NVIDIA N1X 40SM vs NVIDIA RTX 3000 Mobile Ada Generation Comparison

FAQ

Q: What is the core difference in GPU architecture between the NVIDIA N1X 40SM and the NVIDIA RTX 3000 Mobile Ada Generation?

A: The N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip with Blackwell 2.0 architecture, while the RTX 3000 Mobile uses the AD106 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture. Both are built on a 5 nm process at TSMC.

Q: How do the memory configurations compare?

A: The N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The RTX 3000 Mobile has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 256.0 GB/s bandwidth.

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute throughput?

A: The N1X 40SM delivers 24.02 TFLOPS FP32, which is 53.8% higher than the RTX 3000 Mobile's 15.62 TFLOPS.

Q: What is the difference in boost clock speeds?

A: The N1X 40SM boosts to 2346 MHz, while the RTX 3000 Mobile boosts to 1695 MHz. The N1X 40SM has a lower base clock at 741 MHz versus 1395 MHz.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units and tensor cores?

A: The N1X 40SM has 5120 shading units and 160 tensor cores. The RTX 3000 Mobile has 4608 shading units and 144 tensor cores.

Q: What are the API support differences?

A: The RTX 3000 Mobile supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X 40SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan in the database.

The Verdict

The data indicates two distinctly positioned mobile-class GPUs. The NVIDIA N1X 40SM is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a massive 128 GB memory pool, a 256-bit bus, and significantly higher compute and texture throughput. The NVIDIA RTX 3000 Mobile Ada Generation is a discrete mobile GPU with 8 GB GDDR6, a 128-bit bus, and full API support for modern graphics workloads.

Benchmark results are not recorded for either GPU, so direct performance scores are unavailable. However, the specification data shows the N1X 40SM holds decisive advantages in raw compute, memory capacity, and bandwidth. The RTX 3000 Mobile counters with higher base clocks, a larger ROP count, and complete DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 support.

For workloads that depend on massive memory capacity and raw FP32 throughput, the N1X 40SM is the stronger choice based on the available data. For applications requiring modern graphics API features and higher base operating frequencies, the RTX 3000 Mobile has the edge. The N1X 40SM also uses PCIe 5.0 x16, while the RTX 3000 Mobile uses PCIe 4.0 x16, which may matter for data transfer in supported systems.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

No head-to-head benchmark scores exist in the database for these two GPUs. Both have zero recorded benchmark results, and the wins counter shows 0 for each. Consequently, all comparisons below derive from the specification fields.

The largest specification advantage for the N1X 40SM is memory capacity. It holds 128 GB versus 8 GB, a 16x difference. This is not a small margin; it represents a fundamentally different class of memory allocation capability. Bandwidth also favors the N1X 40SM at 273.2 GB/s versus 256.0 GB/s, a 6.7% advantage despite the RTX 3000 Mobile using faster GDDR6 memory at 16 Gbps effective.

Compute throughput shows a clear separation. The N1X 40SM delivers 24.02 TFLOPS FP32, which is 53.8% higher than the RTX 3000 Mobile's 15.62 TFLOPS. FP16 performance follows the same 1:1 ratio for both, with the N1X 40SM at 24.02 TFLOPS and the RTX 3000 Mobile at 15.62 TFLOPS.

Texture rate heavily favors the N1X 40SM. It achieves 750.7 GTexel/s versus 244.1 GTexel/s for the RTX 3000 Mobile, a 207.5% advantage. This stems from the N1X 40SM having 320 TMUs compared to 144 TMUs. Pixel rate also favors the N1X 40SM at 93.84 GPixel/s versus 81.36 GPixel/s, a 15.3% lead, though the RTX 3000 Mobile has more ROPs at 48 versus 40.

Clock behavior differs significantly. The RTX 3000 Mobile has a base clock of 1395 MHz, which is 88.3% higher than the N1X 40SM's 741 MHz. The boost clock tells the opposite story: the N1X 40SM boosts to 2346 MHz, which is 38.4% higher than the RTX 3000 Mobile's 1695 MHz. This suggests the N1X 40SM relies on aggressive boosting under load, while the RTX 3000 Mobile maintains a higher sustained baseline frequency.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every measurable specification field.

