NVIDIA N1X 48SM vs NVIDIA Switch 2 GPU Comparison

FAQ

Q: What are the core specifications of the NVIDIA N1X 48SM and the NVIDIA Switch 2 GPU?

A: The N1X 48SM uses a GB20B chip on a 5 nm TSMC process, with 6144 shading units, 384 TMUs, 48 ROPs, 48 RT cores, and 192 tensor cores. The Switch 2 GPU uses a GA10B chip on an 8 nm Samsung process, with 1536 shading units, 48 TMUs, 16 ROPs, 12 RT cores, and 48 tensor cores.

Q: How do the memory subsystems compare between the two GPUs?

A: The N1X 48SM features 128 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 256-bit bus, delivering 273.2 GB/s of bandwidth. The Switch 2 GPU has 12 GB of LPDDR5X memory on a 128-bit bus, providing 102.4 GB/s.

Q: What are the clock speeds and compute throughput figures?

A: The N1X 48SM has a base clock of 741 MHz and a boost clock of 2346 MHz, achieving 28.83 TFLOPS FP32 and 28.83 TFLOPS FP16 (1:1). The Switch 2 GPU runs at 561 MHz base and 1400 MHz boost, reaching 4.301 TFLOPS FP32 and 8.602 TFLOPS FP16 (2:1).

Q: Which GPU has higher pixel and texture rates?

A: The N1X 48SM delivers 112.6 GPixel/s and 900.9 GTexel/s. The Switch 2 GPU delivers 22.40 GPixel/s and 67.20 GTexel/s.

Q: What API support does each GPU offer?

A: The N1X 48SM lists DirectX, OpenGL, and Vulkan as N/A. The Switch 2 GPU supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4.

Q: What are the physical and power characteristics?

A: The N1X 48SM is an IGP with no power connectors and a PCIe 5.0 x16 interface, with a die size of 382 mm². The Switch 2 GPU has a 40 W TDP, dimensions of 272 mm by 116 mm by 14 mm, and a die size of 200 mm².

Where Each One Wins

The N1X 48SM dominates across every raw compute and memory metric recorded in the database. Its FP32 throughput of 28.83 TFLOPS is approximately 6.7 times higher than the Switch 2 GPU's 4.301 TFLOPS. The FP16 comparison shows a different ratio: the N1X 48SM maintains 28.83 TFLOPS at a 1:1 rate, while the Switch 2 GPU reaches 8.602 TFLOPS at a 2:1 rate, meaning the N1X 48SM still leads by a factor of over 3.3.

The memory hierarchy strongly favors the N1X 48SM. With 128 GB versus 12 GB, the N1X 48SM offers over ten times the capacity. The 256-bit bus width versus 128-bit doubles the interface width, and the resulting bandwidth of 273.2 GB/s is roughly 2.7 times the Switch 2 GPU's 102.4 GB/s.

Pixel throughput favors the N1X 48SM at 112.6 GPixel/s, which is slightly over five times the Switch 2 GPU's 22.40 GPixel/s. Texture rate shows the largest single-metric gap: 900.9 GTexel/s versus 67.20 GTexel/s, a factor of approximately 13.4.

The Switch 2 GPU holds advantages in areas unrelated to raw performance. It has a smaller die at 200 mm² versus 382 mm², a lower 40 W TDP versus an unknown TDP for the N1X 48SM, and full API support including DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, whereas the N1X 48SM reports N/A for all three APIs. The Switch 2 GPU also has a defined launch MSRP of 449 USD, while the N1X 48SM has no recorded launch MSRP.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs belong to entirely different architectural generations. The N1X 48SM is built on Blackwell 2.0 with the GB20B chip, classified as part of the Blackwell IGP (N1x) generation. The Switch 2 GPU uses the Ampere architecture with the GA10B chip, designated as a Console GPU for Nintendo.

Manufacturing processes differ substantially. The N1X 48SM uses a 5 nm process at TSMC, while the Switch 2 GPU uses an 8 nm process at Samsung. This process difference contributes to the die size gap: the N1X 48SM measures 382 mm², while the Switch 2 GPU measures 200 mm². Transistor counts are listed as unknown for both, so no density comparison is possible from the recorded data.

Compute resources scale in a consistent pattern. The N1X 48SM has four times the shading units (6144 versus 1536), eight times the TMUs (384 versus 48), three times the ROPs (48 versus 16), four times the RT cores (48 versus 12), and four times the tensor cores (192 versus 48). This uniform scaling in shading units, RT cores, and tensor cores suggests a similar architectural block structure, but the TMU and ROP ratios diverge, indicating different resource allocation priorities.

The FP16 execution ratio differs between the two. The N1X 48SM achieves FP16 at a 1:1 ratio with FP32, meaning both formats deliver the same 28.83 TFLOPS. The Switch 2 GPU operates FP16 at a 2:1 ratio, doubling its FP32 throughput to reach 8.602 TFLOPS. This indicates the N1X 48SM has dedicated FP16 throughput equal to FP32, while the Switch 2 GPU uses a more traditional packed execution approach.

Memory technology is the same type, LPDDR5X, but the configurations diverge significantly. The N1X 48SM uses a 256-bit bus, while the Switch 2 GPU uses a 128-bit bus. The effective memory speeds also differ: the N1X 48SM runs at 1067 MHz with 8.5 Gbps effective, while the Switch 2 GPU runs at 800 MHz with 6.4 Gbps effective. Both factors contribute to the bandwidth gap.

The N1X 48SM is an integrated graphics processor with a PCIe 5.0 x16 bus interface, no power connectors, and a single HDMI display output. The Switch 2 GPU has no recorded bus interface, no power connector information, lists "No outputs" for display outputs, and has physical dimensions of 272 mm by 116 mm by 14 mm. The N1X 48SM has no recorded dimensions.

