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Nvidia N1X matches Apple M3 Max in first CPU tests
Early Cinebench 2026 results put Nvidia’s N1X SoC roughly level with Apple’s 14-core M3 Max, despite Nvidia using 20 cores.
Image: iXBT
Nvidia’s upcoming N1X SoC is showing early CPU performance on par with Apple’s M3 Max in first leaked tests, though the comparison comes with a catch: Nvidia’s chip reportedly uses 20 cores, while the Apple part in question has 14 cores.
A TechPowerUP forum user going by Fouquin shared preliminary results for the Nvidia N1X, also referred to as RTX Spark. This is the same platform used in the DGX Spark mini PC, but positioned here as a solution for laptops. The tests were run on a pre-release Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra, so final retail systems could perform differently.
In Cinebench 2026, the processor scored 540 points in single-threaded mode and 5771 in multi-threaded mode. According to the report, that is nearly identical to the result of Apple’s 14-core M3 Max.
The power settings matter here. In this specific laptop, the chip was reportedly configured through a hidden profile with a 95W power limit, while the default setting was only up to 64W.
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For now, that suggests the CPU side of the Nvidia N1X looks fairly strong, but not class-leading even among Arm platforms. Laptops based on the SoC are expected to reach the market in autumn.
Computing Editor
Tomas lives in the terminal. He covers chips, laptops, and operating systems with a focus on performance and efficiency. He reads kernel changelogs the way other people read fiction, and he's always on the hunt for the perfect mechanical keyboard switch. If it processes data, Tomas has an opinion on it.
via iXBT
