Nvidia ARM SoC for Windows PCs: N1X Debuts Q4 2025, N1 Follows in 2026 – Latest News & Rumors

Nvidia ARM SoC for Windows PCs: N1X Debuts Q4 2025, N1 Follows in 2026 - Latest News & Rumors

Key Points

• Research suggests Nvidia is developing ARM-based SoCs for Windows, with N1X debuting in Q4 2025 and N1 in early 2026.

• It seems likely that Nvidia is partnering with MediaTek, with the SoC featuring advanced ARM cores and Blackwell GPU architecture.

• The evidence leans toward a reveal at Computex 2025 in May, with expected shipments of 3 million N1X units in Q4 2025 and 13 million N1 units in 2025.

• There's uncertainty around exact specifications, but rumors suggest strong AI performance, potentially competing with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series.

Overview

Nvidia's move into ARM-based System on Chip (SoC) for Windows machines marks a significant expansion beyond its traditional GPU focus. This development aims to challenge existing players like Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm in the PC market, particularly in the growing Windows on ARM segment. Here's a breakdown of the key details based on recent reports and rumors.

Expected Timeline and Models

Research indicates that Nvidia plans to launch two models: the high-end N1X in the fourth quarter of 2025, followed by the mainstream N1 in early 2026. These timelines align with industry expectations for new chip introductions, with production targets set at 3 million N1X units in Q4 2025 and 13 million N1 units throughout 2025, suggesting strong market anticipation.

Partnership and Technology

It seems likely that Nvidia is collaborating with MediaTek, a leader in ARM-based designs, to develop these SoCs. Reports suggest MediaTek will see $2 billion in revenue from this partnership in 2025, accounting for 8% of its revenue. The SoC is expected to leverage the latest ARM CPU cores, possibly the Cortex-X5 "BlackHawk," and Nvidia's Blackwell GPU architecture, promising enhanced AI capabilities with rumored performance of 180-200 TOPS for AI workloads.

Market Impact and Competition

This move positions Nvidia to compete directly with Qualcomm's Snapdragon X series, potentially offering better graphics performance due to Nvidia's expertise. It's an unexpected detail that this could also impact gaming laptops and handhelds, given Nvidia's graphics heritage, possibly enabling high-performance ARM-based gaming devices.

Upcoming Reveal

The evidence leans toward an official reveal at Computex 2025 in May, where more details on architecture, core specs, and performance figures are expected. Manufacturers like Lenovo are rumored to be early adopters, which could accelerate adoption in the PC market.

Survey Note: Comprehensive Analysis of Nvidia's ARM SoC for Windows Machines

Nvidia's foray into ARM-based System on Chip (SoC) for Windows machines represents a pivotal shift in its strategy, aiming to penetrate the client PC market traditionally dominated by x86 architectures from Intel and AMD, as well as ARM competitors like Qualcomm. This section provides a detailed examination of the research, including timelines, partnerships, technological specifications, and market implications, based on recent articles, rumors, and leaks as of February 26, 2025.

Research Background and Initial Findings

The investigation began with the article from Tom's Hardware, published on January 14, 2025, which reported Nvidia's plans to debut the N1X in Q4 2025 and the N1 in early 2026. This aligns with earlier reports, such as one from PCWorld on November 1, 2024, suggesting a launch as early as September 2025. The consistency across sources, including Extremetech from October 24, 2023, indicates a long-term strategy to enter this space, competing with Intel, AMD, and Qualcomm, with the latter being the primary ARM rival.

Partnership Details with MediaTek

A significant aspect is Nvidia's partnership with MediaTek, confirmed in multiple reports. Thurrott.com on January 8, 2025, noted their collaboration on the Nvidia Grace CPU, built with ARM architecture, suggesting MediaTek's role extends to the new SoCs. Counterpoint Research on June 19, 2024, highlighted MediaTek's intent to enter the AI PC market with Nvidia, with revenue projections of $2 billion in 2025, accounting for 8% of MediaTek's revenue, as per the initial article. This partnership leverages MediaTek's expertise in power-efficient SoCs and Nvidia's graphics prowess, potentially creating a strong product for Windows on ARM devices.

Technological Specifications and Rumors

The SoC's specifications remain partly speculative, but leaks provide insight. NotebookCheck.net on May 27, 2024, suggested it includes the Cortex-X5 "BlackHawk" CPU core and Blackwell GPU architecture, aligning with VideoCardz.com on May 25, 2024, which mentioned LPDDR6 memory and TSMC's 3nm process. Tweaktown on January 13, 2025, estimated AI performance at 180-200 TOPS, positioning it as a Copilot+ PC contender. This could offer significant advantages in AI workloads, potentially outperforming Qualcomm's Snapdragon X Elite, as noted in HowToGeek on June 11, 2024, especially for gaming due to Nvidia's DLSS technology.

Production and Market Expectations

Production targets, as per the initial article, include 3 million N1X units in Q4 2025 and 13 million N1 units in 2025, suggesting ambitious scaling. Firstpost on January 14, 2025, mentioned Lenovo's involvement, with a job listing referencing "New SoC NV N1x," indicating early adoption. This could expand the Windows on ARM ecosystem, currently dominated by Qualcomm, as per Microsoft Learn on February 12, 2025, which discusses the benefits of ARM for battery life and AI acceleration.

Latest News, Rumors, and Leaks

As of February 26, 2025, no major updates have emerged since January, but recent X posts, such as one from ThePolarBearX on February 20, 2025, confirm the late 2025/early 2026 launch, aligning with earlier reports. PC Gamer on November 1, 2024, speculated on enterprise versions with MediaTek for 5G support, adding another layer to market strategy. The lack of CES 2025 reveals, as noted in the initial article, shifted expectations to Computex 2025, where architecture and performance details are anticipated, per Wccftech on January 13, 2025.

Comparative Context and Industry Impact

Nvidia's experience with ARM, seen in its Grace CPUs for servers (Nvidia Developer) and Tegra lineup for gaming (e.g., Nintendo Switch), positions it well. NextPlatform on February 6, 2024, highlighted Grace's HPC performance, suggesting potential for client PCs. This move could disrupt the market, especially given Qualcomm's patent disputes with ARM, as mentioned in PC Gamer, potentially diversifying options for manufacturers like Dell and Acer.

Detailed Timeline and Specifications Table

Below is a table summarizing key details from the research:

This table encapsulates the core data, highlighting the speculative nature of some specifications and the collaborative efforts with MediaTek.

Conclusion

As of February 26, 2025, Nvidia's ARM SoC for Windows machines is poised for a significant market entry, with detailed reveals expected at Computex 2025. The partnership with MediaTek and focus on AI performance suggest a competitive offering, potentially reshaping the Windows on ARM landscape. However, exact specifications and performance benchmarks remain uncertain, awaiting official announcements.