NVIDIA N1X 48SM vs NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation Comparison

The Verdict

The data presents a stark contrast between two NVIDIA offerings from different architectural generations. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM, a Blackwell IGP based on the GB20B chip, is listed with an average benchmark score of 0 and sits at the 50th percentile of all GPUs in the database. The NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation, built on the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD102 chip, records an average benchmark score of 184,664 and occupies the 98th percentile. The recorded benchmarks for the RTX 5000 Ada include a Geekbench OpenCL score of 175,286 and a Geekbench Vulkan score of 194,041. The N1X 48SM has no recorded benchmark entries in the database, which limits direct performance comparisons. The RTX 5000 Ada outperforms the NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80 GB by 0.5% and the NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell by 1.4% based on average scores. The N1X 48SM, as an integrated graphics processor, targets a fundamentally different segment, while the RTX 5000 Ada is a dual-slot workstation card with a 250 W TDP and a 600 W suggested PSU.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has the higher FP32 compute throughput?

A: The NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation delivers 65.28 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, while the NVIDIA N1X 48SM provides 28.83 TFLOPS. The RTX 5000 Ada more than doubles the raw compute output.

Q: What are the memory configurations of these two cards?

A: The N1X 48SM uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus with 273.2 GB/s bandwidth. The RTX 5000 Ada uses 32 GB of GDDR6 memory on a 256-bit bus with 576.0 GB/s bandwidth. The N1X 48SM has four times the capacity, while the RTX 5000 Ada has more than double the bandwidth.

Q: How do their architectural generations differ?

A: The N1X 48SM uses the Blackwell 2.0 architecture with the GB20B chip, while the RTX 5000 Ada uses the Ada Lovelace architecture with the AD102 chip. Both are manufactured on a 5 nm process at TSMC.

Q: Which GPU has more shading units and ray tracing cores?

A: The RTX 5000 Ada has 12,800 shading units and 100 RT cores. The N1X 48SM has 6,144 shading units and 48 RT cores. The RTX 5000 Ada has roughly double the shading units and more than double the RT cores.

Q: What is the production status of each GPU?

A: Both the NVIDIA N1X 48SM and the NVIDIA RTX 5000 Ada Generation are listed as Active in production status. The N1X 48SM has a release date of 2026-05-31, while the RTX 5000 Ada was released on 2023-08-08.

Q: What API support does each GPU offer?

A: The RTX 5000 Ada supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X 48SM lists N/A for DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan in the database, indicating no conventional graphics API support is recorded.

Architecture Differences

The architectural divide between these two GPUs is substantial. The NVIDIA N1X 48SM belongs to the Blackwell IGP generation, using the GB20B chip built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture. This is an integrated graphics processor with a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface, designed to be part of a larger system rather than a standalone card. The RTX 5000 Ada Generation belongs to the Workstation Ada generation, using the AD102 chip on the Ada Lovelace architecture. It has a predecessor listed as Workstation Ampere and a successor listed as Blackwell PRO W.

The N1X 48SM packs 6,144 shading units, 384 texture mapping units, 48 ROPs, 48 RT cores, and 192 tensor cores. The RTX 5000 Ada features 12,800 shading units, 400 TMUs, 176 ROPs, 100 RT cores, and 400 tensor cores. The RTX 5000 Ada has 48 RT cores more than the N1X 48SM, and 208 more tensor cores. The transistor counts differ significantly: the N1X 48SM has an unknown transistor count, while the RTX 5000 Ada uses 76,300 million transistors on a 609 mm² die. The N1X 48SM has a smaller die at 382 mm². The transistor density for the RTX 5000 Ada is recorded as 125.3M per mm², while no density figure exists for the N1X 48SM.

The N1X 48SM is an IGP with no power connectors and no slot width beyond the integrated form factor. The RTX 5000 Ada is a dual-slot card that requires a 1x 16-pin power connector and a 600 W suggested PSU. The API support also diverges: the N1X 48SM has no recorded DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan support, while the RTX 5000 Ada supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The display outputs differ as well, with the N1X 48SM offering a single HDMI output and the RTX 5000 Ada providing 4x DisplayPort 1.4a connections.

Specification Differences

The clock speeds show a notable gap. The N1X 48SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz. The RTX 5000 Ada has a base clock of 1155 MHz and a boost clock of 2550 MHz. The memory clocks also differ: the N1X 48SM runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective, while the RTX 5000 Ada runs at 2250 MHz with 18 Gbps effective. These clock differences contribute to the performance gap.

