NVIDIA N1X 48SM vs NVIDIA RTX 5880 Ada Generation Comparison

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The recorded data shows a stark contrast between these two NVIDIA offerings. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation holds an 85th percentile ranking among all GPUs, while the N1X 48SM sits at the 50th percentile. The RTX 5880 delivers a Geekbench OpenCL score of 326,898, and its PassMark G3D score reaches 25,096. The N1X 48SM has no recorded benchmark scores in the database, meaning direct numerical comparison is limited to architectural specifications rather than measured performance outputs.

The RTX 5880's compute performance in PassMark GPU Compute is 14,208, which places it in a competitive cluster with the NVIDIA RTX A2000 (46,043 average score, 0.2% ahead of the 5880), the Intel Arc A730M (45,592, 0.8% behind), the AMD Radeon Pro 5500 XT (45,384, 1.3% behind), and the AMD Radeon RX 5600M (46,601, 1.4% ahead). These deltas are narrow, indicating the 5880 sits within a tight performance band around the 45,000 to 46,600 average score range. The N1X 48SM, by contrast, has an average benchmark score of zero and no nearest rivals listed, so it cannot be positioned relative to any measured competition.

When examining raw throughput figures from the specification data, the RTX 5880 delivers 69.27 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is more than double the N1X 48SM's 28.83 TFLOPS. The texture rate follows a similar pattern: 1,082.4 GTexel/s for the 5880 versus 900.9 GTexel/s for the N1X. Pixel throughput shows an even larger gap, with the 5880 producing 433.0 GPixel/s compared to 112.6 GPixel/s for the N1X. These figures indicate the 5880 holds a substantial lead in every measured rate metric, though the N1X's role as an integrated graphics processor (IGP) suggests it targets a different performance envelope entirely.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs represent distinct architectural generations from NVIDIA. The N1X 48SM uses the GB20B chip built on the Blackwell 2.0 architecture, classified in the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. The RTX 5880 Ada Generation uses the AD102 chip on the Ada Lovelace architecture, classified in the Workstation Ada (x000A) generation. Both are fabricated by TSMC on a 5 nm process, but the die sizes diverge significantly: the N1X measures 382 mm², while the 5880 spans 609 mm². Transistor counts also differ, with the 5880 containing 76,300 million transistors at a density of 125.3 million per mm². The N1X's transistor count is not recorded.

The shading infrastructure reveals the 5880's larger compute footprint. The 5880 carries 14,080 shading units, 440 texture mapping units, and 176 ROPs. The N1X provides 6,144 shading units, 384 TMUs, and 48 ROPs. Ray tracing hardware shows 110 RT cores on the 5880 versus 48 on the N1X. Tensor cores number 440 on the 5880, compared to 192 on the N1X. Both GPUs maintain a 1:1 FP16 to FP32 ratio, meaning their half-precision throughput matches their single-precision figures.

Memory architecture differs substantially. The N1X uses 128 GB of LPDDR5X on a 256-bit bus, yielding 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth at 1067 MHz (8.5 Gbps effective). The 5880 uses 48 GB of GDDR6 on a 384-bit bus, delivering 864.0 GB/s at 2250 MHz (18 Gbps effective). The 5880's bandwidth advantage is roughly threefold, which directly supports its higher pixel and texture rates. The N1X's larger capacity, however, may serve workloads where memory size outweighs speed.

Clock behavior also separates the two. The N1X runs at a 741 MHz base and 2346 MHz boost. The 5880 runs at 975 MHz base and 2460 MHz boost. The 5880's higher clocks contribute to its throughput advantage, though the N1X's boost clock is not far behind. The N1X's power draw is unrecorded, while the 5880 draws 285 W and requires a 600 W suggested PSU. Physical specifications show the N1X as an IGP with no slot width, no power connectors, and a single HDMI output. The 5880 is a dual-slot card measuring 267 mm by 112 mm, using one 16-pin power connector, and offering four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

API support further distinguishes them. The 5880 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X has no API support recorded for DirectX, OpenGL, or Vulkan, which suggests it operates outside standard graphics API frameworks or within a proprietary environment.

The Verdict

The data indicates the RTX 5880 Ada Generation is the clear performance leader by every measured specification. Its FP32 throughput of 69.27 TFLOPS, memory bandwidth of 864.0 GB/s, and pixel rate of 433.0 GPixel/s position it far ahead of the N1X 48SM's corresponding figures. The 5880 also holds a 85th percentile ranking, placing it above the vast majority of GPUs in the database, while the N1X sits at the median with no benchmark scores to validate its real-world performance.

The N1X 48SM, however, offers capabilities the 5880 does not. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory far exceeds the 5880's 48 GB, and its integrated form factor with no power connectors and a single HDMI output makes it suitable for compact or embedded deployments. The N1X's Blackwell 2.0 architecture is newer than the 5880's Ada Lovelace, and its PCIe 5.0 x16 interface provides double the bus bandwidth of the 5880's PCIe 4.0 x16. These factors suggest the N1X targets different use cases than the 5880, despite its lower raw compute.

