Intel Arc A530M vs NVIDIA N1X 48SM Comparison

The Verdict

The recorded data presents an unusual comparison. The Intel Arc A530M is a shipping, benchmarked mobile GPU with a substantial performance record, while the NVIDIA N1X 48SM is a newer, unbenchmarked IGP part. The database shows the Arc A530M holds an average benchmark score of 46614, placing it in the 85th percentile of all GPUs. The N1X 48SM has no recorded benchmarks, an average score of 0, and sits at the 50th percentile. For any workload requiring immediate, verified graphics performance, the Intel part is the only option with data supporting it. The N1X 48SM should be selected only in scenarios where its specific architectural features, such as its 128 GB memory pool or 192 tensor cores, are mandatory, and where its unverified performance is acceptable.

Architecture Differences

The two processors come from different manufacturing and design lineages. Intel’s Arc A530M uses the DG2-256 chip built on Xe-HPG architecture, produced on a 6 nm process at TSMC. It integrates 11,500 million transistors on a 269 mm² die, resulting in a transistor density of 42.8 million per mm². NVIDIA’s N1X 48SM uses the GB20B chip based on Blackwell 2.0 architecture, also fabricated by TSMC but on a 5 nm process. Its die size is larger at 382 mm², though the transistor count is listed as unknown.

Clock behavior diverges sharply. The Intel part runs at a 900 MHz base and 1300 MHz boost, with memory clocked at 1750 MHz (14 Gbps effective). The NVIDIA part has a much lower base clock of 741 MHz but a significantly higher boost of 2346 MHz. Its memory runs at 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective). This suggests different power and thermal envelopes, though the N1X 48SM’s TDP is unknown while the Arc A530M is rated at 65 W.

Memory configurations are fundamentally different. The Arc A530M uses 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 224.0 GB/s of bandwidth. The N1X 48SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s. The NVIDIA part offers 16 times the capacity and roughly 22% more bandwidth. Both are IGP (integrated graphics) solutions, but the Intel part connects via PCIe 4.0 x8 while the NVIDIA uses PCIe 5.0 x16. Display outputs differ as well: the Arc A530M is described as portable device dependent, while the N1X 48SM has a single HDMI output.

Compute resources show a large gap. The Arc A530M has 1536 shading units, 96 TMUs, 48 ROPs, and 12 ray tracing cores. The N1X 48SM has 6144 shading units, 384 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 48 ray tracing cores, and 192 tensor cores. Pixel rate favors the NVIDIA at 112.6 GPixel/s versus 62.40 GPixel/s for Intel. Texture rate is 900.9 GTexel/s versus 124.8 GTexel/s. FP32 throughput is 28.83 TFLOPS for NVIDIA versus 3.994 TFLOPS for Intel. FP16 is 28.83 TFLOPS (1:1) for NVIDIA versus 7.987 TFLOPS (2:1) for Intel. API support also differs: the Arc A530M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1X 48SM lists N/A for all three.

Where Each One Wins

The Intel Arc A530M wins in verified, real-world performance. Its Geekbench OpenCL score is 49735 and its Vulkan score is 43492. These results place it at the 85th percentile of all GPUs. The nearest rivals in the database are the AMD Radeon RX 5600M with an average score of 46601 (0% delta), the AMD Radeon RX 6550M at 46702 (-0.2% delta), the NVIDIA RTX A2000 at 46043 (1.2% delta), and the NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation at 45972 (1.4% delta). The Arc A530M is effectively tied with the RX 5600M, marginally behind the RX 6550M, and slightly ahead of the two NVIDIA workstation parts. This indicates it sits in a competitive mid-range mobile segment.

