NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile vs NVIDIA T1000 8 GB Comparison

The Verdict

The data clearly separates these two workstation GPUs by workload type. For tasks that rely on raw compute throughput, especially FP32 math, the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile is decisively ahead. Its FP32 rate of 6.296 TFLOPS is more than double the 2.500 TFLOPS of the NVIDIA T1000 8 GB, a 152% advantage in theoretical peak compute. The RTX A500 Mobile also outpaces the T1000 8 GB in the recorded Geekbench Vulkan test, scoring 37,873 versus 34,561, a 9.6% lead.

However, the T1000 8 GB is the correct choice when memory capacity and bandwidth dominate. The T1000 8 GB carries 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus, delivering 160.0 GB/s, while the RTX A500 Mobile is limited to 4 GB on a 64-bit bus, providing only 96.00 GB/s. For workstation tasks with large datasets that exceed 4 GB, the RTX A500 Mobile simply cannot hold the working set in VRAM, regardless of its compute advantage.

The T1000 8 GB also has a structural advantage for physical installation: it is a single-slot card with four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs, while the RTX A500 Mobile is an integrated IGP with outputs described as portable device dependent. The RTX A500 Mobile requires no power connector and has a 30 W TDP, whereas the T1000 8 GB also has no power connector but runs at 50 W with a suggested PSU of 250 W.

The verdict from the data: choose the RTX A500 Mobile for compute-heavy workloads where the 2048 shading units and ray tracing cores can be utilized, assuming the 4 GB memory limit is acceptable. Choose the T1000 8 GB when 8 GB capacity, higher memory bandwidth, and fixed desktop display outputs are non-negotiable.

Architecture Differences

The two GPUs come from different NVIDIA architectures and process nodes. The RTX A500 Mobile uses the GA107S chip built on the Ampere architecture at Samsung's 8 nm process. It packs 8,700 million transistors into a 200 mm² die, yielding a transistor density of 43.5M per mm². The T1000 8 GB uses the TU117 chip on the Turing architecture at TSMC's 12 nm process, with 4,700 million transistors in the same 200 mm² die area, giving a density of 23.5M per mm².

The compute resources differ dramatically. The RTX A500 Mobile has 2048 shading units, 64 texture mapping units, and 32 ROPs, alongside 16 dedicated ray tracing cores and 64 tensor cores. The T1000 8 GB has only 896 shading units and 56 TMUs, with the same 32 ROPs, but it has no dedicated ray tracing cores and no tensor cores at all.

Clock behavior also differs. The RTX A500 Mobile runs at a base of 832 MHz and boosts to 1537 MHz. The T1000 8 GB starts at a higher base of 1065 MHz but boosts lower, to 1395 MHz. Despite the T1000's higher base clock, the RTX A500 Mobile's much larger shader count produces higher pixel and texture rates: 49.18 GPixel/s and 98.37 GTexel/s versus 44.64 GPixel/s and 78.12 GTexel/s respectively.

The memory subsystems are built differently. The RTX A500 Mobile uses 4 GB of GDDR6 at 1500 MHz with 12 Gbps effective speed over a 64-bit bus, producing 96.00 GB/s. The T1000 8 GB uses 8 GB of GDDR6 at 1250 MHz with 10 Gbps effective speed over a 128-bit bus, producing 160.0 GB/s. The T1000's wider bus gives it 66.7% more bandwidth despite slower memory clock.

The FP16 performance reveals the architectural split. The RTX A500 Mobile achieves 6.296 TFLOPS FP16 with a 1:1 ratio to FP32, meaning no dedicated half-rate path. The T1000 8 GB achieves 5.000 TFLOPS FP16 with a 2:1 ratio, doubling its FP32 rate through specialized execution. This means the T1000's FP16 throughput is actually closer to the RTX A500 Mobile than its FP32 suggests, though still 20.6% lower.

Interface and power delivery differ as well. The RTX A500 Mobile uses PCIe 4.0 x8, while the T1000 8 GB uses PCIe 3.0 x16. The RTX A500 Mobile is an IGP with no slot width and no power connectors, while the T1000 is a single-slot card measuring 156 mm by 69 mm with four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs.

