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NVIDIA plans to introduce its first Arm-based "N1/N1x" gaming SoC in Dell's Alienware laptops later this year or early 2026, according to Taiwanese reports. The SoC is being developed with MediaTek, combining an Arm-derived CPU core and NVIDIA's Blackwell GPU architecture. Early rumors suggest that NVIDIA's new SoC will operate within an 80 W to 120 W power range, positioning it among existing high-performance laptop chips. When Qualcomm entered the Arm-based laptop design market with its Snapdragon X-series, it faced challenges because many titles required emulation through Microsoft's Prism framework, leading to compatibility issues and lower frame rates on Arm-based Windows devices. NVIDIA plans to work closely with Microsoft and game developers to ensure that Arm compatibility is present from day one, so every Arm SoC maker will benefit.
Rumors of an Arm-centric NVIDIA chip first appeared in 2023, and recent leaks suggest an engineering prototype already exists. During an earnings presentation earlier this year, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang announced that the company plans to integrate Arm CPU blocks into AI-oriented hardware, specifically mentioning the Digits compute system. Dell's CEO, Michael Dell, also hinted at a future AI-capable PC collaboration with NVIDIA, fueling speculation that Alienware will be the first to use the new chip. Beyond gaming, the partnership with MediaTek could lead to broader Arm solutions for both desktops and mobile devices. MediaTek is reportedly working on its own Arm-based PC processors, and AMD is exploring Arm architectures for future Surface devices. NVIDIA's entry into this space could turn Dell's Alienware laptops into a practical testbed for high-performance Arm technology in a market long dominated by x86 workforce.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source
Rumors of an Arm-centric NVIDIA chip first appeared in 2023, and recent leaks suggest an engineering prototype already exists. During an earnings presentation earlier this year, NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang announced that the company plans to integrate Arm CPU blocks into AI-oriented hardware, specifically mentioning the Digits compute system. Dell's CEO, Michael Dell, also hinted at a future AI-capable PC collaboration with NVIDIA, fueling speculation that Alienware will be the first to use the new chip. Beyond gaming, the partnership with MediaTek could lead to broader Arm solutions for both desktops and mobile devices. MediaTek is reportedly working on its own Arm-based PC processors, and AMD is exploring Arm architectures for future Surface devices. NVIDIA's entry into this space could turn Dell's Alienware laptops into a practical testbed for high-performance Arm technology in a market long dominated by x86 workforce.

View at TechPowerUp Main Site | Source