Nvidia's Arm-based PC chips for consumers to launch in September 2025, commercial to follow in 2026: Report

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(Image credit: Nvidia)

Nvidia's Arm-based consumer PC platform, which has reportedly been in development for a while, is set to launch about a year from now, in September 2025, according to DigiTimes. The Arm-based PC platform for Windows is expected to rely on Nvidia's own CPU and GPU designs and will likely target the premium segment of the market. 

Nvidia's ambitious client PC platform roadmap includes both internally developed platforms and platforms designed in collaboration with MediaTek. Nvidia is preparing to introduce a high-end Arm-based CPU and GPU platform for consumers in September 2025, with a 'commercial launch in March 2026,' according to the report. It is unclear whether DigiTimes means that Nvidia is set to introduce two platforms: one for consumer computers in September 2025 and another for business and commercial PCs in March 2026, or that Nvidia will formally introduce its PC platform in September and then ship it in volume in March. 

Experts in the supply chain suggest that Nvidia will have a strong position to enter the client PC market due to its expertise and domination of the AI server market and discrete PC GPU market, as well as its experience with Grace CPUs and Tegra application processors. 

It remains to be seen what exactly Nvidia will offer. Competing for the mainstream PC market segment would involve designing a higher-end processor with built-in graphics akin to those offered by AMD, Intel, and Qualcomm. Given Nvidia's expertise with Tegra, such a system-on-chip will not be uncharted territory for the company. Of course, such an SoC would probably compete against MediaTek's Dimensity processors for Windows PCs in at least some segments.  

In addition, Nvidia could introduce a high-performance CPU optimized for gaming and a discrete GPU, a platform that would compete against high-end AMD and Intel x86 platforms for gaming PCs. To make this platform a success, Nvidia needs to ensure that modern games are compatible with its Arm processor and that it can take advantage of its unique capabilities. Considering that Nvidia already works closely with game developers, it could probably ensure compatibility with dozens of titles. Will it be enough to lure in gamers? We don't know. 

If the information about Nvidia's plans is accurate, the company's entry into the PC space reflects Nvidia's long-standing interest in challenging AMD and Nvidia on their home turf. This will not be its first attempt to do so. Microsoft initially introduced its Windows on Arm (WOA) platform in 2011 with the Windows RT operating system as well as application processors from Nvidia, Qualcomm, and Texas Instruments. However, this first attempt faced setbacks due to design issues with both the Surface device and the Windows RT OS itself. Eventually, Nvidia essentially put the development of its Tegra processors on hold. 

Qualcomm secured exclusivity on Windows on Arm platform in the mid-2010s (well, it was formally called Windows on Snapdragon). It even released several generations of platforms for always-connected PCs (ACPCs), but they never gained traction due to compatibility and performance issues. With the Snapdragon X Elite launch, Qualcomm can finally offer decent performance and compatibility with Windows and Arm, which is better than ever. Still, Qualcomm's exclusivity on Windows on Arm is reportedly ending, which opens doors to other players, including AMD, Nvidia, and MediaTek. 

TOPICS
Anton Shilov
Contributing Writer

Anton Shilov is a contributing writer at Tom’s Hardware. Over the past couple of decades, he has covered everything from CPUs and GPUs to supercomputers and from modern process technologies and latest fab tools to high-tech industry trends.

  • ekio
    Big news!
    Amd and especially Intel must be pooping their pants reading that. If Ngreedia’s arm cpu delivers, that’s going to be multiple billions of dollars shifted away from them. Also , it’s the first time Qualcomm will have PC arm competition, that will hurt.
    I am so impatient to see the first product!

    Maybe that means it’s time to let x86 go and bet on riscv and arm finally guy…
    Reply
  • tommo1982
    ekio said:
    Big news!
    Amd and especially Intel must be pooping their pants reading that. If Ngreedia’s arm cpu delivers, that’s going to be multiple billions of dollars shifted away from them. Also , it’s the first time Qualcomm will have PC arm competition, that will hurt.
    I am so impatient to see the first product!

    Maybe that means it’s time to let x86 go and bet on riscv and arm finally guy…
    It might be time for Intel and AMD to join their efforts to be relevant in PC segment.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    tommo1982 said:
    It might be time for Intel and AMD to join their efforts to be relevant in PC segment.
    There's a rumored equivalent SoC from AMD, planned for a 2025 launch. The rumor said it's aimed at laptops, so basically an answer to Snapdragon X.

    I think Intel has been leaning more in the direction of RISC-V, but that would only be relevant for embedded, at this point, and soon expanding to server/cloud. The thing is, ARM is rapidly dominating the cloud, today. So, even if Windows on ARM doesn't displace x86, it's not as if it'd be a waste of effort to build a competitive ARM core, because you can still sell it into the server market.

    Also, once you have a high-performance ARM core, porting it to run RISC-V probably isn't very hard. So, I think it's smart to jump on the ARM bandwagon today, but then keep a close eye on the RISC-V market and jump in, as soon as it starts to get some real momentum in server market.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    For me, the killer question is whether Nvidia will be using its own CPU cores. Their old Denver and Carmel cores didn't seem to work out all that well, for them. And it's not easy to beat ARM at its own game, but Apple has certainly proved it's possible.
    Reply
  • jlake3
    Hm. Nvidia certainly has the money and clout to make it happen, but also the greed, hubris, and control issues with partners to totally shank it. I can see them demanding higher prices and less design flexibility from OEMs, which isn’t going to translate into devices people get excited about. They’re also using licensed ARM core designs, so while they can offer ARM with a great iGPU, I’m not sure how much they’ll move the needle on CPU performance.

    Whatever happens, it’s certainly going to be interesting!
    Reply
  • usertests
    It almost seems like the deal is to make a MediaTek chip, but with Nvidia graphics and branding. Since the Nvidia name is more likely to sell than MediaTek.

    If it doesn't run Linux (well) then I don't care.
    Reply
  • bit_user
    jlake3 said:
    Hm. Nvidia certainly has the money and clout to make it happen, but also the greed, hubris, and control issues with partners to totally shank it. I can see them demanding higher prices and less design flexibility from OEMs, which isn’t going to translate into devices people get excited about.
    Perhaps MediaTek will be the savior, in this case.
    Reply
  • mac_angel
    "the company's entry into the PC space reflects Nvidia's long-standing interest in challenging AMD and Nvidia on their home turf."

    Need to proof read your articles.
    As for Windows on Arm, I can't help but wonder if a huge part of the "performance issues" have to do with all the bloatware and telemetry gathering BS that M$ pus into Windows 11. I believe that's a HUGE part of the reason why they are trying everything they can to get people to "upgrade" from Windows 10 to Windows 11. I bet if they had the OS as simplified as they did with Windows 2000, Arm would have no problems running it.
    Reply