NVIDIA N1X 40SM vs NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell Server Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no recorded benchmark scores for either the NVIDIA N1X 40SM or the NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell Server. Both entries show an average benchmark score of 0 and a percentile rank of 50 against all GPUs. With no head-to-head benchmark results, wins and losses cannot be tabulated from direct measurements. The comparison must instead rely on the specification-level data recorded in the database.

The most significant gap between the two lies in raw compute throughput. The RTX PRO 4500 delivers 50.70 TFLOPS FP32 and FP16 (1:1), while the N1X 40SM produces 24.02 TFLOPS in both precisions. That is roughly 2.1 times higher FP32 throughput for the server card. Texture rate is closer: the RTX PRO 4500 reaches 792.1 GTexel/s versus 750.7 GTexel/s for the N1X 40SM, a modest 5.5% advantage. Pixel rate differs substantially, with the RTX PRO 4500 at 270.5 GPixel/s compared to 93.84 GPixel/s for the N1X 40SM, indicating a 2.9 times advantage in fill-rate-bound work.

Memory bandwidth also favors the server part. The RTX PRO 4500 uses 32 GB of GDDR7 on a 256-bit bus, yielding 800.3 GB/s. The N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X on the same 256-bit bus, but bandwidth is only 273.2 GB/s. That is a 2.9 times bandwidth advantage for the RTX PRO 4500, despite the N1X carrying four times the memory capacity.

Clock behavior shows the server card operates at higher frequencies. The RTX PRO 4500 has a base clock of 1215 MHz and a boost of 2415 MHz. The N1X 40SM runs at 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost. Memory clock differs as well: the RTX PRO 4500 runs at 1563 MHz (25 Gbps effective), while the N1X 40SM runs at 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective). The boost clocks are relatively close, but the base clock gap of 474 MHz suggests the server card sustains higher performance under load.

Shader and fixed-function unit counts are substantially higher on the RTX PRO 4500. It has 10496 shading units, 328 TMUs, 112 ROPs, 82 RT cores, and 328 tensor cores. The N1X 40SM has 5120 shading units, 320 TMUs, 40 ROPs, 40 RT cores, and 160 tensor cores. The RTX PRO 4500 carries 2.05 times the shading units, 2.8 times the ROPs, 2.05 times the RT cores, and 2.05 times the tensor cores. TMU count is nearly identical at 328 versus 320.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute?

A: The NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell Server delivers 50.70 TFLOPS FP32, which is 2.11 times the 24.02 TFLOPS of the NVIDIA N1X 40SM.

Q: How do memory capacities compare?

A: The N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X, while the RTX PRO 4500 has 32 GB of GDDR7. The memory bus width is identical at 256 bits for both.

Q: What is the memory bandwidth difference?

A: The RTX PRO 4500 provides 800.3 GB/s of bandwidth, 2.93 times the 273.2 GB/s of the N1X 40SM, despite the N1X having four times the capacity.

Q: Are the GPUs on the same manufacturing process?

A: Yes, both use TSMC 5 nm process technology and both belong to the Blackwell 2.0 architecture family. The N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip, while the RTX PRO 4500 uses the GB203 chip.

Q: Do both cards support PCIe 5.0?

A: Yes, both use a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface.

Q: What are the power requirements?

A: The RTX PRO 4500 has a TDP of 165 W and uses a single 16-pin power connector with a suggested PSU of 450 W. The N1X 40SM has no listed TDP, no power connectors, and is an IGP with no suggested PSU.

The Verdict

The recorded data places these two GPUs in different usage classes. The NVIDIA RTX PRO 4500 Blackwell Server is the clear performance leader across every compute metric in the database. It has 2.11 times the FP32 throughput, 2.93 times the memory bandwidth, 2.05 times the shading units, 2.8 times the ROPs, and 2.05 times the RT and tensor cores. It also runs at higher base and boost clocks, and its pixel rate is 2.9 times higher. For any workload that stresses raw compute, memory throughput, or rasterization, the RTX PRO 4500 is the stronger choice.

The N1X 40SM counters with 128 GB of memory, four times the capacity of the RTX PRO 4500's 32 GB. It also uses LPDDR5X memory and has no external power connectors, being an integrated GPU with a single HDMI output. The N1X 40SM has a 5.5% lower texture rate, but otherwise trails in every performance category.

The percentile ranks for both are equal at 50, and the average benchmark scores are both 0, meaning the database has no measured performance data to separate them. Based solely on specifications, the RTX PRO 4500 is the higher-performing part. The N1X 40SM is the only option with a display output and is designed as an IGP, making it suited for systems where a discrete card cannot be installed.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ in nearly every measured specification. The RTX PRO 4500 uses the GB203 chip, while the N1X 40SM uses GB20B. The RTX PRO 4500 has a transistor count of 45,600 million and a die size of 378 mm² with a density of 120.6M / mm². The N1X 40SM has an unknown transistor count and a die size of 382 mm².

Clocks differ: the RTX PRO 4500 has a base of 1215 MHz and boost of 2415 MHz, while the N1X 40SM has a base of 741 MHz and boost of 2346 MHz. Memory clocks are 1563 MHz (25 Gbps effective) for the RTX PRO 4500 versus 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective) for the N1X 40SM.

Memory type, capacity, and bandwidth all differ. The RTX PRO 4500 has 32 GB GDDR7 with 800.3 GB/s, while the N1X 40SM has 128 GB LPDDR5X with 273.2 GB/s. Bus width is the same at 256 bits.

