NVIDIA is reportedly venturing into the development of a new System on Chip (SoC) that could reshape the computing sector. According to VideoCardz, this processor is anticipated to combine ARM's latest Cortex X5 cores with NVIDIA's Blackwell GPU, potentially offering enhanced performance.
Technical Specifications and Potential Impact
The upcoming SoC is expected to incorporate LPDDR6 memory, which would significantly improve performance over previous iterations. Additionally, the processor is rumored to be fabricated using Intel's 3nm process technology, underscoring NVIDIA's focus on utilizing advanced manufacturing techniques. This move could position NVIDIA as a formidable competitor to Qualcomm, particularly in the Windows on ARM ecosystem, where Qualcomm has been the primary player.
There are speculations about a potential partnership between NVIDIA and MediaTek. Such a collaboration could result in the processor being deployed across various devices, including next-generation gaming handhelds and AI-driven PCs. This partnership would expand NVIDIA's market reach and could present a challenge to existing ARM-based processor manufacturers.
Confirmation from Industry Executives
High-level executives from Dell and NVIDIA have confirmed that NVIDIA is developing a client PC processor for the Windows on ARM AI PC ecosystem. Michael Dell indicated that this AI PC processor could be available by 2025. This development suggests that NVIDIA is serious about entering a market currently dominated by Qualcomm.
NVIDIA has a long-standing history in the SoC market, having developed the Tegra series for over a decade. The success of the Nintendo Switch, powered by the Tegra X1 processor, highlights NVIDIA's capability to produce high-performance chips. However, the rumored processor signifies a strategic shift towards AI and high-performance computing, rather than focusing solely on gaming consoles.
Advanced Graphics and AI Capabilities
The new processor is expected to feature an integrated GPU based on the Blackwell graphics architecture, offering robust graphics acceleration capabilities, including support for DirectX 12 Ultimate and Vulkan. The integrated GPU, with its tensor cores, could also function as an AI coprocessor, optimizing silicon real estate for NVIDIA. This setup could expose the GPU as an NPU virtual device to Windows, utilizing translation layers to TensorRT.
By 2025, LPDDR6 memory is anticipated to become mainstream for mobile applications, including smartphones, tablets, and ultraportable PCs. It is likely that NVIDIA will adopt this memory standard for its new processor. Additionally, NVIDIA might employ the most advanced 3nm-class foundry node available in 2025, such as the TSMC N3P, which is also expected to be used by Apple and Qualcomm for their contemporary notebook chips.
