NVIDIA N1X 40SM vs NVIDIA RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core specifications of the NVIDIA N1X 40SM and the NVIDIA RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip with Blackwell 2.0 architecture, built on a 5 nm process at TSMC with a 382 mm² die. It has 5120 shading units, 320 TMUs, 40 ROPs, 40 RT cores, and 160 tensor cores. The RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation uses the AD107 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture, also on a 5 nm process at TSMC, but with a 159 mm² die and 18,900 million transistors. It has 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 24 RT cores, and 96 tensor cores.

Q: How do the memory configurations differ between the two?

A: The N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation has 8 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 128-bit bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s bandwidth. The N1X 40SM's memory clock is 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective), while the RTX 2000 runs at 2000 MHz (16 Gbps effective).

Q: What are the clock speed differences?

A: The N1X 40SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz. The RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation has a base clock of 930 MHz and a boost clock of 1455 MHz. Despite the lower base clock, the N1X 40SM boosts significantly higher.

Q: What is the power consumption of each?

A: The RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation has a TDP of 35 W. The N1X 40SM's TDP is listed as unknown in the database. Neither unit requires external power connectors, and both are integrated-class (IGP) slot widths.

Q: Which API features does each support?

A: The RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X 40SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support in the database.

Q: What are the release dates and production statuses?

A: The N1X 40SM has a release date of 2026-05-31 and is listed as Active. The RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation has a release date of 2023-03-20, is also Active, and lists its predecessor as Ampere-MW and successor as Blackwell-MW.

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data splits the two GPUs into distinct usage profiles based on raw compute capacity, memory scale, and feature support.

The N1X 40SM wins decisively in raw throughput metrics. Its FP32 compute is 24.02 TFLOPS versus 8.940 TFLOPS for the RTX 2000 Max-Q, a difference of roughly 2.7x. FP16 performance mirrors this exactly at 24.02 TFLOPS versus 8.940 TFLOPS, both at a 1:1 ratio. Texture rate favors the N1X 40SM at 750.7 GTexel/s versus 139.7 GTexel/s, which is a greater than 5x advantage. Pixel rate also favors the N1X 40SM at 93.84 GPixel/s versus 69.84 GPixel/s. The N1X 40SM carries 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory versus 8 GB of GDDR6, giving it a 273.2 GB/s bandwidth versus 256.0 GB/s, and a 16x capacity lead. The N1X 40SM also has more than double the shading units (5120 vs 3072), more than triple the TMUs (320 vs 96), and more RT cores (40 vs 24) and tensor cores (160 vs 96).

The RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation wins in areas tied to software compatibility and efficiency. It has a lower TDP at 35 W, which is a significant advantage for thermally constrained environments. Its base clock is higher at 930 MHz versus 741 MHz, and its memory runs at a higher effective speed of 16 Gbps versus 8.5 Gbps. The RTX 2000 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1X 40SM lists N/A for all three. The RTX 2000 also uses PCIe 4.0 x16 versus PCIe 5.0 x16 on the N1X 40SM, though the newer interface on the N1X does not automatically translate to a win without supporting data. The RTX 2000 has a smaller die at 159 mm² versus 382 mm², which suggests lower manufacturing cost, though no pricing data is available.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different architectural generations. The N1X 40SM is built on Blackwell 2.0 with the GB20B chip, part of the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. The RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation uses Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD107 chip, part of the Ada-MW generation.

Both are manufactured by TSMC on a 5 nm process, so the fabrication node is identical. The die sizes diverge sharply: the N1X 40SM measures 382 mm², while the RTX 2000 Max-Q measures 159 mm². The RTX 2000 has a listed transistor count of 18,900 million and a transistor density of 118.9M per mm². The N1X 40SM has no transistor count listed, so no density comparison is possible.

The N1X 40SM has 40 RT cores and 160 tensor cores. The RTX 2000 Max-Q has 24 RT cores and 96 tensor cores. The N1X 40SM has 5120 shading units, 320 TMUs, and 40 ROPs. The RTX 2000 has 3072 shading units, 96 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. The N1X 40SM has more of everything except ROPs, where the RTX 2000 holds a 48 to 40 advantage.

Memory architecture differs in type and capacity. The N1X 40SM uses LPDDR5X with a 256-bit bus and 128 GB capacity. The RTX 2000 uses GDDR6 with a 128-bit bus and 8 GB capacity. Bandwidth is close at 273.2 GB/s versus 256.0 GB/s, but the memory type indicates different target platforms: LPDDR5X is typical of integrated or mobile-class designs, while GDDR6 is common for discrete mobile GPUs.

The N1X 40SM has a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, while the RTX 2000 Max-Q uses PCIe 4.0 x16. Display outputs also differ: the N1X 40SM has 1x HDMI, while the RTX 2000 is listed as Portable Device Dependent.

API support shows a major divergence. The RTX 2000 Max-Q supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X 40SM lists N/A for all three APIs, which suggests either a different driver model, a compute-focused role, or incomplete database entries. This is a critical differentiator for software compatibility.

