In a recent report by Reuters, it has been revealed that Nvidia is planning to produce Arm-based chips for Windows PCs, signaling a major challenge to Intel in the processor market. According to the report, Nvidia has quietly started designing processors that are compatible with Microsoft’s operating system, and these chips could be available for sale as early as 2025.
This move by Nvidia aligns with Microsoft’s broader goal of competing with Apple in the market for Arm-based processors for Windows PCs. The research firm IDC’s preliminary Q3 data shows that Apple has nearly doubled its market share since the introduction of its in-house Arm-based Apple Silicon chips three years ago. Apple’s chips have proven to offer a balanced performance, including on-chip AI tasks, and superior battery life compared to Intel’s processors.
When asked for comment, Nvidia spokesperson Hector Marinez declined to provide any further information, leaving room for speculation about the company’s plans.
Although this would be Nvidia’s first foray into Arm-based chips for Windows PCs, the company does have prior experience with Arm-based chips designed for data centers. In 2020, Nvidia announced its intention to acquire Arm Holdings for $40 billion, but the deal was eventually abandoned in early 2022. Nevertheless, Nvidia’s expertise in Arm-based chip design puts them in a favorable position to compete in this market.
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Nvidia is not the only company looking to enter the Arm-based PC chip market. AMD is also reportedly preparing to launch its own Arm-based PC chips by 2025. In addition, Qualcomm, which has been producing Windows laptop processors since 2016, will soon face competition as its exclusivity agreement with Microsoft for Arm-based Windows chip designs is set to expire in 2024. This expiration opens the door for new challengers in the Windows on Arm market, which has yet to see significant success.
According to Jay Goldberg, CEO of consulting firm D2D Advisory, Microsoft is eager to avoid dependency on a single vendor, recalling its past experience in the 90s. Goldberg explained, “If Arm really took off in PC chips, they were never going to let Qualcomm be the sole supplier.” This signifies Microsoft’s strategic decision to leverage multiple chipmakers to ensure a diverse and competitive ecosystem.
As Microsoft continues to invest in generative AI, it comes as no surprise that the upcoming Arm-based chips for Windows PCs will heavily focus on this technology. Microsoft has urged chipmakers to integrate advanced AI-powered capabilities into their silicon. A recent example of Microsoft’s AI-driven initiatives is the launch of Windows Copilot, which incorporates an OpenAI-powered chatbot in a persistent sidebar. This chatbot is designed to respond to contextual queries anywhere in the Windows operating system.
In conclusion, Nvidia’s reported plans to produce Arm-based chips for Windows PCs pose a significant challenge to Intel’s dominance in the processor market. With Microsoft actively seeking to compete with Apple in this space, the arrival of Arm-based chips for Windows PCs from multiple chipmakers, including Nvidia and AMD, indicates an exciting new era for the industry. The integration of advanced AI capabilities in these chips further reflects the growing importance of AI in everyday computing. As 2025 approaches, it will be interesting to see how the competition between Intel, Apple, Nvidia, and other chipmakers unfolds in the evolving landscape of PC processors.
