Arm based chip designs are reportedly being explored by Nvidia, according to insiders who spoke to Reuters. Nvidia’s upcoming CPUs, rooted in ARM architecture, are expected to be compatible with the Windows operating system.
This venture into the CPU domain aligns with Microsoft’s intensified push to enhance ARM architecture compatibility for its platforms. These speculations emerge just as Qualcomm is gearing up to launch its Snapdragon X Elite processor tailored for PCs.
Arm based chip in works…
The report suggests that by 2025, Nvidia and AMD might venture into the PC chip market, as indicated by an insider. Nvidia is discreetly working on central processing units (CPUs) that would be compatible with Microsoft’s Windows, leveraging Arm based chip technology, as shared by two sources with Reuters.
This move would see Nvidia and AMD aligning with Qualcomm, which has been producing Arm based chips for laptops since 2016. An upcoming event, graced by Microsoft executives including Pavan Davuluri, the vice president of Windows and Devices, will witness Qualcomm unveiling specifics about a premium chip crafted by former Apple engineers.
Following the Reuters disclosure about Nvidia’s intentions, Nvidia’s stock rose by 3.84%, while Intel’s dipped by 3.06%. Arm’s shares saw a 4.89% increase at the day’s end.
The report reveals that Nvidia’s interest in the Arm based chip for PCs is shared by AMD, their main competitor in the discrete GPU sector, a detail confirmed by other sources and previously mentioned by SemiAccurate.
Apple’s growing dominance using its in-house ARM-based processors for the macOS, post their split with Intel CPUs, is a significant highlight of the report.
At present, Qualcomm enjoys an exclusive deal to develop Arm based chips for Windows. But with this agreement ending next year, it sheds light on the intensified focus from Nvidia and AMD.
It’s important to mention that Nvidia isn’t new to the Arm based chip realm, with their Grace Hopper supercomputer being a prime example. However, this device isn’t tailored for the general consumer.
If Microsoft and chip companies decide to move forward, success isn’t guaranteed. Decades and billions have been invested by software developers in creating code for the x86 architecture, utilized by both Intel and AMD. Transitioning from x86 to Arm based designs isn’t straightforward, as code for x86 won’t inherently work on ARM, potentially leading to hurdles.