FAQ

Q: Which GPU has higher raw compute performance?

A: The NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile. Its FP32 throughput is 6.296 TFLOPS versus 2.500 TFLOPS for the NVIDIA T1000 8 GB, more than double. The RTX A500 Mobile also has 2048 shading units compared to 896.

Q: Which GPU has more memory and bandwidth?

A: The NVIDIA T1000 8 GB. It has 8 GB of GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus providing 160.0 GB/s, while the RTX A500 Mobile has 4 GB on a 64-bit bus providing 96.00 GB/s.

Q: Does the RTX A500 Mobile support ray tracing?

A: Yes, it has 16 dedicated ray tracing cores. The T1000 8 GB has no ray tracing cores and also lacks tensor cores.

Q: What is the interface difference between the two?

A: The RTX A500 Mobile uses PCIe 4.0 x8, while the T1000 8 GB uses PCIe 3.0 x16.

Q: Which GPU is more efficient in terms of power?

A: The RTX A500 Mobile has a 30 W TDP, while the T1000 8 GB has a 50 W TDP. The T1000 8 GB also lists a suggested PSU of 250 W, while the RTX A500 Mobile has none listed.

Q: Which GPU has a higher average benchmark score?

A: The RTX A500 Mobile, with an average benchmark score of 39,568 compared to 34,561 for the T1000 8 GB. This places the RTX A500 Mobile at the 82nd percentile versus the 79th percentile for the T1000.

Specification Differences

The two cards differ in nearly every major specification category. The process node is 8 nm for the RTX A500 Mobile versus 12 nm for the T1000 8 GB. Transistor count is 8,700 million versus 4,700 million, with densities of 43.5M per mm² versus 23.5M per mm² on the same 200 mm² die.

The compute pipeline: 2048 shading units, 64 TMUs, 32 ROPs, 16 RT cores, and 64 tensor cores for the RTX A500 Mobile; 896 shading units, 56 TMUs, 32 ROPs, and no RT or tensor cores for the T1000 8 GB.

Clocks: the RTX A500 Mobile runs at 832 MHz base and 1537 MHz boost with memory at 1500 MHz (12 Gbps effective). The T1000 8 GB runs at 1065 MHz base and 1395 MHz boost with memory at 1250 MHz (10 Gbps effective).

Memory: 4 GB GDDR6 on a 64-bit bus at 96.00 GB/s for the RTX A500 Mobile; 8 GB GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus at 160.0 GB/s for the T1000 8 GB.

Throughput rates: 49.18 GPixel/s and 98.37 GTexel/s for the RTX A500 Mobile; 44.64 GPixel/s and 78.12 GTexel/s for the T1000 8 GB. FP32 is 6.296 TFLOPS versus 2.500 TFLOPS. FP16 is 6.296 TFLOPS (1:1) versus 5.000 TFLOPS (2:1).

Power and physical: 30 W TDP, IGP slot, no power connector for the RTX A500 Mobile; 50 W TDP, single-slot, no power connector, 250 W suggested PSU for the T1000 8 GB. The T1000 measures 156 mm by 69 mm.

Bus and display: PCIe 4.0 x8 with portable device dependent outputs for the RTX A500 Mobile; PCIe 3.0 x16 with 4x mini-DisplayPort 1.4a for the T1000 8 GB.

API support: the RTX A500 Mobile supports DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2), while the T1000 8 GB only supports DirectX 12 (12_1). Both support OpenGL 4.6 and Vulkan 1.4.

Release dates: the RTX A500 Mobile launched on 2022-03-21, the T1000 8 GB on 2021-05-05. Both are end-of-life.

Head-to-Head Benchmarks

The only directly comparable benchmark in the database is Geekbench Vulkan. In this test, the NVIDIA RTX A500 Mobile scores 37,873 against 34,561 for the NVIDIA T1000 8 GB. The delta is 9.6% in favor of the RTX A500 Mobile.

This Vulkan result aligns with the broader compute gap. The RTX A500 Mobile's FP32 throughput of 6.296 TFLOPS is 151.8% higher than the T1000's 2.500 TFLOPS. The RTX A500 Mobile also has 128.6% more shading units (2048 versus 896) and 14.3% more TMUs (64 versus 56).

