NVIDIA N1X 48SM vs NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data contains no direct head-to-head benchmark scores for these two parts, and both carry an identical 50th percentile rank in the database's overall GPU distribution. That parity in percentile placement indicates neither product is positioned as a clear performance class above the other, despite their very different internal designs. With no win counts recorded for either side, the comparison must rest on the architectural and specification data available.

What the data does show is a significant divergence in compute throughput. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM delivers 28.83 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation delivers 23.04 TFLOPS. That places the N1X roughly 25% ahead in raw single-precision arithmetic throughput, a meaningful margin for compute-heavy workloads that scale with shader core count. The N1X achieves this with 6144 shading units compared to 5120 on the RTX 3500, a 20% advantage in shader count that is amplified by its higher boost clock of 2346 MHz versus 2250 MHz.

The RTX 3500 counters in pixel throughput. Its 144.0 GPixel/s pixel rate exceeds the N1X's 112.6 GPixel/s by approximately 28%, a lead driven by its 64 ROPs against the N1X's 48 ROPs. For rasterization-bound tasks where pixel fill is the limiting factor, the Ada part holds a clear edge. Texture rate tells a different story: the N1X's 900.9 GTexel/s is more than double the RTX 3500's 360.0 GTexel/s, a 150% advantage stemming from 384 TMUs versus 160. This suggests the N1X is heavily optimized for texture fetch and filtering operations, likely a function of its integrated design serving a unified memory pool.

Memory bandwidth also splits the two. The RTX 3500 offers 432.0 GB/s across a 192-bit GDDR6 interface, while the N1X provides 273.2 GB/s over a 256-bit LPDDR5X bus. The Ada part's bandwidth advantage is roughly 58%, which can matter substantially for memory-bound workloads such as large dataset streaming or high-resolution texture access. However, the N1X compensates with an enormous 128 GB memory capacity versus 12 GB on the RTX 3500, a 10.7x difference that changes the feasible working set size entirely.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different NVIDIA architectures and process nodes. The N1X uses the GB20B chip built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation uses the AD104 die based on Ada Lovelace, also on a 5 nm TSMC process. Both share the same process node, but the underlying microarchitectures differ substantially.

Die size and transistor density show a notable inversion. The N1X's GB20B measures 382 mm², while the AD104 comes in at 294 mm². The smaller die hosts 35,800 million transistors, yielding a density of 121.8M transistors per mm². The N1X's transistor count is listed as unknown, so direct transistor comparisons cannot be made. The die size difference is substantial, with the N1X being roughly 30% larger, which aligns with its higher shading unit count and larger memory bus.

Ray tracing and tensor core configurations differ as well. The N1X packs 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, while the RTX 3500 has 40 RT cores and 160 tensor cores. The N1X therefore holds 20% more RT cores and 20% more tensor cores, matching its shading unit advantage. This suggests a consistent scaling pattern across all compute unit types, indicating the N1X is designed as a larger implementation of its architecture rather than a differently balanced part.

API support is a major differentiator. The N1X lists DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan support as N/A, while the RTX 3500 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. This means the N1X cannot run conventional graphics APIs and is not intended for standard gaming or workstation graphics workloads. The RTX 3500, by contrast, is a fully featured graphics solution with modern API coverage. This is likely the single most important practical distinction between the two.

Memory technology and configuration also diverge sharply. The N1X uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, while the RTX 3500 uses 12 GB of GDDR6 on a 192-bit bus. The N1X's memory runs at 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective), while the RTX 3500's runs at 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective). The GDDR6's higher data rate explains the RTX 3500's bandwidth advantage despite its narrower bus. The N1X's massive capacity points to a use case involving large in-memory datasets, likely for AI inference or data processing rather than graphics.

Power and interface specifications differ meaningfully. The N1X lists its TDP as unknown and requires no power connectors, consistent with an integrated graphics processor (IGP) design. The RTX 3500 has a 100 W TDP, also with no power connectors, but the database suggests a 300 W power supply. Both use a PCIe x16 interface, though the N1X runs PCIe 5.0 while the RTX 3500 runs PCIe 4.0. Display outputs also differ: the N1X has 1x HDMI, while the RTX 3500 has no display outputs at all, reinforcing its embedded, compute-oriented role.

The Verdict

The data indicates two products built for entirely different purposes despite both being NVIDIA parts. The N1X 48SM is a Blackwell IGP with no graphics API support, no conventional display capability beyond a single HDMI output, and an enormous 128 GB LPDDR5X memory pool. Its compute profile shows 28.83 TFLOPS FP32, 48 RT cores, 192 tensor cores, and a texture rate of 900.9 GTexel/s that dwarfs the RTX 3500. This is a part optimized for data-center style compute acceleration in an integrated form factor, likely for AI inference or large-scale data processing where memory capacity is paramount.

The RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation is a different beast. It is an Ada Lovelace part with full DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 support, 100 W TDP, and a 300 W suggested power supply. Its 23.04 TFLOPS FP32 is lower than the N1X, but its 144.0 GPixel/s pixel rate and 432.0 GB/s bandwidth are higher. With 12 GB of GDDR6, it targets embedded graphics and compute workloads where API compatibility and bandwidth matter more than raw capacity.

