NVIDIA N1X 40SM vs NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell Comparison

NVIDIA N1X 40SM and NVIDIA RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell are both built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and use a 5 nm TSMC process, but they serve entirely different segments of the market. The N1X 40SM is an integrated graphics processor (IGP) with a 50th percentile ranking among all GPUs, while the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell is a dual-slot discrete workstation card sitting at the 59th percentile. The data shows a massive performance gulf between them, driven by differences in chip size, core counts, memory subsystems, and power delivery.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell wins in every measurable performance category. Its FP32 throughput of 126.0 TFLOPS is more than five times the N1X 40SM's 24.02 TFLOPS. The texture rate tells a similar story: 1,968.0 GTexel/s versus 750.7 GTexel/s. Pixel rate favors the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell at 502.5 GPixel/s compared to 93.84 GPixel/s on the N1X 40SM. In the recorded 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test, the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell scores 16,408 points, which is essentially tied with the AMD Radeon PRO W7500 at 16,415 (0% delta) and 0.3% ahead of the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT.

The N1X 40SM has no recorded benchmark scores and no nearest rivals in the database, so its wins are limited to structural advantages. It integrates memory directly on the package with 128 GB of LPDDR5X, which is 32 GB more than the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell's 96 GB of GDDR7. The N1X 40SM also consumes no external power connectors and requires no suggested PSU, making it suitable for compact systems where the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell's 600 W TDP and 1000 W suggested PSU are impractical. For workloads that need maximum capacity rather than bandwidth, the N1X 40SM's larger memory pool is the only category where it leads.

Architecture Differences

Both GPUs share the Blackwell 2.0 architecture and TSMC's 5 nm process, but the silicon is fundamentally different. The N1X 40SM uses the GB20B chip with a die size of 382 mm², while the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell uses the GB202 chip at 750 mm². The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell packs 92,200 million transistors, a figure not listed for the N1X 40SM, resulting in a transistor density of 122.9M per mm². The N1X 40SM's transistor count is unknown, but its smaller die suggests a substantially lower count.

Core configurations diverge sharply. The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell has 24,064 shading units, 752 texture mapping units, 192 ROPs, 188 RT cores, and 752 tensor cores. The N1X 40SM has 5,120 shading units, 320 TMUs, 40 ROPs, 40 RT cores, and 160 tensor cores. The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell has roughly 4.7 times the shading units, 2.35 times the TMUs, 4.8 times the ROPs, and 4.7 times the tensor cores. RT core count is 4.7 times higher as well.

Memory architecture is another major split. The N1X 40SM uses LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth, while the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell uses GDDR7 on a 512-bit bus with 1.79 TB/s bandwidth. That is a 6.5x bandwidth advantage for the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell. Clock behavior also differs: the N1X 40SM has a 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost, whereas the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell runs at 1590 MHz base and 2617 MHz boost, giving it higher sustained frequencies across the board.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains only one benchmark result for the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell, the 3DMark Steel Nomad DX12 test with a score of 16,408. The N1X 40SM has no benchmark entries, so direct head-to-head comparisons rely on specification-derived performance metrics. In FP32 compute, the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell delivers 126.0 TFLOPS against the N1X 40SM's 24.02 TFLOPS, a 5.2x advantage. FP16 performance is identical in ratio: 126.0 TFLOPS versus 24.02 TFLOPS, both at 1:1 with FP32.

Texture throughput shows the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell at 1,968.0 GTexel/s versus 750.7 GTexel/s, a 2.6x difference. Pixel fill rate is even more lopsided: 502.5 GPixel/s versus 93.84 GPixel/s, a 5.4x gap. Memory bandwidth gives the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell a 1.79 TB/s rating against 273.2 GB/s, meaning it can move 6.5 times more data per second. The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell also boosts 271 MHz higher (2617 MHz versus 2346 MHz) and has a base clock more than double the N1X 40SM's (1590 MHz versus 741 MHz).

The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell's nearest rival data places it in a tight cluster. It scores 0.3% above the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (16,361) and 0.4% above the AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (16,351). It trails the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 by 0.6% (16,504). The AMD Radeon PRO W7500 matches it exactly at 16,415 with a 0% delta. These small margins indicate that the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell's Steel Nomad result is mid-pack among its closest competitors, not a class leader.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every specification field. The N1X 40SM is an IGP with no slot width, while the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell is dual-slot. Power requirements are opposite extremes: the N1X 40SM has no power connectors and an unknown TDP, whereas the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell uses a single 16-pin connector, draws 600 W, and needs a 1000 W suggested PSU. Display outputs differ as well: the N1X 40SM has one HDMI port, while the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell offers four DisplayPort 2.1b outputs.

API support is another clear separation. The N1X 40SM lists DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan as N/A, while the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Memory size and type differ: 128 GB LPDDR5X on the N1X 40SM versus 96 GB GDDR7 on the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell. Bus width is 256-bit versus 512-bit. The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell has physical dimensions of 304 mm length, 137 mm height, and 40 mm width, while the N1X 40SM lists none. Release dates are also distinct: the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell launched on 2025-03-17, while the N1X 40SM is dated 2026-05-31. The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell has a launch MSRP of 8,565 USD, a field that is null for the N1X 40SM.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has more memory capacity?

A: The N1X 40SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X, which is 32 GB more than the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell's 96 GB of GDDR7.

Q: How much faster is the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell in raw compute?

A: The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell delivers 126.0 TFLOPS FP32 compared to the N1X 40SM's 24.02 TFLOPS, a 5.2x advantage. FP16 follows the same 1:1 ratio.

Q: What memory bandwidth does each GPU provide?

A: The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell offers 1.79 TB/s over a 512-bit GDDR7 interface, while the N1X 40SM provides 273.2 GB/s over a 256-bit LPDDR5X interface.

Q: Does the N1X 40SM support modern graphics APIs?

A: No. The N1X 40SM lists DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan as N/A. The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What are the power requirements for each card?

A: The N1X 40SM has no power connectors and an unknown TDP. The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell has a 600 W TDP, uses one 16-pin connector, and requires a 1000 W suggested PSU.

Q: How does the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell compare to its nearest rivals in Steel Nomad?

A: It scores 16,408, matching the AMD Radeon PRO W7500 (16,415, 0% delta), edging the AMD Radeon RX 5700 XT (16,361, 0.3% ahead) and AMD Radeon Pro 5600M (16,351, 0.4% ahead), while trailing the NVIDIA GeForce RTX 5090 D V2 (16,504, 0.6% behind).

The Verdict

The RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell is the clear choice for any workload requiring high compute throughput, advanced API support, or massive memory bandwidth. Its 126.0 TFLOPS FP32, 1.79 TB/s bandwidth, and 24,064 shading units place it in a different performance class than the N1X 40SM. The 3DMark Steel Nomad score of 16,408 confirms it operates competitively among its nearest rivals, though it does not dominate them, sitting within 0.6% of all four listed competitors.

The N1X 40SM is appropriate only for scenarios where 128 GB of memory capacity matters more than speed and where the absence of power connectors and a discrete slot footprint is a requirement. Its 273.2 GB/s bandwidth and 24.02 TFLOPS are modest, and its lack of DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support limits it to compute or display tasks outside conventional graphics APIs. Users who need a workstation GPU with full API compatibility, multiple DisplayPort outputs, and sustained high clocks should select the RTX PRO 6000 Blackwell. Users who need maximum VRAM in an integrated form factor with no external power draw should consider the N1X 40SM, accepting its substantially lower throughput and missing graphics API coverage.