The T1000 8 GB still manages to stay within 9.6% in the Vulkan test despite its massive compute disadvantage, which points to its memory bandwidth advantage. The T1000's 160.0 GB/s is 66.7% above the RTX A500 Mobile's 96.00 GB/s. The wider 128-bit bus and 8 GB capacity likely reduce memory pressure in real workloads, allowing the smaller shader array to stay better fed.

In the Geekbench OpenCL test, only the RTX A500 Mobile has a recorded score of 41,263. The T1000 8 GB has no OpenCL score in the database. The RTX A500 Mobile's average benchmark score across all recorded tests is 39,568.

The RTX A500 Mobile's nearest rivals in the database are AMD cards: the Radeon Pro 575 (39,555, 0% delta), Radeon Pro 575X (39,116, 1.2% behind), Radeon Pro WX 7100 (40,063, 1.2% ahead), and Radeon Pro 580 (40,318, 1.9% ahead). The RTX A500 Mobile sits essentially at parity with these mid-range workstation GPUs.

The T1000 8 GB's nearest rivals span more varied hardware: the AMD Radeon HD 7970 (34,541, 0.1% behind), NVIDIA A2 (34,690, 0.4% ahead), NVIDIA TITAN V (34,355, 0.6% behind), and NVIDIA RTX A1000 (34,207, 1% behind). The T1000 holds a slight edge over these, but the margins are narrow, all within 1%.

Where Each One Wins

The RTX A500 Mobile wins in every recorded compute benchmark and in theoretical FP32 throughput. Its 6.296 TFLOPS FP32 is the standout figure, more than double the T1000's 2.500 TFLOPS. The 9.6% Vulkan benchmark lead confirms this advantage translates to real graphics API workloads. The RTX A500 Mobile also wins on architecture features: it is the only one of the two with ray tracing cores (16) and tensor cores (64). Its DirectX 12 Ultimate (12_2) support exceeds the T1000's DirectX 12 (12_1). For tasks like 3D rendering, simulation, or machine learning inference that can use tensor cores, the RTX A500 Mobile is the clear choice from the data.

The RTX A500 Mobile also wins on efficiency metrics. It draws 30 W versus 50 W for the T1000, and it uses the newer 8 nm Samsung process versus 12 nm TSMC. Its PCIe 4.0 x8 interface, while narrower, offers a newer generation than the T1000's PCIe 3.0 x16. For compact or mobile workstation builds where the GPU is integrated into the board and power is limited, the RTX A500 Mobile's IGP form factor with no power connector is advantageous.

The T1000 8 GB wins in memory capacity and bandwidth. Its 8 GB GDDR6 on a 128-bit bus gives 160.0 GB/s, a 66.7% bandwidth advantage over the RTX A500 Mobile's 96.00 GB/s. For workloads that require loading large textures, big simulation grids, or multi-layer compositing that exceeds 4 GB, the T1000 8 GB is the only viable option between the two. The database shows the T1000's Vulkan score of 34,561 is only 9.6% behind despite having 56.3% fewer shading units, suggesting the memory subsystem partially compensates for the compute deficit.

The T1000 8 GB also wins on physical connectivity. Its four mini-DisplayPort 1.4a outputs are fixed and known, while the RTX A500 Mobile's outputs are portable device dependent, meaning the actual connectors vary by implementation. The T1000's single-slot 156 mm by 69 mm card format is a standard desktop workstation layout, whereas the RTX A500 Mobile is an IGP that must be integrated into a board design.

For FP16 workloads, the T1000 8 GB is surprisingly competitive. Its 5.000 TFLOPS FP16 (2:1) is only 20.6% below the RTX A500 Mobile's 6.296 TFLOPS (1:1), despite the huge FP32 gap. Applications that can use FP16 math on the T1000 will see less of a penalty than the FP32 numbers suggest.

The release dates indicate the RTX A500 Mobile is the newer design by nearly a year, launching 2022-03-21 versus 2021-05-05 for the T1000. Both are end-of-life, and neither has a recorded launch MSRP in the database.