Buyers requiring maximum compute, memory bandwidth, and established API support should select the RTX 5880. Buyers needing large memory capacity in an integrated package with a newer architecture should consider the N1X, provided their workloads do not depend on the performance metrics where the 5880 excels.

Specification Differences

The two GPUs differ across nearly every recorded specification. The N1X uses the GB20B chip on Blackwell 2.0, while the 5880 uses the AD102 chip on Ada Lovelace. The N1X has a 382 mm² die; the 5880 measures 609 mm². The 5880 contains 76,300 million transistors; the N1X's count is unknown. Base clocks are 741 MHz for the N1X and 975 MHz for the 5880. Boost clocks are 2346 MHz and 2460 MHz, respectively. Memory sizes are 128 GB for the N1X and 48 GB for the 5880. Memory types are LPDDR5X and GDDR6. Bus widths are 256-bit and 384-bit. Memory bandwidth is 273.2 GB/s versus 864.0 GB/s. Shading units are 6,144 versus 14,080. TMUs are 384 versus 440. ROPs are 48 versus 176. RT cores are 48 versus 110. Tensor cores are 192 versus 440.

Pixel rates are 112.6 GPixel/s and 433.0 GPixel/s. Texture rates are 900.9 GTexel/s and 1,082.4 GTexel/s. FP32 and FP16 are 28.83 TFLOPS for the N1X and 69.27 TFLOPS for the 5880. The 5880 has a 285 W TDP; the N1X's TDP is unknown. The N1X is an IGP with no power connectors and no slot width. The 5880 is dual-slot with one 16-pin connector and a 600 W suggested PSU. The N1X uses PCIe 5.0 x16; the 5880 uses PCIe 4.0 x16. Display outputs are one HDMI for the N1X and four DisplayPort 1.4a for the 5880. API support is absent for the N1X and includes DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 for the 5880. Release dates are May 31, 2026 for the N1X and January 4, 2024 for the 5880. The 5880 lists a predecessor (Workstation Ampere) and successor (Blackwell PRO W); the N1X lists neither.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher FP32 compute performance?

A: The RTX 5880 Ada Generation delivers 69.27 TFLOPS of FP32 performance, which is more than double the N1X 48SM's 28.83 TFLOPS.

Q: How do the memory capacities compare?

A: The N1X 48SM has 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory, while the RTX 5880 has 48 GB of GDDR6 memory. The N1X offers more than 2.5 times the capacity.

Q: Which GPU provides higher memory bandwidth?

A: The RTX 5880 provides 864.0 GB/s of bandwidth on a 384-bit bus, while the N1X provides 273.2 GB/s on a 256-bit bus. The 5880's bandwidth is roughly three times higher.

Q: What is the performance percentile for each GPU?

A: The RTX 5880 ranks in the 85th percentile among all GPUs, while the N1X 48SM ranks in the 50th percentile.

Q: Do both GPUs support the same APIs?

A: No. The RTX 5880 supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4. The N1X 48SM has no API support recorded in the database.

Q: What are the physical form factors?

A: The N1X 48SM is an integrated graphics processor with no slot width, no power connectors, and a single HDMI output. The RTX 5880 is a dual-slot card measuring 267 mm by 112 mm, using one 16-pin power connector and offering four DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX 5880 Ada Generation wins in every measured performance category. Its FP32 throughput of 69.27 TFLOPS, texture rate of 1,082.4 GTexel/s, and pixel rate of 433.0 GPixel/s make it suitable for compute-heavy workstation tasks. Its 864.0 GB/s memory bandwidth supports large data transfers and high-resolution rendering. The 5880's 110 RT cores and 440 tensor cores provide substantial hardware acceleration for ray tracing and AI workloads. Its support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4 ensures compatibility with standard graphics APIs. The 5880's 85th percentile ranking and average benchmark score of 45,972 confirm its measured performance in the database, with nearest rivals within a narrow 1.4% range.

The N1X 48SM wins in memory capacity and integration. Its 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory exceeds the 5880's 48 GB by a wide margin, which benefits workloads requiring massive in-memory datasets. Its IGP form factor with no power connectors and a single HDMI output allows deployment in systems without discrete card slots. The N1X uses PCIe 5.0 x16, which doubles the bus bandwidth of the 5880's PCIe 4.0 x16, potentially reducing data transfer bottlenecks. Its Blackwell 2.0 architecture is a newer generation than Ada Lovelace, and its release date of May 31, 2026 is more than two years after the 5880's January 4, 2024 launch. The N1X's 48 RT cores and 192 tensor cores, while fewer than the 5880's, still provide dedicated acceleration hardware. The N1X's 5 nm process node matches the 5880's, and its 382 mm² die is smaller, which may factor into power efficiency, though its TDP is unrecorded.

The data shows no overlap in their optimal use cases. The 5880 targets high-performance workstation tasks where compute, bandwidth, and API support are critical. The N1X targets memory-capacious integrated deployments where physical space and power connectors are constrained. The 5880's nearest rivals in the database, the RTX A2000 and AMD Radeon RX 5600M, sit within 1.4% of its average score, indicating a competitive field at its performance level. The N1X has no recorded rivals, which reflects its unique positioning as an IGP with 128 GB of memory and no benchmark data.