Memory capacity and type represent another major specification difference. The N1X 48SM offers 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, a substantial capacity for an integrated processor. The RTX 5000 Ada offers 32 GB of GDDR6 memory. Both use a 256-bit memory bus, but the bandwidth figures diverge sharply: 273.2 GB/s for the N1X 48SM versus 576.0 GB/s for the RTX 5000 Ada. The RTX 5000 Ada achieves more than double the memory bandwidth despite having a quarter of the capacity.

Pixel and texture rates follow the same pattern. The N1X 48SM delivers 112.6 GPixel/s and 900.9 GTexel/s. The RTX 5000 Ada delivers 448.8 GPixel/s and 1,020.0 GTexel/s. The FP16 performance mirrors FP32 for both: 28.83 TFLOPS for the N1X 48SM and 65.28 TFLOPS for the RTX 5000 Ada, both at a 1:1 ratio.

Physical specifications differ as well. The RTX 5000 Ada measures 267 mm in length (10.5 inches) and 112 mm in height (4.4 inches). The N1X 48SM has no recorded dimensions, consistent with its IGP form factor. The power profile is another differentiator: the RTX 5000 Ada has a 250 W TDP, while the N1X 48SM has an unknown TDP.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database contains no direct head-to-head benchmark entries between these two GPUs. However, the available benchmark data for the RTX 5000 Ada provides context for its performance level. The RTX 5000 Ada scores 175,286 in Geekbench OpenCL and 194,041 in Geekbench Vulkan, with an average benchmark score of 184,664. The N1X 48SM has no recorded benchmarks and an average score of 0, which places it at the 50th percentile of all GPUs in the database.

The nearest rivals for the RTX 5000 Ada illustrate the competitive landscape. The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 80 GB has an average score of 183,725, which is 0.5% lower than the RTX 5000 Ada. The NVIDIA A100 SXM4 40 GB scores 187,147, placing it 1.3% higher. The NVIDIA RTX PRO 5000 Blackwell scores 182,109, which is 1.4% lower. The NVIDIA GeForce RTX 4090 D scores 178,050, putting it 3.7% behind the RTX 5000 Ada. These figures show the RTX 5000 Ada holding a competitive position among high-end accelerators, with the N1X 48SM lacking comparable data.

The percentile rankings reinforce the gap. The RTX 5000 Ada sits at the 98th percentile of all GPUs, while the N1X 48SM sits at the 50th percentile. This percentile difference, combined with the absence of any benchmark scores for the N1X 48SM, makes quantitative comparison difficult. The recorded data indicates that the RTX 5000 Ada is a top-tier performer, while the N1X 48SM's position in the database reflects its integrated nature rather than an established benchmark track record.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5000 Ada Generation wins on raw computational performance across every measured metric. Its FP32 throughput of 65.28 TFLOPS is 36.45 TFLOPS higher than the N1X 48SM's 28.83 TFLOPS. The pixel rate of 448.8 GPixel/s is more than three times the N1X 48SM's 112.6 GPixel/s. The texture rate of 1,020.0 GTexel/s exceeds the N1X 48SM's 900.9 GTexel/s by a meaningful margin. The RTX 5000 Ada also holds advantages in shading units, TMUs, ROPs, RT cores, and tensor cores, with 12,800 versus 6,144 shading units and 176 versus 48 ROPs.

Memory bandwidth is another clear win for the RTX 5000 Ada. At 576.0 GB/s, it delivers 302.8 GB/s more bandwidth than the N1X 48SM's 273.2 GB/s. This bandwidth advantage matters for memory-intensive workloads. The RTX 5000 Ada also supports a full graphics API stack with DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1X 48SM has no recorded API support. The RTX 5000 Ada provides four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs versus a single HDMI on the N1X 48SM.

The N1X 48SM wins on memory capacity. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory is four times the 32 GB available on the RTX 5000 Ada. This capacity advantage could benefit workloads that require large datasets in local memory. The N1X 48SM also has a smaller die at 382 mm² compared to 609 mm², and it uses a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface versus PCIe 4.0 x16 on the RTX 5000 Ada. The integrated form factor of the N1X 48SM means no separate power connectors are needed, while the RTX 5000 Ada requires a 16-pin connector and a 600 W suggested PSU.

The release timeline also differs, with the N1X 48SM dated for 2026-05-31 and the RTX 5000 Ada released on 2023-08-08. The RTX 5000 Ada has an established benchmark record, while the N1X 48SM's data remains sparse. For workloads requiring maximum compute, bandwidth, and established API compatibility, the RTX 5000 Ada is the clear choice based on the recorded data. For applications prioritizing memory capacity and integrated system design, the N1X 48SM offers distinct advantages.