NVIDIA N1 20SM vs NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell Comparison

NVIDIA N1 20SM is an integrated graphics processor built on the GB20B chip, while NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell is a discrete workstation card based on the GB203 chip. Both share the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and TSMC 5 nm process node, but the data shows they serve entirely different segments of the GPU market. The N1 20SM carries 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, a configuration aimed at unified memory workloads, whereas the RTX PRO 4500 uses 32 GB of GDDR7 for traditional graphics and compute tasks. The recorded benchmark data only includes scores for the RTX PRO 4500, so the comparison relies on architectural specifications and the available performance metrics for the discrete card.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell dominates every category where performance data exists, commanding a 76th percentile ranking among all GPUs in the database. Its average benchmark score of 31532 places it far ahead of the N1 20SM, which holds a 50th percentile position with an average score of 0, indicating no recorded benchmark results. The discrete card wins on raw compute throughput, memory bandwidth, pixel fill rate, and API feature support, making it the clear choice for rendering, simulation, and high-performance workstation tasks.

The N1 20SM, by contrast, wins on memory capacity and integration. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X exceeds the RTX PRO 4500's 32 GB by a factor of four, a decisive advantage for large datasets that must reside in GPU-accessible memory. The N1 20SM also uses no external power connectors and fits an IGP slot width, meaning it requires no dedicated power delivery or expansion slot beyond the PCIe interface. The RTX PRO 4500 demands a 200 W TDP, a dual-slot cooler, and a 1x 16-pin power connector, plus a suggested 550 W power supply, so the N1 20SM wins in deployment simplicity and system-level power efficiency.

For API compatibility, the RTX PRO 4500 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 makes the discrete card the only viable option for applications relying on standard graphics frameworks. The N1 20SM appears geared toward integrated use cases where memory size matters more than raw throughput, such as large language model inference or data processing within a unified memory architecture.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs use the same Blackwell 2.0 architecture and TSMC 5 nm process, but their chip designs diverge significantly. The N1 20SM uses the GB20B chip with a die size of 382 mm², while the RTX PRO 4500 uses the GB203 chip with a die size of 378 mm², a difference of only 4 mm². The RTX PRO 4500 packs 45,600 million transistors into that area for a transistor density of 120.6M per mm², whereas the N1 20SM's transistor count is listed as unknown in the database.

The shading unit counts show a massive disparity. The N1 20SM has 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, 24 raster output units, 20 ray tracing cores, and 80 tensor cores. The RTX PRO 4500 features 10496 shading units, 328 TMUs, 112 ROPs, 82 RT cores, and 328 tensor cores. In every category, the RTX PRO 4500 has at least four times the resources of the N1 20SM, except for ROPs where the ratio is closer to 4.7 times.

Clock speeds reveal a different balance. The N1 20SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz, while the RTX PRO 4500 operates at 1635 MHz base and 2407 MHz boost. The RTX PRO 4500 starts at more than double the base frequency, though the boost clocks land within 61 MHz of each other. Memory configurations differ completely: the N1 20SM uses LPDDR5X at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective, while the RTX PRO 4500 uses GDDR7 at 1750 MHz with 28 Gbps effective. Both share a 256 bit memory bus, but the resulting bandwidth is 273.2 GB/s for the N1 20SM versus 896.0 GB/s for the RTX PRO 4500, a 3.28 times advantage for the discrete card.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no head-to-head benchmark entries between these two GPUs, and the N1 20SM has no individual benchmark scores recorded. The RTX PRO 4500, however, has nine recorded benchmark results that establish its performance envelope. In 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12, it scores 7025. Geekbench Vulkan shows a score of 221768. Passmark results span multiple DirectX versions: DirectX 9 scores 397, DirectX 10 scores 204, DirectX 11 scores 320, DirectX 12 scores 119. The G2D score is 1336, the G3D score is 33360, and the GPU compute score is 19255.

Relative to its nearest rivals, the RTX PRO 4500 sits within 1.1 percent of four competing cards. The NVIDIA TITAN RTX averages 31676, which is 0.5 percent above the RTX PRO 4500's average of 31532, so the TITAN RTX leads by a margin of 144 points. The NVIDIA GRID M60-1Q averages 31220, 1 percent below the RTX PRO 4500. The NVIDIA Quadro M5000 also averages 31220, also 1 percent lower. The Intel Arc Pro A30M averages 31894, which is 1.1 percent higher than the RTX PRO 4500, making it the closest competitor in the database.

These delta values indicate the RTX PRO 4500 performs within a tight band around these rivals, neither dominating nor being dominated by any single card. The GRID M60-1Q and Quadro M5000 both trail by 1 percent, while the TITAN RTX and Arc Pro A30M lead by 0.5 and 1.1 percent respectively. The N1 20SM has no comparable benchmark data, so its performance relative to these cards cannot be quantified from the database.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more memory?

