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell does have standalone benchmark results that quantify its performance level. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 4648. In Geekbench Vulkan, it scores 194168. Passmark results include G3D at 28427, GPU Compute at 14805, G2D at 1265, DirectX 9 at 354, DirectX 11 at 276, DirectX 10 at 173, and DirectX 12 at 97.

The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell's average benchmark score of 27135 places it near several known rivals. The AMD Radeon RX 6700 XT averages 27425, which is 1.1% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4070 Mobile averages 27435, also 1.1% higher. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 3090 averages 27565, which is 1.6% higher. The NVIDIA RTX A4000 averages 26683, which is 1.7% lower. These deltas show the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell sits within a narrow band of comparable GPUs, slightly behind three of them and slightly ahead of the RTX A4000.

The N1 16SM has no comparable benchmark data, so its relative standing comes only from its 50th percentile rank, which is the median position in the database. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell's 72nd percentile places it well above the median. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell also records a passmark G3D score of 28427, which is a strong general-purpose 3D result, while the N1 16SM has no such score.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell wins in every category where quantitative data exists. Its FP32 throughput of 36.83 TFLOPS is 3.8 times that of the N1 16SM. Its texture rate of 575.4 GTexel/s is 1.9 times the N1 16SM's 300.3 GTexel/s. Its pixel rate of 197.3 GPixel/s is 3.5 times the N1 16SM's 56.30 GPixel/s. Memory bandwidth is 672.0 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s, a 2.5 times advantage for the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell.

The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell also wins on software compatibility. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it usable across modern graphics APIs. The N1 16SM lists all APIs as N/A, meaning the database records no compatibility for standard graphics interfaces. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell has a 72nd percentile rank and nine benchmark scores; the N1 16SM has a 50th percentile rank and zero benchmark scores.

The N1 16SM has one clear specification advantage: memory capacity. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X is more than five times the 24 GB of GDDR7 on the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell. The N1 16SM also has a wider memory bus at 256 bits versus 192 bits, though the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell still achieves higher bandwidth. The N1 16SM's boost clock of 2346 MHz exceeds the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell's 2055 MHz, but the lower base clock and far fewer shading units offset that advantage.

The N1 16SM's integrated nature means it uses no power connectors and lists no TDP, which may suit systems where discrete power delivery is unavailable. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell requires a 140 W TDP and a 16-pin connector, with a suggested PSU of 300 W. The N1 16SM's release date of May 2026 is later than the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell's March 2025 date, but the N1 16SM has no recorded predecessor, while the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell follows the Workstation Ada line.

The data indicates the RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell is the stronger choice for any measured workload. The N1 16SM offers memory capacity and an integrated form factor, but without benchmark scores or API support, the database cannot substantiate any performance-based win for it. The RTX PRO 4000 Blackwell's nearest rival deltas, all within 1.7% either way, show it competes directly with established mid-to-high range GPUs, whereas the N1 16SM's 50th percentile places it at the median with no supporting scores.