Nvidia’s CEO, Jensen Huang, has tantalized investors with whispers of the company’s forthcoming expansion beyond its stronghold in the graphics card sector. The corporation’s widely predicted shift towards introducing its own personalized services seems more of a reality than ever before.
While unveiling the brand-new flagship consumer graphics processing unit (GPU), the RTX 5090, with gaming, it’s evident that Nvidia is targeting a broader scope than just Cyberpunk 2077 demos or high-end graphics cards. Nvidia’s CPU aspirations have been put on hold, according to CEO Huang, who disclosed the news after speaking with investors and industry experts.
According to initial reports from Reuters, Huang cryptically commented: “You see, now we have plans – but not everything is being disclosed just yet.”
At the Consumer Electronics Show, the company unveiled its Undergraduate Digits AI laptop, designed specifically for homebuilders. Several weeks prior to that, Nvidia introduced an updated single-board computing solution, the Jetson Orin Nano Series.
The programs feature characteristic Arm CPUs, with Undertaking Digits boasting a “Græce CPU”. This cutting-edge AI PC features a powerful 20-core Arm processor, seamlessly integrated into its sleek design for seamless performance and efficiency.
Developed in tandem with MediaTek, a leading supplier of mobile-centric chips, similar to those used in smartphones rather than PCs. Although Huawei’s partnership with MediaTek appears robust, Huang hinted that MediaTek could potentially introduce its Arm-based chips to the market independently.
“Now, they may choose to unveil their proposition with us, while simultaneously reserving it for their own benefit and catering to market demand.” It proved to be a highly satisfying outcome for all involved.
It may take some time before Nvidia offers a solid foundation for gaming on its CPU platform. Arm-based CPUs are gaining momentum, with Qualcomm’s Snapdragon X Elite chip recently launching in collaboration with Microsoft on its AI-powered laptops, including devices like the Samsung Galaxy Book4 Edge AI. Apple’s latest in-house developed processors have truly excelled in terms of efficiency, impressively performing well even at the most basic level.
Despite their capabilities, these chips still require the use of emulation and translation layers to successfully render video games. As most PC video games are optimized for traditional x86 processors, it’s unlikely that we’ll see a mainstream gaming PC employing ARM architecture anytime soon.
While there are areas where Arm-powered gaming PC-like units have become increasingly popular. Recently, it has been observed that Valve is working on an ARM-based model of its Proton translation layer, which is utilized in the Steam Deck. This allows Linux users to run and play Windows-based games. Valve may be developing an Arm-based architecture in anticipation of a significant shift in the industry’s trajectory.
As Nvidia plots its course forward, it’s crucial to acknowledge that they haven’t solely focused on unveiling expensive hardware. The company also unveiled the $999 RTX 5080 graphics card, complementing the entry-level RTX 5070, with claims that this mid-tier GPU can match the performance of the flagship 4090 when utilizing AI-enhanced tools.
