NVIDIA N1 20SM vs Lisuan Tech LX MAX Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core architectural differences between the NVIDIA N1 20SM and the Lisuan Tech LX MAX?

A: The NVIDIA N1 20SM uses a 5 nm TSMC process with a 382 mm² die under the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, while the Lisuan Tech LX MAX uses a 6 nm TSMC process under the TrueGPU architecture. The NVIDIA part is an IGP (integrated graphics processor) with PCIe 5.0 x16, whereas the LX MAX is a dual-slot discrete card with PCIe 4.0 x16.

Q: How do the memory subsystems compare between the two products?

A: The NVIDIA N1 20SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus delivering 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The Lisuan Tech LX MAX has 12 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 192-bit bus delivering 432.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is 158.8 GB/s higher than the NVIDIA part.

Q: Which product has higher raw compute throughput?

A: The Lisuan Tech LX MAX delivers 24.58 TFLOPS FP32 and 49.15 TFLOPS FP16 (2:1 ratio). The NVIDIA N1 20SM delivers 12.01 TFLOPS FP32 and 12.01 TFLOPS FP16 (1:1 ratio). The LX MAX leads in FP32 by 12.57 TFLOPS and in FP16 by 37.14 TFLOPS.

Q: What are the API support differences?

A: The Lisuan Tech LX MAX supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3. The NVIDIA N1 20SM has no listed API support for DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan, with all three fields marked as N/A.

Q: What are the display output capabilities of each product?

A: The NVIDIA N1 20SM provides a single HDMI output. The Lisuan Tech LX MAX provides four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, which is more suitable for multi-monitor configurations.

Q: What are the physical specifications of the Lisuan Tech LX MAX?

A: The LX MAX is 248 mm (9.8 inches) long, 118 mm (4.6 inches) high, and 48 mm (1.9 inches) wide. It is a dual-slot card with a 225 W TDP, uses one 16-pin power connector, and has a suggested PSU rating of 550 W.

Architecture Differences

The NVIDIA N1 20SM and Lisuan Tech LX MAX represent fundamentally different design approaches. The N1 20SM is built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture using the GB20B chip, fabricated on a 5 nm TSMC process with a die size of 382 mm². It belongs to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation, indicating it is designed as an integrated processor rather than a standalone expansion card. The LX MAX, by contrast, uses the 7G106 chip under the TrueGPU architecture from the 7G100 generation, manufactured on a 6 nm TSMC process. The LX MAX is a discrete dual-slot card with a 225 W TDP and one 16-pin power connector, whereas the N1 20SM has no power connectors and is integrated.

The compute resources differ substantially. The N1 20SM has 2560 shading units, 160 texture mapping units, and 24 ROPs. It also includes 20 ray tracing cores and 80 tensor cores. The LX MAX has 6144 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 96 ROPs, but the database records no ray tracing or tensor core counts for it. This gives the LX MAX 3584 more shading units, 32 more TMUs, and 72 more ROPs than the NVIDIA part.

Memory architecture also diverges. The N1 20SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit interface, which is a large capacity suited for holding substantial working sets. The LX MAX uses 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit interface, trading capacity for higher bandwidth. The memory clock for the N1 20SM is 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective, while the LX MAX memory runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective.

The bus interfaces differ as well: the N1 20SM uses PCIe 5.0 x16, while the LX MAX uses PCIe 4.0 x16. The NVIDIA part has only one HDMI output, while the LX MAX has four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs. API support is another major distinction, with the LX MAX exposing DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3, while the N1 20SM reports none of these APIs.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains no head-to-head benchmark entries, so the comparison relies on the specification-derived performance indicators. The most direct measure is FP32 throughput. The Lisuan Tech LX MAX delivers 24.58 TFLOPS, which is 12.57 TFLOPS higher than the NVIDIA N1 20SM's 12.01 TFLOPS. This means the LX MAX provides roughly double the single-precision compute capability, a significant margin for any workload that scales with raw shader throughput.

FP16 performance shows an even wider gap. The LX MAX achieves 49.15 TFLOPS with a 2:1 FP16 to FP32 ratio, while the N1 20SM achieves 12.01 TFLOPS with a 1:1 ratio. The difference is 37.14 TFLOPS. This indicates the LX MAX has dedicated or enhanced half-precision execution paths, whereas the NVIDIA part processes FP16 at the same rate as FP32.

Pixel throughput favors the LX MAX as well. The LX MAX records 192.0 GPixel/s against the N1 20SM's 56.30 GPixel/s, a difference of 135.7 GPixel/s. This is driven by the LX MAX's 96 ROPs versus 24 ROPs on the NVIDIA part. For fill-rate bound scenarios, the LX MAX has a clear advantage.

Texture rate is closer but still favors the LX MAX. The LX MAX delivers 384.0 GTexel/s, while the N1 20SM delivers 375.4 GTexel/s, a margin of 8.6 GTexel/s. This is a modest lead despite the LX MAX having 192 TMUs versus 160 TMUs, suggesting the NVIDIA part's texture units operate at a higher per-unit efficiency.

