NVIDIA N1 20SM vs NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no recorded head-to-head benchmark results for the NVIDIA N1 20SM versus the NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation. Both entries show an average benchmark score of zero and an empty benchmark array. Consequently, there are no direct performance comparisons, no wins for either part, and no delta percentages to report. The percentile rank for both products against all GPUs is 50, indicating that neither part has sufficient measured data to place it above or below the median in the overall distribution. Without recorded scores, any numerical comparison between these two accelerators must rely entirely on their specification-level differences rather than measured application performance.

The absence of benchmark data is not unusual for embedded and integrated parts, as their validation cycles often prioritize power envelopes, driver certification, and thermal behavior over standardized rendering workloads. The N1 20SM, as an IGP with a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, and the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation, also an IGP form factor, both target systems where the GPU is soldered or permanently mounted. Their performance profiles are defined by the host platform, memory subsystem, and cooling solution, all of which vary significantly between deployments. As such, the database currently cannot substantiate a claim that either part is faster in any specific workload.

The Verdict

From the recorded data alone, no verdict can be issued on which product delivers higher frame rates, faster compute throughput, or better efficiency. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation carries a substantially higher FP32 rating of 23.04 TFLOPS versus 12.01 TFLOPS for the N1 20SM, a 91.8% advantage in raw single-precision arithmetic. Its pixel rate of 144.0 GPixel/s is 2.56 times the N1 20SM's 56.30 GPixel/s, and its memory bandwidth of 432.0 GB/s exceeds the N1 20SM's 273.2 GB/s by 58.1%. The Ada part also doubles the shading units (5120 versus 2560), RT cores (40 versus 20), and tensor cores (160 versus 80). These specification gaps suggest the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation is positioned for substantially heavier graphics and compute workloads.

However, the N1 20SM counters with a 128 GB memory capacity, more than ten times the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation's 12 GB. Its LPDDR5X memory operates at 8.5 Gbps effective, and its texture rate of 375.4 GTexel/s actually exceeds the Ada part's 360.0 GTexel/s despite the latter having identical TMU counts (160 each). The N1 20SM uses a 256-bit memory bus versus 192 bits, and its PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides double the bandwidth of the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation's PCIe 4.0 x16. For workloads that fit within 12 GB, the Ada part's higher throughput and API support make it the more capable compute device. For workloads requiring very large memory footprints, the N1 20SM's 128 GB pool is a decisive advantage that no benchmark score in the database contradicts.

The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1 20SM lists N/A for all three APIs. This means the Ada part is usable for general graphics, ray tracing, and modern game development, whereas the N1 20SM's API support is not documented in the database. The N1 20SM has one HDMI output, while the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has no display outputs, indicating the former can drive a display directly while the latter requires a separate GPU or headless operation.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different NVIDIA architectures. The N1 20SM uses the GB20B chip, built on Blackwell 2.0 architecture, in the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation uses the AD104 chip, built on Ada Lovelace architecture, in the Ada-MW generation. Both are fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, but their transistor counts and die sizes diverge. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation packs 35,800 million transistors on a 294 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 121.8M per mm². The N1 20SM's transistor count is listed as unknown, though its die size is larger at 382 mm².

The N1 20SM's Blackwell 2.0 architecture is newer, with a release date of 2026-05-31, while the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation launched on 2023-03-20. The Ada part lists its predecessor as Ampere-MW and its successor as Blackwell-MW, placing it in a direct product lineage. The N1 20SM has no predecessor or successor listed.

Core composition differs substantially. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation contains 5120 shading units, 40 RT cores, and 160 tensor cores. The N1 20SM contains 2560 shading units, 20 RT cores, and 80 tensor cores, exactly half of each. Both have 160 texture mapping units, but the ROP count differs: 24 for the N1 20SM versus 64 for the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation. This ROP disparity explains the large pixel rate gap (56.30 GPixel/s versus 144.0 GPixel/s).

Clock behavior also differs. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation runs at a base clock of 1725 MHz and a boost clock of 2250 MHz. The N1 20SM runs at a much lower base clock of 741 MHz but boosts to 2346 MHz, slightly higher than the Ada part's boost. The memory clocks reflect different memory types: the N1 20SM's LPDDR5X runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective, while the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation's GDDR6 runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective.

Specification Differences

The most consequential specification differences are in memory capacity, memory type, and API support. The N1 20SM offers 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation offers 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus, delivering 432.0 GB/s. The N1 20SM has 10.67 times the memory capacity but only 63.2% of the bandwidth. The bus width difference (256 bits versus 192 bits) partially compensates for the N1 20SM's lower memory clock.

FP32 and FP16 throughput are identical within each part, with the N1 20SM at 12.01 TFLOPS and the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation at 23.04 TFLOPS. The Ada part is 91.8% higher in both. Pixel rate is 56.30 GPixel/s for the N1 20SM versus 144.0 GPixel/s for the Ada part. Texture rate is 375.4 GTexel/s versus 360.0 GTexel/s, a narrow 4.3% advantage for the N1 20SM despite the Ada part's higher clock, because both have 160 TMUs and the N1 20SM's boost clock of 2346 MHz exceeds the Ada part's 2250 MHz.

The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has a TDP of 100 W and a suggested PSU of 300 W. The N1 20SM's TDP is unknown, and no suggested PSU is listed. Both are IGP slot width with no power connectors, and neither has recorded dimensions. The bus interface differs: PCIe 5.0 x16 for the N1 20SM versus PCIe 4.0 x16 for the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation. Display outputs differ: 1x HDMI for the N1 20SM, no outputs for the Ada part. The Ada part supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4; the N1 20SM lists N/A for all three.

The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation's series is listed as GeForce 30-series, which is an odd categorization given its Ada Lovelace architecture, but the database records it as such. The N1 20SM has no series designation. Both are manufactured by NVIDIA, use TSMC's 5 nm process, and are currently marked as Active production.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more memory?

A: The NVIDIA N1 20SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X, while the NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has 12 GB of GDDR6. The N1 20SM's capacity is 10.67 times larger.

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute?

A: The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation delivers 23.04 TFLOPS FP32, which is 91.8% higher than the N1 20SM's 12.01 TFLOPS.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same graphics APIs?

A: No. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1 20SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has 432.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is 58.1% higher than the N1 20SM's 273.2 GB/s.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units and ray tracing cores?

A: The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has 5120 shading units and 40 RT cores. The N1 20SM has 2560 shading units and 20 RT cores, exactly half of each.

Q: What are the bus interface differences?

A: The N1 20SM uses PCIe 5.0 x16, while the RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation uses PCIe 4.0 x16. The N1 20SM's interface provides double the per-lane bandwidth of the older standard.

Q: Which GPU has display outputs?

A: The N1 20SM has one HDMI output. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has no display outputs.

Q: What are the TDP values?

A: The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has a TDP of 100 W and a suggested PSU of 300 W. The N1 20SM's TDP is listed as unknown.

Q: When did each product launch?

A: The N1 20SM has a release date of 2026-05-31. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has a release date of 2023-03-20.

Q: Which GPU has a larger die?

A: The N1 20SM has a die size of 382 mm². The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation has a die size of 294 mm². The Ada part has 35,800 million transistors, while the N1 20SM's transistor count is unknown.