Users needing a graphics-capable GPU with modern API support should select the RTX 3500. Users needing maximum compute throughput, texture rate, and memory capacity in an IGP form factor with no graphics API dependency should select the N1X. The two do not compete for the same workloads, and the data does not support a single "winner" across all metrics.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA N1X 48SM delivers 28.83 TFLOPS FP32, while the NVIDIA RTX 3500 Embedded Ada Generation delivers 23.04 TFLOPS. The N1X is approximately 25% ahead in this metric.

Q: Which GPU supports more graphics APIs?

A: The RTX 3500 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X lists all graphics APIs as N/A, meaning it does not support standard graphics APIs.

Q: How do the memory capacities compare?

A: The N1X has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, while the RTX 3500 has 12 GB of GDDR6. The N1X offers over 10 times more memory capacity.

Q: Which GPU has higher memory bandwidth?

A: The RTX 3500 has 432.0 GB/s of bandwidth, while the N1X has 273.2 GB/s. The RTX 3500 provides roughly 58% more bandwidth.

Q: What is the process node for each GPU?

A: Both are fabricated on a 5 nm process at TSMC. They share the same node but use different architectures: Blackwell 2.0 for the N1X and Ada Lovelace for the RTX 3500.

Q: What are the power requirements?

A: The N1X lists TDP as unknown and has no power connectors. The RTX 3500 has a 100 W TDP, no power connectors, and a suggested power supply of 300 W.

Where Each One Wins

The N1X 48SM wins decisively in compute throughput and texture processing. Its 28.83 TFLOPS FP32 and 900.9 GTexel/s texture rate are both substantially higher than the RTX 3500's 23.04 TFLOPS and 360.0 GTexel/s. The N1X also holds advantages in shading units (6144 vs 5120), TMUs (384 vs 160), RT cores (48 vs 40), and tensor cores (192 vs 160). For workloads that are arithmetic-heavy, texture-intensive, or that leverage ray tracing and tensor operations, the N1X is the stronger part. Its 128 GB memory capacity, 10.7 times larger than the RTX 3500's, enables working sets that are simply impossible on the Ada part. The N1X also uses PCIe 5.0 compared to PCIe 4.0 on the RTX 3500, offering double the bus bandwidth for data transfers.

The RTX 3500 wins in pixel processing and memory bandwidth. Its 144.0 GPixel/s pixel rate is 28% higher than the N1X's 112.6 GPixel/s, driven by 64 ROPs versus 48. Its 432.0 GB/s memory bandwidth is 58% higher, which benefits workloads that stream large amounts of data through the GPU. The RTX 3500 also has full API support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, making it the only one of the two that can run conventional graphics applications. Its 100 W TDP is a defined power envelope, whereas the N1X's TDP is unknown. The RTX 3500's predecessor is Ampere-MW and its successor is Blackwell-MW, indicating a clear product lineage within NVIDIA's mobile workstation lineup.

For embedded graphics rendering, API-compatible compute, or any workload requiring standard graphics drivers, the RTX 3500 is the only viable choice. For headless compute acceleration, large-scale AI inference, or data processing with massive memory footprints, the N1X's specification sheet is superior across nearly every compute metric.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every specification category. The N1X uses the GB20B chip with Blackwell 2.0 architecture, while the RTX 3500 uses the AD104 chip with Ada Lovelace architecture. Both are 5 nm TSMC parts, but the N1X die is 382 mm² versus 294 mm² for the RTX 3500. The RTX 3500 lists 35,800 million transistors and a density of 121.8M per mm²; the N1X transistor count is unknown.

Clocks diverge: the N1X has a 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost, while the RTX 3500 has a 1725 MHz base and 2250 MHz boost. The N1X runs memory at 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective), while the RTX 3500 runs at 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective). Memory capacity is 128 GB LPDDR5X for the N1X versus 12 GB GDDR6 for the RTX 3500. Bus widths are 256 bit for the N1X and 192 bit for the RTX 3500. Bandwidth favors the RTX 3500 at 432.0 GB/s versus 273.2 GB/s.

Compute units differ: 6144 shading units, 384 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 48 RT cores, and 192 tensor cores for the N1X; 5120 shading units, 160 TMUs, 64 ROPs, 40 RT cores, and 160 tensor cores for the RTX 3500. Pixel rate favors the RTX 3500 at 144.0 GPixel/s versus 112.6 GPixel/s. Texture rate heavily favors the N1X at 900.9 GTexel/s versus 360.0 GTexel/s. FP32 and FP16 both favor the N1X at 28.83 TFLOPS versus 23.04 TFLOPS, with both at a 1:1 ratio.

Power and connectivity: the N1X has unknown TDP, the RTX 3500 has 100 W. Both are IGP slot width with no power connectors, but the RTX 3500 suggests a 300 W power supply. Bus interfaces are PCIe 5.0 x16 for the N1X and PCIe 4.0 x16 for the RTX 3500. Display outputs: 1x HDMI on the N1X, none on the RTX 3500. API support is entirely absent on the N1X, while the RTX 3500 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. Release dates differ: the N1X is dated 2026-05-31, while the RTX 3500 is dated 2023-03-20. The RTX 3500 has a predecessor (Ampere-MW) and successor (Blackwell-MW); the N1X lists neither. Both are marked as Active in production and both hold a 50th percentile rank with no recorded benchmark scores.