NVIDIA, more famous these days because of AI, is reportedly planning to launch its own laptop chips later this year.
According to the Wall Street Journal, NVIDIA is working with Intel and MediaTek on two different chip strategies.
The partnership with Intel is said to focus on an x86 chip that combines an Intel CPU with NVIDIA’s GPU and NPU. The integrated system-on-chip (SoC) design would enable thinner and lighter laptops while delivering improved power efficiency.
At the same time, the company is said to be collaborating with MediaTek on an ARM-based chip. Two chips, codenamed N1 and N1X, are said to be in the works. Like the x86 project, both ARM-based chips are expected to feature an integrated design for better performance and efficiency. This raises the possibility that NVIDIA could push integrated GPU performance in laptops to new levels.
Anyone who’s old enough to remember Tegra will know this isn’t NVIDIA’s first foray into laptop chips. While the first Tegra products were promising (as the first Surface RT), they were products ahead of their time. Back then, Windows on ARM did not enjoy the same level of adoption and support as it does now.
Crucially, NVIDIA’s entry into the laptop processor market could significantly disrupt the consumer PC landscape. The move offers device makers a new alternative and places NVIDIA in direct competition with players such as AMD, Apple, and Qualcomm.
Source: Wall Street Journal