Compute units differ: the RTX PRO 4500 has 10496 shading units, 328 TMUs, 112 ROPs, 82 RT cores, and 328 tensor cores. The N1X 40SM has 5120 shading units, 320 TMUs, 40 ROPs, 40 RT cores, and 160 tensor cores.

Rates differ: pixel rate is 270.5 GPixel/s for the RTX PRO 4500 versus 93.84 GPixel/s for the N1X 40SM. Texture rate is 792.1 GTexel/s versus 750.7 GTexel/s. FP32 and FP16 are 50.70 TFLOPS versus 24.02 TFLOPS.

Physical attributes differ: the RTX PRO 4500 is single-slot with a 16-pin connector and a 450 W suggested PSU. The N1X 40SM is an IGP with no power connectors and no suggested PSU. The RTX PRO 4500 has no display outputs, while the N1X 40SM has 1x HDMI. Dimensions for the RTX PRO 4500 are 267 mm length, 111 mm height, 40 mm width; the N1X 40SM has no recorded dimensions.

API support differs: the RTX PRO 4500 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X 40SM lists N/A for all three APIs.

Production status is Active for both. The RTX PRO 4500 has a listed predecessor (Server Hopper) and successor (Server Rubin), while the N1X 40SM has neither. Release dates differ, with the RTX PRO 4500 on 2026-03-16 and the N1X 40SM on 2026-05-31.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs are built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and use TSMC 5 nm process nodes. The chip designs differ: the N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip, while the RTX PRO 4500 uses the GB203. The generation names also differ, with the N1X 40SM listed under "Blackwell IGP (N1x)" and the RTX PRO 4500 under "Server Blackwell (Bxx)".

Transistor counts differ significantly. The RTX PRO 4500 has 45,600 million transistors on a 378 mm² die, giving a density of 120.6 million transistors per square millimeter. The N1X 40SM has an unknown transistor count on a slightly larger 382 mm² die. The die sizes are within 4 mm² of each other, but the RTX PRO 4500 packs substantially more transistors into that area.

The RTX PRO 4500 carries 82 RT cores and 328 tensor cores, while the N1X 40SM has 40 RT cores and 160 tensor cores. Both double the respective counts, indicating the RTX PRO 4500 has 2.05 times the ray tracing and tensor processing resources. The shading unit count is exactly 2.05 times higher on the RTX PRO 4500, and the ROP count is 2.8 times higher.

Memory architecture also differs by type. The RTX PRO 4500 uses GDDR7 memory, while the N1X 40SM uses LPDDR5X. Both are on a 256-bit bus, but the effective memory speed is 25 Gbps for the RTX PRO 4500 versus 8.5 Gbps for the N1X 40SM. This accounts for the bandwidth gap of 800.3 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s.

The TDP and power delivery differ. The RTX PRO 4500 is rated at 165 W and uses a single 16-pin connector with a 450 W suggested PSU. The N1X 40SM has no TDP listed, no power connectors, and is an IGP, meaning it draws power from the host system without a discrete power connection.

Display capabilities differ. The N1X 40SM has 1x HDMI output, while the RTX PRO 4500 has no display outputs, consistent with its server designation. The API support also reflects this split: the RTX PRO 4500 supports full graphics APIs (DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, Vulkan 1.4), while the N1X 40SM lists N/A for all three, indicating it is not intended for graphics rendering in the same way.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX PRO 4500 wins in every measured computational category. It has higher FP32 and FP16 throughput, higher pixel rate, higher texture rate, higher memory bandwidth, more shading units, more ROPs, more RT cores, and more tensor cores. Its base clock is 474 MHz higher and its boost clock is 69 MHz higher. It is the superior part for server compute workloads, ray tracing, tensor operations, and any graphics task that stresses fill rate or memory throughput.

The N1X 40SM wins in memory capacity, offering 128 GB versus 32 GB. This is a 4 times capacity advantage that could benefit workloads requiring large in-memory datasets, though the bandwidth is 2.93 times lower. It also has no power connector requirements, making it suitable for integrated systems. It has a display output (1x HDMI), while the RTX PRO 4500 has none. The N1X 40SM is the only one of the two that can drive a display directly.

The RTX PRO 4500 has a higher transistor count (45,600 million versus unknown) and a higher transistor density (120.6M / mm² versus unknown). It uses GDDR7 memory, which provides higher bandwidth per pin. It supports the full set of graphics APIs, while the N1X 40SM lists N/A for all APIs.

In terms of physical integration, the RTX PRO 4500 is a single-slot card with defined dimensions (267 mm length, 111 mm height, 40 mm width), a 165 W TDP, and a 450 W suggested PSU. The N1X 40SM is an IGP with no dimensions, no TDP, and no power connectors.

The release dates differ, with the RTX PRO 4500 launching on 2026-03-16 and the N1X 40SM on 2026-05-31. The RTX PRO 4500 has a predecessor (Server Hopper) and successor (Server Rubin), while the N1X 40SM has neither listed.

For server deployments requiring maximum compute and memory bandwidth, the RTX PRO 4500 is the appropriate selection. For systems where a discrete card is not feasible and large memory capacity is the priority, the N1X 40SM offers 128 GB of LPDDR5X, albeit with lower bandwidth and lower compute throughput. The data does not show any benchmark results, so these conclusions rest entirely on the specification-level differences recorded in the database.