The NVIDIA N1X 48SM wins on raw architectural specifications. Its FP32 throughput is 28.83 TFLOPS, which is 7.2 times higher than the Intel part. Texture rate is 900.9 GTexel/s, which is 7.2 times higher. The 192 tensor cores and 48 ray tracing cores suggest significantly stronger AI and ray tracing capabilities, though no benchmark data confirms this. The 128 GB memory capacity is unique and could be decisive for large dataset workloads, but without benchmarks, this remains theoretical. The NVIDIA part’s 50th percentile ranking with zero average score indicates it has not yet demonstrated any measurable advantage in the database.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The Intel Arc A530M has an average benchmark score of 46614, while the NVIDIA N1X 48SM has an average score of 0.

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

A: The Intel Arc A530M has 8 GB of GDDR6, while the NVIDIA N1X 48SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X, which is 16 times more capacity.

Q: How do their FP32 compute performances compare?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 48SM delivers 28.83 TFLOPS of FP32, while the Intel Arc A530M delivers 3.994 TFLOPS, a difference of approximately 7.2 times in favor of NVIDIA.

Q: Are there any benchmark results for the NVIDIA N1X 48SM?

A: The database lists no benchmark entries for the N1X 48SM. Its average benchmark score is 0, and it has no nearest rivals recorded.

Q: What is the process node for each GPU?

A: The Intel Arc A530M uses a 6 nm process, and the NVIDIA N1X 48SM uses a 5 nm process, both manufactured by TSMC.

Q: Which GPU supports more API versions?

A: The Intel Arc A530M supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark entries between these two GPUs. The winsA and winsB fields are both 0, and the headToHeadBenchmarks array is empty. This absence of direct comparison data is itself informative. The Intel Arc A530M has two recorded benchmarks: Geekbench OpenCL at 49735 and Geekbench Vulkan at 43492. These contribute to its average score of 46614. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM has no recorded benchmarks, so its performance cannot be quantified against the Intel part in any shared test.

The Intel part’s nearest rivals provide context for its standing. The AMD Radeon RX 5600M scores 46601, a delta of 0%, meaning the Arc A530M is statistically identical to it. The AMD Radeon RX 6550M scores 46702, a delta of -0.2%, meaning the Arc A530M is 0.2% behind. The NVIDIA RTX A2000 scores 46043, a delta of 1.2% in favor of Intel. The NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation scores 45972, a delta of 1.4% in favor of Intel. These figures place the Arc A530M in a tight performance cluster, with all four rivals within 1.6% of each other. The Arc A530M is effectively a middle-of-the-pack performer among its closest competitors.

For the N1X 48SM, the absence of rivals and benchmarks means it cannot be ranked. The 50th percentile ranking is the default for an unmeasured part. The raw specifications indicate a theoretically much faster GPU, but the database records no evidence to support that. The 28.83 TFLOPS FP32 figure and 900.9 GTexel/s texture rate suggest the N1X 48SM could outperform the Arc A530M in compute-heavy tasks, but this is speculation based on hardware parameters, not measured results. The Arc A530M’s 3.994 TFLOPS FP32 and 124.8 GTexel/s texture rate are verified numbers, giving it a factual performance baseline that the N1X 48SM lacks.

The memory bandwidth difference is also notable. The N1X 48SM’s 273.2 GB/s exceeds the Arc A530M’s 224.0 GB/s by approximately 22%. Combined with 16 times the capacity, the NVIDIA part has a clear theoretical advantage for memory-bound workloads. However, the Arc A530M’s GDDR6 memory at 14 Gbps effective is a proven configuration, while the N1X 48SM’s LPDDR5X at 8.5 Gbps effective is newer and unverified. The pixel rate of 112.6 GPixel/s for NVIDIA versus 62.40 GPixel/s for Intel suggests better fill-rate performance, but again, no benchmark corroborates this.

In terms of production status, both are listed as Active. The Intel part was released on 2023-07-31, while the NVIDIA part has a release date of 2026-05-31. The Intel GPU has been on the market for a period sufficient to generate benchmark data. The NVIDIA GPU is a future release with no recorded measurements. Any decision between the two must weigh the Intel part’s proven, quantifiable performance against the NVIDIA part’s unmeasured, specification-based potential. The data currently favors the Intel Arc A530M for any immediate use case requiring verified graphics output.