NVIDIA N1X 40SM vs NVIDIA RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation Comparison

Where Each One Wins

The recorded data splits these two NVIDIA mobile and embedded parts into distinct usage profiles. The NVIDIA N1X 40SM, built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a massive 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory. Its design priorities are memory capacity and bandwidth efficiency for AI workloads that require large resident datasets. The N1X 40SM delivers 24.02 TFLOPS of FP32 and FP16 compute, which positions it as a capable compute engine for inference tasks where the model fits entirely within its unified memory pool.

The NVIDIA RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation takes a different approach. It is a discrete-class embedded GPU with 9728 shading units, 76 RT cores, and 304 tensor cores. Its FP32 throughput reaches 32.69 TFLOPS, which is 36% higher than the N1X 40SM's 24.02 TFLOPS. This advantage in raw shader and tensor throughput makes it the stronger choice for graphics rendering, real-time ray tracing, and general-purpose compute that benefits from parallel execution across a larger number of cores. The RTX 5000 Embedded also supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the N1X 40SM lists no supported graphics APIs. That distinction alone routes the N1X toward compute-only deployments and the RTX 5000 Embedded toward full graphics and visualization workloads.

Memory bandwidth further separates the two. The RTX 5000 Embedded offers 576.0 GB/s of bandwidth from its GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus, more than double the N1X 40SM's 273.2 GB/s. For texture-heavy rendering, the RTX 5000 Embedded's pixel rate of 188.2 GPixel/s and texture rate of 510.7 GTexel/s outpace the N1X 40SM's 93.84 GPixel/s and 750.7 GTexel/s. Notably, the N1X 40SM has a higher texture rate in raw terms, but the RTX 5000 Embedded still leads in pixel throughput by a wide margin. The N1X 40SM's texture rate advantage comes from fewer ROPs (40 versus 112) and a different balance of compute resources.

In terms of power envelope, the RTX 5000 Embedded is rated at 120 W TDP, while the N1X 40SM's TDP is unknown. Both are IGP-class slot widths with no power connectors, but the RTX 5000 Embedded is explicitly designed as a low-power embedded solution. The N1X 40SM, with its 128 GB memory capacity and 273.2 GB/s bandwidth, appears optimized for memory-bound AI inference and large model caching rather than latency-sensitive graphics.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute throughput?

A: The RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation delivers 32.69 TFLOPS FP32, which is 36% higher than the N1X 40SM's 24.02 TFLOPS.

Q: What is the memory capacity difference between the two?

A: The N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, while the RTX 5000 Embedded has 16 GB of GDDR6. The N1X 40SM offers eight times the memory capacity.

Q: Which GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate?

A: Only the RTX 5000 Embedded Ada Generation supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X 40SM lists no supported graphics APIs.

Q: How do memory bandwidth figures compare?

A: The RTX 5000 Embedded provides 576.0 GB/s bandwidth, which is 111% higher than the N1X 40SM's 273.2 GB/s.

Q: What are the transistor counts for each chip?

A: The RTX 5000 Embedded uses the AD103 chip with 45,900 million transistors on a 379 mm² die. The N1X 40SM's GB20B chip has an unknown transistor count but a die size of 382 mm².

Q: Which GPU has more RT cores and tensor cores?

A: The RTX 5000 Embedded has 76 RT cores and 304 tensor cores, compared to the N1X 40SM's 40 RT cores and 160 tensor cores.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct benchmark scores for either GPU, and both carry a 50th percentile ranking against all GPUs with an average benchmark score of zero. The head-to-head benchmark array is empty, so the comparison relies entirely on specification-level analysis from the recorded data.

The clearest win for the RTX 5000 Embedded is FP32 compute. At 32.69 TFLOPS versus 24.02 TFLOPS, the RTX 5000 Embedded holds a 36% lead. This advantage scales across shading units (9728 versus 5120), RT cores (76 versus 40), and tensor cores (304 versus 160). The RTX 5000 Embedded also doubles the pixel rate at 188.2 GPixel/s versus 93.84 GPixel/s, a direct result of its 112 ROPs compared to the N1X 40SM's 40 ROPs.

Memory bandwidth is another decisive win for the RTX 5000 Embedded. Its 576.0 GB/s GDDR6 bandwidth exceeds the N1X 40SM's 273.2 GB/s by 111%. This matters for any workload that streams large amounts of data per clock cycle, such as high-resolution texture sampling or multi-pass rendering. The RTX 5000 Embedded's memory clock runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective speed, versus the N1X 40SM's 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective.

The N1X 40SM counters with a texture rate advantage. Its 750.7 GTexel/s beats the RTX 5000 Embedded's 510.7 GTexel/s by 47%. This is unusual given the RTX 5000 Embedded has 304 TMUs versus 320 TMUs for the N1X 40SM, but the N1X 40SM's higher boost clock of 2346 MHz (versus 1680 MHz) drives its texture throughput higher. The N1X 40SM also carries 128 GB of memory, which is eight times the RTX 5000 Embedded's 16 GB. For workloads that require large model weights or massive datasets, the N1X 40SM's capacity advantage is substantial, even if its bandwidth is lower.