• Chip and architecture: GB20B with Blackwell 2.0 versus AD106 with Ada Lovelace.
• Transistor count: Unknown for the N1X 40SM versus 22,900 million for the RTX 3000 Mobile.
• Die size: 382 mm² for the N1X 40SM versus 188 mm² for the RTX 3000 Mobile.
• Transistor density: Not listed for the N1X 40SM; 121.8M / mm² for the RTX 3000 Mobile.
• Base clock: 741 MHz versus 1395 MHz.
• Boost clock: 2346 MHz versus 1695 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.
• Memory bandwidth: 273.2 GB/s versus 256.0 GB/s.
• Shading units: 5120 versus 4608.
• Texture mapping units: 320 versus 144.
• Render output units: 40 versus 48.
• Ray tracing cores: 40 versus 36.
• Tensor cores: 160 versus 144.
• Pixel rate: 93.84 GPixel/s versus 81.36 GPixel/s.
• Texture rate: 750.7 GTexel/s versus 244.1 GTexel/s.
• FP32 performance: 24.02 TFLOPS versus 15.62 TFLOPS.
• FP16 performance: 24.02 TFLOPS versus 15.62 TFLOPS.
• TDP: Unknown for the N1X 40SM; 115 W for the RTX 3000 Mobile.
• Bus interface: PCIe 5.0 x16 versus PCIe 4.0 x16.
• Display outputs: 1x HDMI versus Portable Device Dependent.
• API support: N/A versus DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.4.
• Release date: 2026-05-31 versus 2023-03-20.
• Predecessor: None versus Ampere-MW.
• Successor: None versus Blackwell-MW.

Both GPUs share the same manufacturer, process node (5 nm), foundry (TSMC), slot width (IGP), and power connector configuration (None). Neither has a recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip with Blackwell 2.0 architecture, representing NVIDIA's Blackwell IGP generation. Its die measures 382 mm², which is 103.2% larger than the RTX 3000 Mobile's 188 mm² AD106 die. The transistor count for the N1X 40SM is not recorded, while the RTX 3000 Mobile integrates 22,900 million transistors at a density of 121.8M per mm².

The N1X 40SM carries 5120 shading units, 320 TMUs, 40 ROPs, 40 ray tracing cores, and 160 tensor cores. The RTX 3000 Mobile carries 4608 shading units, 144 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 36 ray tracing cores, and 144 tensor cores. The N1X 40SM has 11.1% more shading units, 122.2% more TMUs, 11.1% more ray tracing cores, and 11.1% more tensor cores. The RTX 3000 Mobile has 20% more ROPs.

Memory architecture differs substantially. The N1X 40SM uses LPDDR5X at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective data rate on a 256-bit bus. The RTX 3000 Mobile uses GDDR6 at 2000 MHz with 16 Gbps effective data rate on a 128-bit bus. The N1X 40SM's wider bus yields 273.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the RTX 3000 Mobile's faster memory yields 256.0 GB/s.

The N1X 40SM lacks recorded API support for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan. The RTX 3000 Mobile supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. This is a critical architectural distinction for software compatibility.

The N1X 40SM connects via PCIe 5.0 x16, while the RTX 3000 Mobile uses PCIe 4.0 x16. The N1X 40SM outputs to a single HDMI port, whereas the RTX 3000 Mobile's display output depends on the portable device.

Where Each One Wins

The N1X 40SM wins in raw compute throughput. Its 24.02 TFLOPS FP32 represents a 53.8% lead over the RTX 3000 Mobile. This advantage applies equally to FP16, suggesting strong performance in general compute and AI-related workloads that leverage tensor cores.

The N1X 40SM wins decisively in texture processing. Its 750.7 GTexel/s texture rate is 207.5% higher than the RTX 3000 Mobile's 244.1 GTexel/s. Applications that rely heavily on texturing, such as certain rendering pipelines, will favor this GPU.

The N1X 40SM wins in memory capacity and bandwidth. At 128 GB, it offers 16x the memory of the RTX 3000 Mobile. Its 273.2 GB/s bandwidth is 6.7% higher. Workloads requiring large datasets in memory, such as machine learning training or large-scale data processing, favor the N1X 40SM.

The N1X 40SM wins in boost clock speed. Its 2346 MHz boost is 38.4% higher than the RTX 3000 Mobile's 1695 MHz. For burst workloads that trigger boost behavior, this matters.

The N1X 40SM wins in pixel rate. Its 93.84 GPixel/s is 15.3% higher than the RTX 3000 Mobile's 81.36 GPixel/s, despite having fewer ROPs.

The RTX 3000 Mobile wins in base clock speed. Its 1395 MHz base is 88.3% higher than the N1X 40SM's 741 MHz. Sustained workloads that run at base clocks will operate at higher frequency on the RTX 3000 Mobile.

The RTX 3000 Mobile wins in ROP count. Its 48 ROPs compare favorably to the N1X 40SM's 40, a 20% advantage. This may benefit certain rasterization and output-heavy operations.

The RTX 3000 Mobile wins in API compatibility. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1X 40SM has no recorded API support. Software that requires these APIs will only run on the RTX 3000 Mobile.

The RTX 3000 Mobile wins in memory clock speed. Its 2000 MHz memory clock is 87.5% higher than the N1X 40SM's 1067 MHz, and its 16 Gbps effective data rate is 88.2% higher than 8.5 Gbps.

The RTX 3000 Mobile wins in power efficiency per clock. With a recorded 115 W TDP, it has a defined power envelope. The N1X 40SM's TDP is unknown, so no direct power comparison is possible.

Both GPUs are production-still active, but the RTX 3000 Mobile has a clear lineage with Ampere-MW as predecessor and Blackwell-MW as successor. The N1X 40SM has no recorded predecessor or successor.