Memory bandwidth also favors the LX MAX. The LX MAX provides 432.0 GB/s, which is 158.8 GB/s higher than the N1 20SM's 273.2 GB/s. This bandwidth advantage compounds the compute lead, allowing the LX MAX to feed its larger shader array more effectively in bandwidth-sensitive workloads.

The NVIDIA N1 20SM counters with a substantial capacity advantage: 128 GB versus 12 GB, a difference of 116 GB. This makes the N1 20SM suitable for workloads that require large memory footprints, such as holding massive datasets or model weights, even though its throughput is lower.

Specification Differences

The two products differ across nearly every recorded specification field. The NVIDIA N1 20SM uses a 5 nm process, while the LX MAX uses a 6 nm process. The N1 20SM has a die size of 382 mm², while the LX MAX die size is unknown in the database. Both use TSMC as the foundry.

Clock behavior differs significantly. The N1 20SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz, while the LX MAX has no recorded base or boost clocks. The memory clock for the N1 20SM is 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective), while the LX MAX memory clock is 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective).

Memory configuration differs in size, type, bus width, and bandwidth. The N1 20SM has 128 GB LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s. The LX MAX has 12 GB GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus with 432.0 GB/s.

Compute resources differ: 2560 shading units, 160 TMUs, 24 ROPs, 20 RT cores, and 80 tensor cores for the N1 20SM versus 6144 shading units, 192 TMUs, and 96 ROPs for the LX MAX, with no recorded RT or tensor cores.

Output rates differ: the N1 20SM has 56.30 GPixel/s and 375.4 GTexel/s, while the LX MAX has 192.0 GPixel/s and 384.0 GTexel/s. FP32 is 12.01 TFLOPS for the N1 20SM and 24.58 TFLOPS for the LX MAX. FP16 is 12.01 TFLOPS (1:1) for the N1 20SM and 49.15 TFLOPS (2:1) for the LX MAX.

Power and physical specs differ: the N1 20SM has an unknown TDP, is an IGP with no power connectors and no suggested PSU, while the LX MAX has a 225 W TDP, is dual-slot, uses one 16-pin connector, and suggests a 550 W PSU. Dimensions are only recorded for the LX MAX: 248 mm length, 118 mm height, 48 mm width.

Interface and outputs differ: PCIe 5.0 x16 and one HDMI for the N1 20SM versus PCIe 4.0 x16 and four DisplayPort 1.4a for the LX MAX. API support is N/A for the N1 20SM but includes DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.3 for the LX MAX. Release dates also differ: the N1 20SM released on 2026-05-31, while the LX MAX released on 2026-03-16.

Where Each One Wins

The Lisuan Tech LX MAX wins decisively in compute throughput. Its FP32 result of 24.58 TFLOPS doubles the N1 20SM's 12.01 TFLOPS. Its FP16 result of 49.15 TFLOPS is more than four times the N1 20SM's 12.01 TFLOPS. The LX MAX also leads in pixel rate by 135.7 GPixel/s and in texture rate by 8.6 GTexel/s. Memory bandwidth favors the LX MAX by 158.8 GB/s, and its 96 ROPs versus 24 ROPs gives it a strong fill-rate advantage. For workloads that are compute-bound, bandwidth-bound, or fill-rate-bound, the LX MAX is the superior part.

The NVIDIA N1 20SM wins on memory capacity. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X is 116 GB more than the LX MAX's 12 GB. This capacity advantage is substantial for applications that need to keep large working sets local, such as large-scale data processing or model inference with massive parameter counts. The N1 20SM also benefits from its integrated form factor, requiring no power connectors and no separate PSU recommendation, which simplifies system integration. Its PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides a newer bus generation compared to the LX MAX's PCIe 4.0 x16.

The LX MAX offers far greater display flexibility with four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs versus a single HDMI on the N1 20SM. The LX MAX also exposes modern graphics APIs, while the N1 20SM records no DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan support, which limits its utility for conventional graphics applications.

The Verdict

The data indicates that the Lisuan Tech LX MAX is the stronger performer across nearly every measured throughput metric. It delivers 12.57 TFLOPS more FP32 performance, 37.14 TFLOPS more FP16 performance, 135.7 GPixel/s more pixel throughput, and 158.8 GB/s more memory bandwidth than the NVIDIA N1 20SM. The LX MAX also provides modern API support, four display outputs, and a discrete card form factor with a 225 W TDP and a 550 W suggested PSU.

The NVIDIA N1 20SM is the better choice when memory capacity is the primary constraint. Its 128 GB LPDDR5X configuration is unmatched by the LX MAX's 12 GB GDDR6, and its integrated design with no power connectors suits systems where discrete graphics is not desired. The N1 20SM's Blackwell 2.0 architecture and 5 nm process provide a modern foundation, and its PCIe 5.0 x16 interface is current.

For workloads that prioritize raw compute, bandwidth, or pixel fill rate, the LX MAX is the clear selection based on the recorded data. For workloads that require holding very large datasets in memory or integrating graphics without a discrete card, the N1 20SM has a unique advantage. Both products are active in production as of their respective release dates, and the database shows no benchmark scores or rival comparisons for either, so the specification analysis above is the available basis for differentiation.