Please note that this post is tagged as a rumor .
NVIDIA new generation processor to combines ARM’s BlackHawk core and Blackwell GPU.
NVIDIA CEO Jensen Huang presents CUDA-X AI Computer, Source: NVIDIA
ARM is rumored to launch a new high-performance core for next-gen flagship smartphones by the end of this year. Revealed as Blackhawk, the next-gen Cortex-X, likely Cortex-X5, is also expected to be part of NVIDIA’s new push into the SoC and PC markets.
Rumors about the potential launch of an NVIDIA ARM-based processor have been circulating for months. Various chips for different purposes have been mentioned, from next-gen Nintendo Switch gaming handhelds to processors for AI PCs adhering to Microsoft Copilot+ specs. The chip could come from NVIDIA’s close collaboration with MediaTek, which are also making GeForce RTX-based cockpits for cars.
According to AGF (XpeaGPU), NVIDIA’s next-gen SoC would combine the ARM Cortex-X5 “Blackhawk” CPU core with NVIDIA’s own Blackwell GPU. Furthermore, this rumored chip would feature LPDDR6 memory and utilize TSMC’s N3P process node. However, according to Kepler_L2 , the actual node is Intel 3 nm, which would imply that NVIDIA will use Intel fabs for its processors.
NVIDIA Next-Gen AI PC SoC
- CPU Core: ARM Cortex-X5 (Blackhawk)
- GPU Core: NVIDIA Blackwell
- Memory: LPDDR6
- Node: Intel 3nm
- Release Date : 2025
During the same interview, Dell leaked it: Nvidia is coming next year in the Windows ARM arena with new SoCs to compete with Qualcomm.
What I can say: TSMC N3P, Cortex X5 BlackHawk CPU cluster, Blackwell GPU and LPDDR6 on package. And MS is porting all Win11 AI stuff to NV HW https://t.co/dSGv44A1G0— AGF (@XpeaGPU) May 23, 2024
During an interview with Bloomberg, the CEOs of NVIDIA and Dell were indirectly asked about NVIDIA’s plans for AI PCs. Their responses suggest that the company might have something to showcase next year. The interviewer interpreted this as a hint about NVIDIA processor for AI PCs.
NVIDIA isn’t new to the SoC business. The company has been developing its Tegra series for over a decade and has shipped millions of them, largely thanks to the Nintendo Switch, which uses the Tegra X1 processor. However, Nintendo’s business is not about delivering the most cutting-edge technology, while NVIDIA makes substantial progress with each architecture. The Switch is still using Maxwell-based architecture, while NVIDIA has already launched Pascal, Ampere, and Ada. By the time the next Switch ships, NVIDIA might have already presented a new GPU architecture, the Blackwell.
Details such as core count or GPU performance targets for the rumored NVIDIA SoC have not been disclosed yet. However, the processor is said to focus on Windows on ARM, thus aiming laptops or tablets. This indicates tougher competition for Qualcomm, who will launch their Snapdragon X Elite laptops next month.
Source: AGF