Specification Differences

| Specification | NVIDIA N1X 48SM | NVIDIA Switch 2 GPU |

|---|---|---|

| Chip | GB20B | GA10B |

| Architecture | Blackwell 2.0 | Ampere |

| Generation | Blackwell IGP (N1x) | Console GPU (Nintendo) |

| Process Node | 5 nm | 8 nm |

| Foundry | TSMC | Samsung |

| Die Size | 382 mm² | 200 mm² |

| Base Clock | 741 MHz | 561 MHz |

| Boost Clock | 2346 MHz | 1400 MHz |

| Memory Clock | 1067 MHz 8.5 Gbps effective | 800 MHz 6.4 Gbps effective |

| Memory Size | 128 GB | 12 GB |

| Memory Bus Width | 256 bit | 128 bit |

| Memory Bandwidth | 273.2 GB/s | 102.4 GB/s |

| Shading Units | 6144 | 1536 |

| TMUs | 384 | 48 |

| ROPs | 48 | 16 |

| RT Cores | 48 | 12 |

| Tensor Cores | 192 | 48 |

| Pixel Rate | 112.6 GPixel/s | 22.40 GPixel/s |

| Texture Rate | 900.9 GTexel/s | 67.20 GTexel/s |

| FP32 | 28.83 TFLOPS | 4.301 TFLOPS |

| FP16 | 28.83 TFLOPS (1:1) | 8.602 TFLOPS (2:1) |

| TDP | unknown | 40 W |

| Slot Width | IGP | null |

| Power Connectors | None | null |

| Bus Interface | PCIe 5.0 x16 | null |

| Display Outputs | 1x HDMI | No outputs |

| DirectX | N/A | 12 Ultimate (12_2) |

| OpenGL | N/A | 4.6 |

| Vulkan | N/A | 1.4 |

| Dimensions | null | 272 mm 10.7 inches, 116 mm 4.6 inches, 14 mm 0.6 inches |

| Release Date | 2026-05-31 | 2025-06-04 |

| Launch MSRP | null | 449 USD |

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The database records no direct head-to-head benchmark entries for these two GPUs, and both have an average benchmark score of 0 with a 50th percentile ranking across all GPUs. The comparison therefore rests entirely on their published specification sheets, which reveal a consistent and substantial performance gap.

The largest recorded difference appears in texture rate. The N1X 48SM delivers 900.9 GTexel/s, which is 13.4 times the Switch 2 GPU's 67.20 GTexel/s. This gap reflects the combination of 8 times the TMU count and a significantly higher boost clock of 2346 MHz versus 1400 MHz.

FP32 throughput shows the N1X 48SM at 28.83 TFLOPS versus 4.301 TFLOPS for the Switch 2 GPU, a multiplier of approximately 6.7. The shading unit count scales by exactly 4 times, but the clock advantage pushes the final ratio higher.

Pixel rate follows a similar pattern. The N1X 48SM achieves 112.6 GPixel/s against 22.40 GPixel/s, a 5.0 times advantage. The ROP count is 3 times higher on the N1X 48SM, and the clock advantage again amplifies the final figure.

Memory bandwidth shows the N1X 48SM at 273.2 GB/s versus 102.4 GB/s, a 2.7 times advantage. This results from both the doubled bus width and the faster effective memory speed of 8.5 Gbps versus 6.4 Gbps.

FP16 throughput presents a more nuanced comparison. The N1X 48SM maintains 28.83 TFLOPS at a 1:1 ratio, while the Switch 2 GPU reaches 8.602 TFLOPS at a 2:1 ratio. The N1X 48SM still leads by a factor of 3.35, but the Switch 2 GPU's packed FP16 execution narrows the gap relative to the FP32 comparison.

The Switch 2 GPU does hold advantages in specific areas. Its 40 W TDP is a defined power envelope, whereas the N1X 48SM's TDP is unknown. The Switch 2 GPU also has full API support for DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, while the N1X 48SM lists N/A for all three. The Switch 2 GPU has a smaller die at 200 mm² versus 382 mm², and its release date of 2025-06-04 precedes the N1X 48SM's 2026-05-31.

The Verdict

The recorded data positions these two GPUs in entirely different performance classes. The N1X 48SM leads in every raw throughput metric: FP32, FP16, pixel rate, texture rate, and memory bandwidth. Its 28.83 TFLOPS FP32 output places it far above the Switch 2 GPU's 4.301 TFLOPS. The 128 GB memory capacity and 256-bit bus provide a memory subsystem that the Switch 2 GPU's 12 GB and 128-bit bus cannot approach.

The Switch 2 GPU counters with practical advantages. Its 40 W TDP is the only recorded power figure between the two, making it the only one with a defined thermal envelope. It supports DirectX 12 Ultimate, OpenGL 4.6, and Vulkan 1.4, which the N1X 48SM does not list. Its smaller 200 mm² die and earlier release date also distinguish it.

The choice depends on the use case. For applications demanding maximum compute throughput, memory capacity, and bandwidth, the N1X 48SM is the only option that meets those requirements based on the recorded specifications. For scenarios requiring a defined power draw, full modern API compatibility, and a compact physical footprint, the Switch 2 GPU is the appropriate selection from the data.

The N1X 48SM's lack of API listings and unknown TDP introduce uncertainty for software compatibility and thermal design. The Switch 2 GPU's lower raw performance figures, however, place it at a clear disadvantage for any workload that scales with shading units, texture throughput, or memory bandwidth. The data shows a straightforward hierarchy: the N1X 48SM is the higher-performance part, while the Switch 2 GPU offers defined power characteristics and broader API support.