• 2 min read
Nvidia N1X matches Apple M3 Max in early tests
Nvidia’s pre-release N1X matches Apple’s M3 Max in Cinebench 2026, with results varying between 64W and 95W power limits.
Image: ITzine
Nvidia’s pre-release N1X processor, also known as RTX Spark, has matched the performance level of Apple’s M3 Max in its first tests. The result is notable for a chip clearly aimed at laptops, although its performance remains closely tied to power limits and unfinished hardware.
The initial figures were posted by Fouquin, a TechPowerUp forum member. In Cinebench 2026, the N1X scored 540 points in the single-core test and 5,771 points in the multi-core test. That is almost identical to the 14-core Apple M3 Max, despite Nvidia’s chip being listed with 20 cores.
The tests ran on a pre-release Microsoft Surface Laptop Ultra, so performance could still change before retail systems arrive. A hidden profile raised the power limit to 95 watts, while the default limit was lower at 64 watts. That difference matters in laptops: these chips are highly sensitive to power settings, and the benchmark behavior reflects it.
Nvidia’s result comes as Arm-based laptops continue to gain momentum. Qualcomm already offers the Snapdragon X Elite and X Plus, while Apple maintains its performance position in the MacBook Pro. Nvidia is also positioning the N1X as the foundation for the DGX Spark mini-PC.
The competitive picture should become clearer in the autumn, when the first N1X laptops are expected to reach stores.
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Sergey Kuznetsov is editor-in-chief of itzine.ru and a technical journalist with 15 years of experience. He specializes in in-depth testing of audio equipment, camera technology, and consumer electronics. He has written more than 5,000 articles covering topics from gaming chairs and networking equipment to smartphone and wearable-device market analysis. At itzine.ru, he oversees expert sections and shapes the publication’s editorial policy.
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 ITzine