Boost clocks favor the N1X 40SM at 2346 MHz versus 1680 MHz, a 40% difference. Base clocks favor the RTX 5000 Embedded at 930 MHz versus 741 MHz. The N1X 40SM's higher boost clock partially compensates for its lower core count in texture-bound operations.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every measured specification. The N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip with Blackwell 2.0 architecture, while the RTX 5000 Embedded uses the AD103 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture. Both are fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC, but the RTX 5000 Embedded has a documented transistor count of 45,900 million with a density of 121.1 million transistors per square millimeter. The N1X 40SM's transistor count is unknown, though its die size is 382 mm², slightly larger than the RTX 5000 Embedded's 379 mm².

Memory configurations diverge sharply. The N1X 40SM offers 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The RTX 5000 Embedded offers 16 GB of GDDR6 on a 256-bit bus with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth. Both use the same bus width, but the memory type and clock speeds produce very different bandwidth profiles.

Compute resources differ by a wide margin in core counts. The RTX 5000 Embedded has 9728 shading units, 304 TMUs, 112 ROPs, 76 RT cores, and 304 tensor cores. The N1X 40SM has 5120 shading units, 320 TMUs, 40 ROPs, 40 RT cores, and 160 tensor cores. The RTX 5000 Embedded leads in shading units (90% more), ROPs (180% more), RT cores (90% more), and tensor cores (90% more). The N1X 40SM leads in TMUs by 5%.

Clock speeds show a mixed picture. The N1X 40SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz. The RTX 5000 Embedded has a base clock of 930 MHz and a boost clock of 1680 MHz. The N1X 40SM's boost clock is 40% higher, while the RTX 5000 Embedded's base clock is 25% higher.

Power and interface specifications also differ. The RTX 5000 Embedded has a TDP of 120 W; the N1X 40SM's TDP is unknown. The N1X 40SM uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, while the RTX 5000 Embedded uses PCIe 4.0 x16. Display outputs differ: the N1X 40SM has a single HDMI output, while the RTX 5000 Embedded's outputs are portable device dependent. The N1X 40SM lists no API support for DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan; the RTX 5000 Embedded supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Architecture Differences

The N1X 40SM is built on Blackwell 2.0, NVIDIA's second-generation Blackwell architecture, and belongs to the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. The RTX 5000 Embedded is built on Ada Lovelace and belongs to the Ada-MW generation, with its predecessor listed as Ampere-MW and its successor as Blackwell-MW. This generational gap explains several architectural divergences.

The Blackwell 2.0 architecture in the N1X 40SM appears designed around unified memory and high-capacity integration. Its 128 GB LPDDR5X memory suggests a die-stacked or package-level memory design typical of integrated GPUs. The 382 mm² die size with an unknown transistor count leaves room for a large memory controller and cache hierarchy. The absence of graphics API support in the recorded data indicates the N1X 40SM is compute-focused, likely targeting AI inference and large language model workloads where the 128 GB memory pool can hold entire model weights.

The Ada Lovelace architecture in the RTX 5000 Embedded uses the AD103 chip, a well-documented discrete GPU die with 45,900 million transistors. Its 121.1 million transistors per square millimeter density reflects a mature 5 nm process. The Ada Lovelace generation introduced significant improvements in RT core efficiency and tensor core throughput for its era, and the RTX 5000 Embedded carries 76 RT cores and 304 tensor cores to exploit those features. The DIMM-style GDDR6 memory with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth gives it a conventional discrete GPU memory subsystem.

The N1X 40SM's boost clock of 2346 MHz is notably high for an integrated GPU, suggesting a power-efficient design that can sustain high frequencies without a discrete cooling solution. The RTX 5000 Embedded's 120 W TDP indicates a thermally constrained embedded design, yet it still achieves 32.69 TFLOPS FP32 through a much larger shading unit count. The N1X 40SM compensates for its lower core count with a 40% higher boost clock, but the RTX 5000 Embedded's architecture provides more parallel execution units overall.

Both chips share a 256-bit memory bus, but the memory technology differs fundamentally. LPDDR5X in the N1X 40SM is optimized for low power and high capacity, while GDDR6 in the RTX 5000 Embedded is optimized for bandwidth. The RTX 5000 Embedded's 576.0 GB/s bandwidth is the higher figure, but the N1X 40SM's 128 GB capacity opens use cases that the 16 GB RTX 5000 Embedded cannot address.

The PCIe interface also reflects architectural priorities. The N1X 40SM uses PCIe 5.0 x16, offering twice the per-lane bandwidth of the RTX 5000 Embedded's PCIe 4.0 x16. For an IGP that may need to communicate with host CPUs and accelerators, PCIe 5.0 provides a faster interconnect. The RTX 5000 Embedded's PCIe 4.0 interface is standard for its generation and sufficient for its embedded role.

The API support difference is the most consequential architectural divergence. The RTX 5000 Embedded supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it a full-featured graphics processor. The N1X 40SM lists no supported APIs, which means it cannot run conventional graphics workloads. Its architecture is tailored for compute, with 40 RT cores and 160 tensor cores available for ray tracing and AI operations, but the lack of API support limits its utility to custom compute stacks that bypass standard graphics pipelines.