A: The NVIDIA N1 20SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, which is four times the 32 GB of GDDR7 found on the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell.

Q: What are the FP32 performance figures for each card?

A: The N1 20SM delivers 12.01 TFLOPS of FP32 compute, while the RTX PRO 4500 delivers 50.53 TFLOPS, making the discrete card approximately 4.2 times faster in single-precision throughput.

Q: How does memory bandwidth compare between the two?

A: The RTX PRO 4500 has 896.0 GB/s of bandwidth versus 273.2 GB/s for the N1 20SM, a 3.28 times advantage for the discrete card despite both using a 256 bit bus.

Q: Does the N1 20SM support DirectX?

A: The database lists DirectX support as N/A for the N1 20SM, while the RTX PRO 4500 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), along with OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What is the release date for each GPU?

A: The N1 20SM released on 2026-05-31, while the RTX PRO 4500 released earlier on 2025-03-17.

Q: What are the power requirements for the RTX PRO 4500?

A: The RTX PRO 4500 has a TDP of 200 W, uses a 1x 16-pin power connector, and requires a suggested power supply of 550 W.

The Verdict

The recorded data points to a clear split in intended use cases. The RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell is the performance leader in every measurable category: 50.53 TFLOPS FP32, 896.0 GB/s memory bandwidth, 269.6 GPixel/s pixel rate, and 789.5 GTexel/s texture rate. Its 76th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 31532 confirm it as a capable workstation part that competes within 1.1 percent of cards like the TITAN RTX and Arc Pro A30M. Users running graphics-heavy applications, simulation workloads, or compute tasks that require standard API support should select this card.

The N1 20SM wins on memory capacity with 128 GB, a figure that dwarfs the RTX PRO 4500's 32 GB. Its 50th percentile ranking and absence of benchmark scores suggest it targets a different workload profile, one where holding large datasets in GPU memory matters more than raw throughput. The lack of DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support in the database indicates it may operate through proprietary or specialized interfaces, making it unsuitable for conventional graphics applications.

The choice depends on whether the workload prioritizes compute throughput or memory size. The RTX PRO 4500 delivers four times the shading units, four times the tensor cores, and 3.28 times the memory bandwidth of the N1 20SM. The N1 20SM delivers four times the memory capacity with no external power requirement. Neither card can substitute for the other in their respective domains.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every specification field. The N1 20SM uses the GB20B chip, while the RTX PRO 4500 uses the GB203 chip. The N1 20SM belongs to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation, whereas the RTX PRO 4500 belongs to the Blackwell PRO W (x000) generation.

Process node and foundry are identical: both use 5 nm from TSMC. Die sizes are close, 382 mm² for the N1 20SM and 378 mm² for the RTX PRO 4500, but transistor counts differ, with the RTX PRO 4500 carrying 45,600 million transistors and the N1 20SM's count unknown.

Clock speeds show the N1 20SM at 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost, versus 1635 MHz base and 2407 MHz boost for the RTX PRO 4500. Memory types differ entirely: LPDDR5X at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective for the N1 20SM, GDDR7 at 1750 MHz with 28 Gbps effective for the RTX PRO 4500. Both use a 256 bit bus, but bandwidth is 273.2 GB/s versus 896.0 GB/s.

Compute resources scale dramatically: 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, 24 ROPs, 20 RT cores, and 80 tensor cores for the N1 20SM, versus 10496 shading units, 328 TMUs, 112 ROPs, 82 RT cores, and 328 tensor cores for the RTX PRO 4500. Pixel rate is 56.30 GPixel/s versus 269.6 GPixel/s, texture rate is 375.4 GTexel/s versus 789.5 GTexel/s, and FP32 is 12.01 TFLOPS versus 50.53 TFLOPS. FP16 matches FP32 at a 1:1 ratio on both cards.

Power and physical specs differ completely. The N1 20SM has unknown TDP, IGP slot width, and no power connectors, while the RTX PRO 4500 has 200 W TDP, dual-slot width, and a 1x 16-pin connector with a suggested 550 W PSU. The N1 20SM has a single HDMI output, while the RTX PRO 4500 has 4x DisplayPort 2.1b and measures 267 mm by 111 mm by 40 mm.

API support separates the cards sharply: the N1 20SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan, while the RTX PRO 4500 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Release dates also differ, with the N1 20SM launching on 2026-05-31 and the RTX PRO 4500 on 2025-03-17. The RTX PRO 4500 lists Workstation Ada as its predecessor, while the N1 20SM has no predecessor recorded. Both cards share PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interfaces and active production status.