Specification Differences

The following fields differ between the two units:

• Chip: GB20B (N1X 40SM) versus AD107 (RTX 2000 Max-Q)
• Architecture: Blackwell 2.0 versus Ada Lovelace
• Generation: Blackwell IGP (N1x) versus Ada-MW
• Die size: 382 mm² versus 159 mm²
• Transistors: unknown versus 18,900 million
• Transistor density: null versus 118.9M / mm²
• Base clock: 741 MHz versus 930 MHz
• Boost clock: 2346 MHz versus 1455 MHz
• Memory clock: 1067 MHz 8.5 Gbps effective versus 2000 MHz 16 Gbps effective
• Memory size: 128 GB versus 8 GB
• Memory type: LPDDR5X versus GDDR6
• Memory bus width: 256 bit versus 128 bit
• Bandwidth: 273.2 GB/s versus 256.0 GB/s
• Shading units: 5120 versus 3072
• TMUs: 320 versus 96
• ROPs: 40 versus 48
• RT cores: 40 versus 24
• Tensor cores: 160 versus 96
• Pixel rate: 93.84 GPixel/s versus 69.84 GPixel/s
• Texture rate: 750.7 GTexel/s versus 139.7 GTexel/s
• FP32: 24.02 TFLOPS versus 8.940 TFLOPS
• FP16: 24.02 TFLOPS versus 8.940 TFLOPS
• TDP: unknown versus 35 W
• Bus interface: PCIe 5.0 x16 versus PCIe 4.0 x16
• Display outputs: 1x HDMI versus Portable Device Dependent
• DirectX: N/A versus 12 Ultimate (12_2)
• OpenGL: N/A versus 4.6
• Vulkan: N/A versus 1.4
• Release date: 2026-05-31 versus 2023-03-20
• Predecessor: null versus Ampere-MW
• Successor: null versus Blackwell-MW
• Series: null versus GeForce 20-series

The two share the same manufacturer (NVIDIA), foundry (TSMC), process node (5 nm), slot width (IGP), power connector requirement (None), and production status (Active). Neither has a launch MSRP listed.

The Verdict

The data describes two GPUs with fundamentally different roles. The N1X 40SM is a high-compute, high-memory integrated part with massive raw throughput and a 128 GB memory pool. The RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation is a low-power mobile discrete GPU with a 35 W TDP, full API support, and a much smaller footprint.

Users who need maximum compute throughput, large memory capacity, and high bandwidth should choose the N1X 40SM. Its FP32 performance at 24.02 TFLOPS is nearly 2.7x the RTX 2000's 8.940 TFLOPS. Its texture rate of 750.7 GTexel/s is more than 5x the RTX 2000's 139.7 GTexel/s. The 128 GB LPDDR5X memory is a 16x capacity advantage over the 8 GB GDDR6 on the RTX 2000, with slightly higher bandwidth as well.

Users who require software compatibility, established API support, and low power consumption should choose the RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1X 40SM has no API support listed. Its 35 W TDP makes it suitable for power-constrained mobile deployments. Its higher base clock of 930 MHz and faster effective memory at 16 Gbps also matter for workloads that favor stable, lower-boost operation.

The N1X 40SM is the newer part, dated 2026-05-31 versus 2023-03-20 for the RTX 2000. Both are Active in production. The N1X 40SM belongs to the Blackwell IGP generation, while the RTX 2000 belongs to the Ada-MW generation with a known successor in Blackwell-MW. The data does not include direct head-to-head benchmark scores, wins, or rival comparisons, so the verdict rests on the recorded specification differences.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

No head-to-head benchmark entries are recorded in the database for these two GPUs. The wins and losses cannot be derived from benchmark scores because none exist. The specification data, however, provides a clear statistical picture.

The largest win for the N1X 40SM is in texture rate: 750.7 GTexel/s versus 139.7 GTexel/s. This is a 5.37x advantage, driven by 320 TMUs versus 96 TMUs and a higher boost clock of 2346 MHz versus 1455 MHz. FP32 compute shows a 24.02 TFLOPS versus 8.940 TFLOPS result, a 2.69x lead. FP16 matches this exactly at 24.02 TFLOPS versus 8.940 TFLOPS. Shading units stand at 5120 versus 3072, a 1.67x lead. Tensor cores are 160 versus 96, a 1.67x lead. RT cores are 40 versus 24, also a 1.67x lead. Memory capacity is 128 GB versus 8 GB, a 16x lead. Bandwidth is 273.2 GB/s versus 256.0 GB/s, a 6.7% lead. Pixel rate is 93.84 GPixel/s versus 69.84 GPixel/s, a 34.4% lead.

The RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation holds wins in several metrics. TDP is 35 W versus unknown, which cannot be compared directly but gives the RTX 2000 a clear efficiency advantage if the N1X 40SM's consumption is higher. Base clock is 930 MHz versus 741 MHz, a 25.5% lead. Effective memory speed is 16 Gbps versus 8.5 Gbps, an 88.2% lead. ROP count is 48 versus 40, a 20% lead. The RTX 2000 also has full API support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1X 40SM has N/A for all three, which is a qualitative win for compatibility.

The N1X 40SM leads in boost clock, memory bus width (256 bit versus 128 bit), PCIe generation (5.0 versus 4.0), and has a 382 mm² die versus 159 mm². The RTX 2000 leads in transistor count with 18,900 million listed, while the N1X 40SM has none listed. The RTX 2000 also has a known predecessor (Ampere-MW) and successor (Blackwell-MW), while the N1X 40SM has neither listed.

The data indicates that for compute-heavy tasks, the N1X 40SM is the stronger part by a wide margin. For power-sensitive, API-dependent workloads, the RTX 2000 Max-Q Ada Generation is the more practical option. The absence of benchmark scores means these conclusions derive entirely from the recorded specification fields.